Pet Fit Club

PDSA reveals its pet obesity map of the UK and urges owners to take the 'weight off' their portly pets.

Like for their human owners, our pets' battle of the bulge continues. Statistics from leading veterinary charity, PDSA, reveal the UK is also a nation of expanding pet waistlines. Pet health checks of over 4,000 dogs have revealed which UK regions are home to the portliest pooches.

In the North East of England a whopping 28 percent of dogs seen by PDSA veterinary staff were overweight. This falls slightly in Scotland and Northern Ireland to some 26 percent of dogs seen.

There are also some startling correlations between people and their pets. Recent human obesity figures from Southampton and Portsmouth Universities revealed that people in the South West were most likely to be overweight, and dogs in the same region also score badly with 24 percent found to be overweight. Dogs in the South East have the lowest obesity figures at 12 percent, and this mirrors human obesity which was also found to be low in this region.

PDSA vets believe even the lowest dog obesity figure is too high and wants to help owners to do more to slim down their pets. UK-wide the national dog obesity figure stands at a 'paw' 1 in 4.

To provide owners with the help and information they need, the charity has launched its 2007 Pet Fit Club competition. This highly successful pet slimming initiative is now in its third year. The charity is searching for eight pets across the UK to 'shape-up' and take on the weight-loss challenge. The larger-than-life pets chosen to take part will follow a 100-day diet and fitness programme that will be regularly monitored by their local PDSA PetAid hospital.

At the end of the programme, the pet with the most significant weight-loss, that best sticks to its new regime, will be crowned 'PDSA pet fit club champ'. The 'Champ' will win its owner a 'pet-friendly' break with Coastal Cottages of Pembrokeshire.

PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Elaine Pendlebury, adds, "It's not just dogs that are piling on the pounds. PDSA estimates that in the last 20 years there has been a doubling in the numbers of cats that are obese, and even our small furry pets such as rabbits and hamsters aren't exempt!

"Our figures show that there is a real need for owners to help their overweight pets lose those excess pounds, and PDSA pet fit club offers them the chance to do just that."

So if you've got a portly puss, plump pooch, huge hamster or a rounded rabbit, enter them for a chance to take part in PDSA pet fit club. Call 01952 204748 to request an entry form or enter online at www.pdsa.org.uk until 27th July 2007.

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