Dog owners warned off pets’ outfits
Dog owners have been urged not to treat their pets like toys and children by dressing them up.
Vets have expressed concern at the rising popularity of novelty costumes, including seasonal fancy dress for occasions such as Christmas and Halloween.
Gudrun Ravetz of the British Veterinary Association said: “With rare exceptions, dogs don’t need to wear clothes.”
Dog owners are increasingly treating their pets like dolls or children by dressing them up – despite vets recommending the majority of dog breeds do not need to wear clothes and that doing so can cause medical problems.
Novelty dog costumes have risen in popularity in recent years, including seasonal fancy dress costumes for occasions such as Christmas or Halloween – as well as fashion coats and jumpers.
Celebrities including Lady Gaga are thought to have fuelled the trend after being pictured with their pets dressed up.
But a third of vets said that clothing pets can cause rubbing against the skin, while others cited stress and overheating as concerns. They said that animals which are unecessarily dressed up can have to undergo treatments such as antibiotics and steroids to clear up the problem.
As many as 81 per cent of pet owners are clothing their animals in garments such as jumpers, coats and T-shirts, according to a study by insurance firm Direct Line.
Gudrun Ravetz, president of the British Veterinary Association, said: “It is important that pets can express their natural behaviour and inappropriate anthropomorphism can interfere with this, resulting in health problems such as obesity.
“With rare exceptions, dogs don’t need to wear clothes as they already have a thick fur layer to keep them warm and can overheat.
“Most pets would rather have time interacting with their owner, by going for a long walk or chasing a ball, than being made to wear a cute costume or coat that they won’t appreciate.”
Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said dogs could be scared by costumes. He said: “Dogs can find costumes and clothing uncomfortable or even scary, especially if there are parts flapping around which can lead to them being very distressed.
“These costumes physically restrict canines and can limit their ability to communicate with other dogs as it hides their body language.”
He added: “Clothing isn’t always a bad thing for dogs; it can be helpful to put a coat on old or young dogs especially in the winter. “
The survey found the trend is also costing pet owners dearly to treat the unecessary conditions.
People typically spent around £50 on treatment for their dog’s skin condition, while a fifth spent up to £100 and 10 per cent had to pay more than £250 to treat their animal.