Dog Owners Unconcerned at Overweight Pets

Thu, 26 Mar 2009

A new survey from the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) has revealed that nine out of ten pet owners are unconcerned about the weight of their animal . The revelation follows the news that an increasing number of pets are overweight, with the Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals claiming that one third of the UK’s dogs are overweight. Despite this, of the 2,100 UK households surveyed, 62 per cent of dog owners and 72 per cent of cat owners said they thought they could do little or nothing about their pets’ weight .

Whilst 80 per cent of respondents to the survey said they felt their pet was the correct weight, just 33 per cent of dog owners and 23 per cent of cat owners felt their animal resembled an image of a normal sized animal. Worryingly for those owners, vets have warned of the dangers faced by overweight pets .

PFMA Chief Executive, Michael Bellingham, said, ‘ Pet obesity has a serious, and sometimes fatal, impact on the health and welfare of our pets. The figures are alarming and the problem won't go away without a fundamental shift in owners' attitude to feeding their pets. It is also worrying that most owners are not aware of the problem, because they are unable to recognise a fat pet in the first place.’

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