THE NOT-SO-FULL MONTY
Pooch loses his paunch as visits to‘fat club for dogs’pay off Weight loss improves Monty’s arthritis
An obese pooch has got a new leash of life after shedding the pounds at an East Kilbride “fat club” for pets.
Chocolate Labrador Collie cross Monty has lost nearly half a stone in the last year to help battle his arthritis after being put on a strict diet.
The 12-year-old dog loved to nick titbits from his owners and tipped the scales at a whopping six stone – almost most double his ideal weight.
But after having doggy treats cut from his diet Monty is beginning to slim down.
Local owners Norma and Peter Churchill are hugely impressed by their new-look Monty, who is now a trim 35.5kg (around 5st 5lbs).
The pooch came to live with the couple in January after their daughter Gail Mungall, 44, who was originally Monty’s owner, had a change in circumstances.
Retired Norma, 68, said: “Gail was living in Glasgow and I was going to walk him every day, so it was just easier to bring him down to live with us.
“Monty coming to live with us has given us a new lease of life. He was really overweight and it was badly affecting his arthritis.”
Last November an overweight Monty was taken to Hairmyresbased Pets’n’Vets by Norma and husband Peter, 71, and a weight loss programme was suggested – weaning him off his usual treats.
Norma said: “It’s basically a fat club for dogs.
“We had to stop giving him all the doggy treats and the little bits from our plates – it’s just so hard to say no to him.
“He goes to get weighed every month and has his measurements done too.
“He jumps straight on the scales as soon as he goes in. He knows what to do.
“Sometimes if he hasn’t lost or stayed the same we will just look at him, and he’ll jump off, run around the vet’s office, and get back on – as if to see if that’s made a difference.
“In the last year, he hasn’t gained any weight at all, he has either stayed the same or lost.”
Since starting his slimming club, Monty’s arthritis has significantly improved, and he can now enjoy four walks a day.
Norma said: “We can really notice a massive difference in Monty, as can the vets.
“He’s doing much more exercise now too, he gets four walks a day and is much better on his feet in general now he has lost the weight.
“He still has a bit to go until he reaches his target weight, which is 34.6kg, the last kilogram will be the hardest to lose – just like humans I suppose.”
Overall, Monty has lost 2cm from his neck and chest and 5cm from around his stomach and is being fed two dry food meals a day.
Jennifer MacKenzie, a registered veterinary nurse at Pets’n’Vets, said: “Monty was referred to my Pet Slimmers club as he was diagnosed with osteoarthritis.
“The main factor to help in relieving pain is weight loss. I see Monty on a monthly basis for regular weight checks.
“In these weight checks I chat with the owners as to how he is getting on, take measurements of a neck, chest and stomach to see in terms of inches how much he has lost and generally have a chat to offer advice and support.”
We had to stop giving him all the doggy treats