ANIMAL CHARITY IN PET OBESITY PLEA
Back Print Download By Rosamond Hutt, Community Newswire
ANIMALS Obesity, 24 Apr 2006 - 14:49
Britain may be a nation of animal lovers but a charity was today urging us not to kill our pets with kindness after a new poll showed veterinary surgeons were treating an increasing number of obese patients.
In an RSPCA survey of 143 veterinary practices in England and Wales the majority (80%) claimed they were seeing a steep rise in overweight and obese pets.
More than three quarters (76%) have now set up special clinics dedicated to reducing the girths of portly pets.
The charity also polled 2,300 pet owners for RSPCA Week, a fundraising and awareness drive which starts today.
It found that while almost one in three of those questioned thought their pet was overweight, over a quarter had done nothing to tackle the problem.
The RSPCA said fat, unfit pets are suffering unnecessarily and can develop diseases associated with obesity such as diabetes, high blood pressure and liver failure.
In one case the charity dealt with last year, a Lincolnshire man who fed his dog on a fat-filled diet which included full English breakfasts was banned from keeping animals for life. The dog was so obese it was unable to move and had to be put down.
RSPCA vet David Grant said pet obesity was a serious welfare problem that should be tackled immediately.
He said: "Feeding your pet full English breakfasts, chocolate, chips, burgers and too much pet food may make you feel like a kind and loving owner but it could give your pet fatty tumours, diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, liver failure, skin problems - and even worse an early death.
"People who let their pets starve are labelled cruel and callous, but what people don't realise is that overfeeding your pet can cause just as much suffering as starving it. A fat dog may look cute and cuddly but in reality you are killing it with kindness.
"An animal only needs to be slightly over its ideal body weight for health problems to begin.
"If you think your pet is overweight consult your vet today and show your animal that you really do care about them."
The RSPCA has launched a new leaflet warning owners of the dangers of allowing pets to become overweight and providing slimming advice.
The leaflet will be distributed by fundraisers in Tesco stores throughout RSPCA Week which runs until April 30. For more information visit the charity's website at
www.rspca.org.uk Article
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