WE all know obesity is on the rise in adults and children, but now the condition has struck the most innocent party of all - our pets.

The fat cat and podgy pooch problem has reached such critical proportions that Environment Secretary Hilary Benn recently called for all owners to think about how they feed and exercise their pets, after seeing one cat undergo treatment for being twice its recommended weight.

There is even a TV show devoted to the subject. LIVING2's Downsize My Pet looks into the bad health habits of different animals, including Oscar the Chihuahua and Starbuck the miniature horse, who are then enrolled on a strict diet and fitness regime.

The problem has not, of course, escaped Swindon. Local vets are all too aware of the expanding issue with our pets and are working on ways to tackle it.

David Prince, of the Drove Veterinary Hospital, which has 10 practices in and around the town, estimates around half of all the dogs he sees are overweight, with between 10 and 15 per cent of them in the obese category.

"The problem is definitely getting worse here, as it is everywhere," he said. "When I think back to my early career, we didn't see anywhere near the same number of dogs with excess weight.

"It may have something to do with improved levels of nutrition, but mostly it's unfit people feeding their pets too much and not giving them enough exercise.

"Pets very much mirror the current situation with humans. People are less active and spend too much time watching TV and playing computer games, instead of actually getting out there and walking their dogs."

As well as lethargy and general ill-health, pets can suffer a large number of ailments brought on by their excess weight, from breathing and heart problems to osteoarthritis due to strain on the joints.

In one case seen at Drove, a dog weighing more than twice his recommended ideal ended up needing two operations on his back legs after his bones failed to fuse properly.

The veterinary hospital has now started special weight clinics in an attempt to control the epidemic.

Nurses can help pet owners recognise and control their animal's eating habits, offering advice on low-calorie foods and weight loss medicines.

Drove has seen particular success with the weight-loss drug Yarvitan, an anti-obesity medicine for dogs. It costs £50 for an eight-week course, and must be prescribed by a vet, but the results can be remarkable.

The drug is administered as a liquid that is poured over the dog's food. It works by blocking the transfer of fats from the food dogs eat into their bloodstream, without affecting the absorption of the vital nutrients they need every day.

It also slightly reduces the dog's appetite, meaning it is less likely to want treats.

The drug's developer, Janssen-Cilag, claims Yarvitan can reduce the chance of a dog developing arthritis and can increase life expectancy by 18 months.

The drug is only needed in extreme cases, however. Vet David Prince says most weight problems can be treated simply be re-educating the owners.

"Yarvitan is not a miracle drug, but it has proved successful in a number of cases," he said.

"In the first instance, though, we are more likely to look at diet and exercise and aim to manage arthritis. We might arrange hydrotherapy or physio for the dog.

"It's usually the cases that small changes by the owner can make all the difference to the dog."

Tips for downsizing your pet


New Zealand vet Sacha Nowell and dog trainer Alexis Banis are currently fronting LIVING2's show Downsize My Pet.

They offer the following tips for owners concerned their pet is getting too podgy.

  • With dogs, don't leave a full bowl of food down. Dogs should have a regular eating time with set portions. The food should go down and if it doesn't finish it, or doesn't want to eat it, then it's obviously not hungry , so the bowl should be taken up again until the next meal time.
  • Get the portion size right. Look on the back of the packet at the recommended amount. Ask your vet for your animal's ideal weight and give portions according to that, not the weight they are now. If your pet needs to lose weight, give 30 per cent less than the recommended dosage.
  • Don't feed leftovers or treats - they are not an essential part of the diet. Good quality pet food is always going to be better - and, in the long run, cheaper - than feeding scraps or treats.
  • Don't treat your pet like a human or even a member of the family. Alexis said: "A lot of people treat pets like a member of the family and they think that changing their diet or their routine is cruel and that the pet is going to look upon them as being mean. But animals don't really have that perception.

"Most animals love routine and while they may take some time to adjust to a new regime, they very quickly adapt - and they don't hold grudges!"

"Dogs, who are used to a pack mentality, actually appreciate their owner - who constitutes the pack leader - organising a strict routine with set expectations."