Flabradors! The 200,000 dogs who are so overfed they’ve got arthritis

DOGS face an arthritis epidemic because so many are overweight, a study found.

Labradors and golden retrievers are most commonly treated for the condition, which causes painful, inflamed joints. Rottweilers and Old English sheepdogs are also at risk.

Owners are being blamed for overfeeding pets and not exercising them enough.

The study suggests around 200,000 of the 8. million dogs in Britain – almost 2. per cent – have the condition. But that may underestimate the problem as it only covers dogs that have been treated.

The study by the Royal Veterinary College said neutering also made pets more prone to arthritis, possibly because it cuts off sex hormones that may protect against it.

Being above average weight for their breed made dogs 2.3 times more likely to have arthritis diagnosed, while males were 1.2 times more likely to have the condition than bitches. The study of 4 , 7 pets, published in the journal Scientific Reports, is the largest carried out into arthritis in dogs under veterinary care.

The authors said larger breeds were more susceptible than smaller ones.

The report stated: ‘Eleven breeds had significantly higher diagnosis of osteoarthritis compared to crossbreed dogs.

These included border collie, bull mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, German pointer, German shepherd, golden retriever, labrador retriever, Old English sheepdog, rottweiler, Scottish collie and springer spaniel.’

Co-author Dr Dan O’Neill, of the Royal Veterinary College, said: ‘Breed predisposition to disease is now recognised as one of the biggest problems facing dogs.’