Almost Half of Britains Dogs are Overweight, Experts Claim

Thu, 09 Oct 2008

A new report has warned that almost half of the dogs seen by vets in Britain are overweight. The report from Sainsburys Finance questioned 100 vets across the UK as part of a survey which revealed that dogs are more prone to being overweight in Britain than cats . Of the dogs seen, more than one in four were considered as obese, whilst a further 21 per cent were described as slightly overweight .

Sainsbury’s Pet Insurance Manager Neal Devine warned, ‘We are seeing a worrying percentage of cats and dogs being taken to the vet who are overweight. 'People often think they are being kind to their pet by giving it treats, but being overweight can influence and worsen many medical conditions in pets, such as osteoarthritis and respiratory disorders, conditions that can be very uncomfortable for the animal .’

Mr Devine continued: 'Veterinary and medication costs for long-term conditions such as arthritis can add up to a lot of money over the course of the animal's lifetime. It is important that pet owners are properly insured by policies with adequate levels of cover, so that they avoid getting hit hard in the pocket. Every pet owner has a duty of care to their animal, and if reasonable care has not been taken to prevent an animal becoming overweight, you could potentially invalidate your insurance .'

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