A trip to the vet early in 2005 first made Roy Goodall aware that his
Dalmatian, Pongo, was putting on weight. Prompted by the vet’s
observation that Pongo could shed a few kilos – he was 35kg (79lb), 6kg
overweight – Goodall put his dog on a diet. But, fuelled by an insatiable
appetite, Goodall’s inability to say no to Pongo’s demands for pig’s ears,
and his unfailing ability to snaffle out discarded chips at the local park,
Pongo’s weight continued to rise. The situation became serious, though, when
he started to limp.
In March 2006, the vet confirmed that Pongo, then 7, had developed arthritis
in his right rear knee. By then a whopping 41kg, the extra weight was
putting a strain on his joints. He had to lose weight fast to retain any
hope of decent mobility. “Pongo loved playing with his Frisbee but he was
unable to run,” Goodall recalls. “After a walk, I could see he was in pain.
It was heartbreaking.”
It’s a story that will be familiar to a surprising number of pet owners.
Figures suggest that Britain is undergoing a pet obesity epidemic. A survey
last July by the pet insurers Sainsbury’s Bank found that 34 per cent of our
pet dog population is obese: a figure that would amount to 2.72 million dogs
in the UK. And cats are not immune; this month a study by the University of
Edinburgh suggests that one British pet cat in 230 is diabetic. Poor diet
and lack of exercise is the cause, say the university’s scientists.
Meanwhile, in the US this year, the pharmaceutical company Pfizer launched
Slentrol, the first obesity drug for dogs. Unsurprising, then, that a host
of specialist obesity clinics – or canine fat camps – are cropping up across
the UK. So, what’s at the heart of the problem? And how will Britain’s dogs
get back into shape?
Dogs are fed high-fat treats
For Pongo the answer came via the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA),
a charity that provides veterinary care for pets whose owners can’t pay
fees. Every year since 2004 PDSA has invited applications for its Pet Fit
Club; the ten picked pets then undergo a 100-day weight-loss regimen.
“I qualified as a vet 30 years ago, and there’s no doubt that I’m seeing pet
obesity far more frequently now,” says Elaine Pendlebury, a senior PDSA vet.
“As a nation we are less inclined to take long walks, so our dogs get much
less exercise. But little treats are usually at the root of the problem. The
high-fat, high-sugar foods that people often throw to dogs – bits of ham,
digestive biscuits, crisps – just aren’t suitable. You get a cycle of
begging, and more food.” Pendlebury cites a daunting list of conditions
associated with obesity in dogs, among them diabetes, arthritis, heart
problems and joint injuries. “Life for a grossly overweight dog isn’t any
fun,” says Pendlebury.
Pongo arrived for his first session at the PDSA centre in Gillingham, Kent,
last October. Then he weighed in at 40kg, a hefty 11kg over his target
weight. PDSA vets devised a strict diet that would gradually decrease his
calorific intake. “I was given a special dry diet pet food and a scoop to
measure out 150g twice a day,” says Goodall.
“Pig’s ears were out, and so were all treats. On advice we started a regimen
of two 30-minute walks a day, increasing the time as his fitness built. I
could see a difference in two weeks; at our first fortnightly weigh-in Pongo
had lost 4kg. Within four weeks, he was starting to chase his Frisbee again.”
Owners who allow their dog’s weight to spiral out of control, though, could
face more than a friendly trip to the vet. In an unprecedented case in
January, the RSPCA brought a successful prosecution against two brothers for
allowing their pet labrador, Rusty, to balloon to 74.2kg: so fat, said one
vet, that he was, in effect, crippled. David and Derek Benton of Fordham,
Cambridgeshire, were convicted of causing unnecessary suffering and received
a three-year conditional discharge; they kept Rusty only on condition that
he did not regain the 22kg he’d lost while in RSPCA care.
“Pet owners have a duty of care and that includes providing an appropriate
diet and suitable exercise,” says Julie Stainton, an RSPCA spokeswoman.
“Grossly overweight animals suffer, and this is clearly cruelty. We
prosecuted the Bentons only after they repeatedly ignored vet’s advice about
Rusty.”
