Vets in Peterborough are seeing a rise in obese pets
There's a warning that animals are developing serious health problems.
Vets in Peterborough say a rise in obese pets could lead to serious health problems.
Obesity could be contributing to a rise in obesity-related health issues such as diabetes, cancer and osteoarthritis.
Pets being overweight has become the new normal
1 in 3 veterinary practices report a rise in pet obesity over the past year.
According to new research from Admiral Pet Insurance, 71% of dog owners and 78% of cat owners admit they have difficulty controlling portion sizes, and 78% of dog owners and 68% of cat owners regularly give their pets treats.
More than half of dog owners and more than a third of cat owners also admit to giving their pets food scraps, often unaware that some human foods, like chocolate and onions, can be dangerous.
This lack of awareness about proper diet and exercise is leading to a worrying trend in pet health across the UK.
It can impact their physical and mental health
Ellyn Groat, a vet in Peterborough, said:
"It's never a good thing for pets to be carrying excess weight."
"If they're so obese that they are restricted in their movements and their ability to play with other animals or interact with their owners, their quality of life and their mental health will never be as good."
"It can have a two-fold impact on their physical and their mental health."
"If a cat is obese, they are four times more likely to become diabetic, so it's a huge risk for cats and really important to keep them nice and trim."
"I think sometimes, with a lot of the breeds that are prone to gaining weight, such as pugs and Labradors, that them being overweight has become the new normal."
"Those dogs should be lighter and not as obese as they are."
"When it says on the back of a packet of dog food or cat food how much you should feed that pet, sometimes that can span a huge amount from a 10 kilogram dog to a 20 kilogram dog is advised to get fed the same amount, and that can be really confusing."