WALKY PORKY

App helps dog fitness

PORKY pooches are being targeted in the nationwide war on obesity with a clever app that helps them lose weight along with their owners.

Petpanion, which was launched in lockdown, aims to fight Fido’s flab with an activity and wellness tracker.

Qian Huang, who devised the app with Surrey University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, said: “It is vital the pet obesity issue is addressed.

“This activity tracker can not only help a pet get trim but also tackle human obesity.”

The tracker allows owners to set joint exercise goals, from pounding pavements and park strolls to games that get hearts racing.

Breed, age, vaccinations, parasite control record and dental health are all factored in.

The tracker stores the activity and presents it as a graph so you can see if they are getting their steps in too.

Almost two thirds of adults are overweight or obese in Britain, with 60 per cent gaining even more weight

PEDIGREE LUMP: Could lose weight for health in lockdown. And while there are dozens of fitness apps to help humans and support the new government drive, Qian saw the support was not there for our four-legged friends.

She said: “Both pets and humans can suffer similar health impacts due to obesity, such as heart issues, diabetes, arthritis, cancer and hypertension. And both pet and human lives have been proved to be extendable through exercise.

Playing

“As obesity has proved a major issue for those contracting coronavirus, there has never been a better time for Brits to literally take the lead and get walking or playing with their pet.”

Petpanion, which is free to download on iphone and Android, also charts weight loss and overall health levels and presents it as a wellness score.

You can also share the doggy health data with your vet.

Around half of dogs and cats are overweight or obese and the problem has got far worse in the past five years, according to a survey of vets by the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association.