Hounds shed pounds for Lent

04 March 2010

PORKY pets which have piled on the pounds are being urged to give up treats for Lent.

Vet charity PDSA is urging owners to extend their Lent pledges to their cats and dogs as well.

The call comes as the charity's latest figures revealed 35 per cent of canine companions are overweight.

Last May, one dog which was part of that figure was beagle Lou.

His owners were concerned that he was 27kilos, about six or seven kilos over the recommended weight for his breed.

So Simon and Melanie Davies, who live in Worle Moor Road in Weston Village, put him on a diet to shed those pounds.

Simon, aged 39, said: "Beagles are renowned for putting on weight. They eat anything that isn't glued down.

"His vet put him on diet food and he lost about a kilo a week.

"He is now a lot more energetic and happier."

Rather than chomping down on unhealthy treats, Lou now thinks he is a pet rabbit, as he likes nothing more than gnawing on a piece of carrot.

Simon added: "He has got a sparkle in his eye now and is definitely more playful.

"If it means getting another two or three years out of him, and Lou not suffering from things like diabetes, then it is definitely worth doing."

Lou, who turns six in April, was treated for his weight problem at Green Pastures Veterinary Centre in Moor Lane.

Veterinary surgeon Clemmie Rees says that extra pounds can often result in the same symptoms as overweight humans.

She said: "About a quarter of the animals we get here are overweight and there is a high prevalence in cats and rabbits, as well as dogs.

"As a general trend, there does seem to be more pets becoming overweight and there are several things it can be put down to.

"Feeding your pet too much and not getting enough exercise are usually the main culprits."

An overweight pet can mean a beloved companion can suffer from arthritis, diabetes and in some more serious cases cystitis, incontinence and heart problems.

Clemmie, who has worked at Green Pastures for two years, added: "The best thing to do for an animal that is overweight is discuss the problem with your vet.

"We run clinics free of charge and vet nurses can calculate calories."

Information is also available at www.pdsa.org.uk