Takeaways, biscuits and chips – pets pile on the pounds with fatty treats

Owners are giving more than 10 million animals high-calorie foods including takeaways, biscuits, chips and even alcohol, it is claimed.

Around nine out of 10 give pet treats, despite the fact that 91 per cent realise the resulting obesity can reduce their pet's lifespan, according t the research by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals charity.

It means that of the UK's estimated 18 million pets some 2.5 million dogs and over two million cats are currently overweight, the PDSA claimed.

The charity said it was due to owners sharing their own unhealthy eating habits with their pets in a 'well-intentioned but misguided attempt to make them happy'.

Elaine Pendlebury, PDSA senior veterinary surgeon, said: "Sadly, seeing morbidly obese pets is now an everyday occurrence in vet practices across the UK; it is one of the biggest welfare concerns facing the nation's pets.

"It's effectively a silent killer leading to long-term health issues for pets that can cut their lifespan by up to two years. Pet obesity significantly increases the danger of developing major health problems such as diabetes, arthritis and heart disease and can also bring about the onset of these chronic diseases much earlier. It's tragic to think that millions of pets are suffering under the strain of carrying too much weight, when it is an entirely preventable condition."

To tackle the problem, the charity is today announcing its annual PDSA Pet Fit Club, which has been running for the last eight years. Dr Philippa Yam, leading animal obesity expert at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, said: "PDSA's findings are very worrying and demonstrate that diet remains one of the most misunderstood welfare needs for pets."

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