One in three British pets are overweight

Over one third (37%) of Britain’s pet cats and dogs are overweight according to a survey of veterinarians commissioned by Halifax Pet Insurance.

The growing problem has driven four out of five (82%) veterinary surgeries to set-up special weight loss clinics to educate owners and help them to get their pets in shape.

Sign-up rates to these new pet fat clubs are expected to be oversubscribed in the New Year as 31% of dog and cat owners confided that their pet puts on weight over Christmas - after being indulged by doting friends and family. Indeed 57% even went as far as preparing a special Christmas meal for their beloved pet.

Whilst owners may feel that spoiling a pet is part of the fun of pet ownership, experts believe overweight pets are likely to have shorter life spans than pets at the ideal weight. Overweight cats and dogs are more susceptible to chronic complaints such as heart disease, diabetes and arthritis. These complaints cause immense discomfort to the animals concerned and can require expensive and prolonged veterinary treatment.

Halifax Pet Insurance’s research also showed that four–in-five (81%) dogs didn’t receive the recommended level of exercise for their breed during 2006. In fact, most dogs only received half of the recommended walking-time each week. Halifax suggests that dog owners could even lose a few of those post Christmas pounds themselves by increasing the length and frequency of ‘walkies’ in 2007.

Vicky Watson Halifax Pet Insurance, commented: “With so many British pet owners admitting to over indulging their animals during the festive period it's important that they offset this by increased exercise, or the introduction of stricter portion sizes in January. Owners that are concerned about their animal’s weight should visit their local vet who can deliver specialist dietary advice.”

Vicky continued: “The dramatic rise in the number of specialist weight loss programmes for pets highlights the need for increased education for pet owners who are ultimately responsible for the health and welfare of their animals. We would recommend pet owners research the breed of animal they own, to learn what they should be fed and the level of exercise required. Ideally they should find this out before looking to own a pet.”

Is your pet overweight?+

Find out the ideal weight for your pet from your vet

Take action if your pet is heavier than its ideal weight by 15%
A good way of weighing larger pets is to weigh yourself with them and then subtract your weight
Check for a sagging stomach and bulging sides
If you can't feel your pet's ribs, this may be a sign that they're overweight
Breathlessness and reluctance to take exercise are good indicators of an overweight pet

How to get your pet in shape

Establishing whether your pet is overweight or not
Avoid feeding your pets tit-bits
Make sure that dogs get plenty of exercise
Plenty of play to keep them active and alert
Introduce change gradually: avoid crash diets and over exercising
Conduct regular weight checks