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Takeaways and alcohol fuelling pet obesity crisis
Overwight dog
PDSA Pet Fit Club launched in 2005 and has already helped 74 dogs, 32 cats and six rabbits lose a total 63 stone 11lb.
Charity reveals ‘treats’ given to pets

Chocolate, takeaways, and alcohol continue to fuel the UK’s pet obesity crisis, according to leading vet charity, PDSA.

New figures reveal that over five million dogs, rabbits, and cats in the UK are being fed sugary, fatty and dangerous 'treats' every day.

Chips, crisps, cake, takeaway leftovers, chocolate and alcohol are just some of the items owners have admitted to feeding their animals. Furthermore, millions confessed to feeding their pets scraps as their main meal.

Now, as the PDSA launches its annual Pet Fit Club, the charity’s vets are warning owners they could be drastically shortening their pet’s life expectancy.

“As well as being high in calories, food like takeaways, cake, cheese, chips and crisps are high in fat and sugars which are bad for our pets’ waistlines and teeth.” said PDSA vet Vicki Markham-Jones. “Some owners even admitted to giving chocolate and even alcohol, both of which are poisonous to pets and can be fatal.

“The good news is that we can make a real difference, starting now. With the right food and regular exercise, it is easy to keep pets fit and healthy. Over the past 11 years, PDSA Pet Fit Club has helped transform the lives of some of the UK’s most obese pets. Through the competition we have helped over 100 animals lose more than 63 stone and encouraged thousands more owners to make positive changes to their pet’s lifestyle. Once again we are inviting owners with overweight pets to enter.”

PDSA Pet Fit Club launched in 2005 and has already helped 74 dogs, 32 cats and 6 rabbits lose a total 63 stone 11lb. That is equal to over 400 bags of sugar, 6,500 tins of tuna, 7,000 sausages or four heavyweight boxers.

One colossal cat to benefit from the programme is ginger moggie Lucy, who had eaten and slept her way to an enormous 18.5lbs - over 70 per cent more than she should be.

Lucy’s owner Vicky Wood was wrongly informed that Lucy was pregnant when she adopted her, so she kept her indoors and fed double portions.

Vicky said: “Because I was told she was pregnant I kept her indoors and gave her extra food as I thought she needed it. However, when the time came for her to give birth nothing happened. I took her to the vets and they said she wasn’t pregnant.”

“PDSA have recently advised me to put Lucy on a diet. I’m hoping to get her to lose some weight but it’s going to be a challenge because she barely wants to move all day and doesn’t want to go outside.”

Owners can enter their pets at www.pdsa.org.uk/petfitclub. Entry forms are also available from PDSA pet hospitals, shops and Pet Hut superstores nationwide. The deadline for entries is Sunday, 6 March, 2015.


 

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.