A doggy water treadmill
Now, the RSPCA has launched a travelling road show, Pets Get Slim (www.petsgetslim.co.uk);
pets will be weighed in and receive free advice from RSPCA vets. But many
owners of portly pooches are already acting under their own steam. The
Linhay Veterinary Rehabilitation Centre, in Devon, was established last
September. “About 20 per cent of our referrals are for a weight problem, and
another 20 per cent have a weight component,” says Kate Rew, the founding
veterinary surgeon. “Now, vets are referring dogs to us because they insist
that the animal must lose weight before undergoing surgery for another
complaint. But increasingly owners are coming, too.”
The centre’s custom-designed answer? A doggy water treadmill. The workout
burns a lot of calories but, crucially, is low impact, as overweight dogs
often suffer joint problems.
Take Prince, an eight-year-old black labrador who came to the Linhay Centre
weighing 75kg; his disabled owner had been unable to exercise him. “Prince
could barely walk 20ft; he was huge,” says Rew. “He wouldn’t have seen old
age if we hadn’t intervened.”
Over a five-month period Prince’s twice-daily sessions on the treadmill grew
from 3 to 30 minutes. By last February he was 53kg; now he is a healthy
41.5kg, a loss of 45 per cent on his starting weight.
“It’s no good labelling pet owners as bad people,” says Rew. “We have to
educate them.” It’s a message echoed by Goodall. Last year, Pongo was named
the PDSA pet slimmer of the year after losing 9kg – 21 per cent of his
starting weight – on the 100-day regimen.
All ten Pet Fit Club participants lost weight in the scheme. Now, thanks to a
continued programme of one-hour walks twice a day, as well as strict portion
control, Pongo has reached his target weight, a trim 29kg. The pig’s ear
habit? He’s allowed one every four weeks.
“I have the old Pongo back; it’s fantastic,” says Goodall. “He’s happy again
and bouncing around. Now I look at overweight dogs waddling along and I
can’t believe that used to be Pongo.”
The PDSA is searching for pets to take part in the 2007 Pet Fit Club. For
more information, visit www.pdsa.org.uk
Getting fit with
Fido Walkies The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) says an
adult dog should have four walks a day, one of at least 30 minutes. A brisk
30-minute walk – with heart rate gently raised – will burn about 125
calories in a typical person.
Cani-cross Short for canine cross-country running. Runners are
connected to their harnessed dog by a bungee cord, which links to a belt
worn around the waist. It’s a run for both of you, using natural canine
pulling instinct. Visit www.canix.co.uk
Agility classes The idea is to get your dog around a series of
obstacles in the quickest time possible. Great exercise for your dog and for
you. Visit www.agilitynet.com
Football The PDSA says every day should include exercise off the lead.
A good game with some friends is to keep a football in action without the
dog catching it. Great for honing your footie skills.
When it’s time for din-dins How much in the doggie bowl? How much
you feed your dog depends on its size, breed, age and activity levels. Good
dog foods come with feeding guides and these are a good place to start.
Roughly, a 5kg adult dog will need about one 400g can of wet dog food a day. An
adult dog weighing 10kg will need one and two third cans, a 20kg dog will
need two and three quarter cans, a 30kg dog will need three and three
quarters. Puppies need more food, and old dogs need less. But remember: each
dog is different and you should seek advice from your vet.
How often a day? It’s healthier for your dog to be fed more than once
a day. For most breeds, a rough guide is two thirds of their food in the
morning, one third in the evening. Smaller breeds, such as toy poodles,
should be fed more often – perhaps four times a day – because their blood
sugar can drop quickly.
In touch with their inner wolf Dogs have a tendency to overeat because
they evolved from wolves. Wild animals always eat food when it is there
because they can’t be sure when the next kill will come. Dogs are hardwired
to behave in the same way, but pet dogs live in very different circumstances
and instinct can lead them to eat more than they need.
Give love not chocolate Stop giving treats. What dogs want is your
attention; we use food as a replacement. Why not reward your dog with a game
instead of food? If you have to treat, the odd bit of boiled chicken is all
right.
Time for walkies! A healthy adult dog should have three or four walks
a day, one of at least 30 minutes, and including exercise off the lead. ELAINE
PENDLEBURY, a senior PDSA vet
