Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Treats fuelling obesity time bomb for pet pooches
A DEADLY diet of treats and table scraps, coupled with a couch-potato lifestyle, is fuelling an obesity time bomb for pets in Dundee and across the UK, vet charity PDSA has warned.
They are urging pet owners to ‘skip the treats and hit the streets’ to tackle the growing problem.
The charity’s call comes as it kicks off its national pet slimming contest: PDSA Pet Fit Club.
PDSA vet Rebecca Ashman said: “Nearly half of owners across the UK told us they give treats because they believe it makes the pets happy.
“Treats and human food can be high in fat and sugars which are bad for pets’ waistlines and teeth. Some foods, like chocolate, are poisonous to pets and can even be fatal.
“Bad diets aren’t the only problem. Across the UK a shocking 1.6 million dogs aren’t walked daily.”
Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross Keira, from Dundee, is one example of a dog who will eat almost anything.
The seven-year-old portly pooch’s diet of junk food is having a major impact on her health and she now tips the scales at 7st 9lb — around 70% more than a healthy dog of her size.
Keira’s owner, Stewart Myles, 53, from Hilltown, said the family adopted her when she was just a six-month-old puppy.
He said: “She had a bad start to life and was skin and bone, absolutely starving, when we brought her home.
“We felt so sorry for her and wanted to feed her up, but we know we have gone too far.
“She will eat anything we give her from dog chews to takeaways and her absolute favourite is fish and chips with mayonnaise.
“We go for walks so she gets lots of exercise but I do give in too easily to her puppy dog eyes.
“Whenever I’m eating I have to share.”