PDSA's Pet Fit Club is back!
Below are the 18 supersized pets set to undergo a major transformation as they embark on PDSA’s annual pet slimming competition - PDSA Pet Fit Club.
- Meet the Pet Fit Club Finalists
- Pet obesity revealed
- Your free guides to keeping your pet healthy
- PAW Report
- Diet & Nutrition
- Assess your pet's shape
- Dog Body Shape
- Cat Body Shape
- Rabbits Body Shape
- Listen to our latest radio interview with a PDSA Vet
- PDSA Pet Fit Club Finalists are battling the bulge with a diet and exercise programme.
- Dealing with the reality of the Pet Obesity Epidemic
- Competition Sponsors
Meet the Pet Fit Club Finalists
The overweight finalists, comprising twelve 'huge hounds', five 'mega moggies', and one rabbit, have been put on a strict six month diet and exercise plan by PDSA Vets and Nurses to help them slim down to a healthier weight and improve their life expectancy.
The combined total of this year's finalists' excess weight amounts to over 24 stone which equates to over 380 tins of dog food, the weight of 35 cats or the weight of 50 Yorkshire Terriers.
The impact of expanding waistlines on the health of our nation's pets is a huge concern for the UK's leading veterinary charity, PDSA, with 2.9 million dogs and around 3 million cats in the UK battling the bulge. But worryingly, 84% of owners believe their pets are the right weight which suggests there is a widespread misunderstanding about what a healthy weight should be for pets.
PDSA Pet Fit Club is now in its seventh year and over that time the competition has helped many pets slim down to a healthier weight and live longer and happier lives.
Pet obesity revealed
Research from the annual PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report has found that 12 million UK pets are being fed too many fatty treats, including takeaways, cheese, crisps and cakes, often on a daily basis, which is fuelling the UK pet obesity epidemic.
- Over a third of all dogs (35% or 2.9million) in the UK are now overweight or obese.
- Cats don’t fare much better, with PDSA data showing that around one in four are overweight (approximately 3 million).
- Rabbits have the worst diets compared to dogs and cats with 42% being fed too little hay every day, and 49% being fed rabbit muesli (a mix of seeds and flakes) which should not be fed as it can lead to obesity and dental problems.
- Overweight pets are at risk of serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis, and have a lower life expectancy than healthy pets.
- Over-feeding treats and providing the incorrect diet are the primary causes of pet obesity, with 90% of dog owners admitting to feeding treats such as cheese, crisps, cakes, biscuits, toast and takeaways.
Your free guides to keeping your pet healthy
Learn more about keeping your pet healthy, including diet and exercise tips and how to assess your pet’s correct shape. You can also download PDSA’s Animal Wellbeing Report, revealing the state of our pet nation.
There are also useful posters to download which you can use to assess the shape of your dog, cat or rabbit:
Listen to our latest radio interview with a PDSA Vet
Listen to PDSA Vet Paul Manktelow discussing the growing problem of pet obesity in the UK, and how you can help your fat dog, cat or rabbits get fitter and healthier.
PDSA Pet Fit Club Finalists are battling the bulge with a diet and exercise programme.
Meet the 18 fat cats, dogs and rabbits who have been announced as the PDSA Pet Fit Club 2012 finalists. These 18 fat pets will embark on a 6 month tailored dog, cat or rabbit diet and exercise programme to become fit and healthy pets in a bid to be crowned PDSA Pet Fit Club winner 2012.
12 million UK pets are being fed too many fatty treats, including takeaways, cheese, crisps and cake, which is fuelling a pet obesity epidemic.
Dealing with the reality of the Pet Obesity Epidemic
PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Sean Wensley, said: “We understand why people are shocked at seeing images of morbidly obese pets. It is encouraging that people are reacting this way because it means that people are taking notice of pet obesity and recognising the major problems it is causing for our pets’ health, quality of life and life expectancy. Once people are aware of these problems we can then all work together to improve pet diet and exercise habits and reverse the worrying trend that we’re seeing”.
Over one in three (35%) dogs and one in four cats in the UK are overweight or obese. If the trend continues, around 50% of pets will be obese by 2013. Pet Fit Club is a great way of providing practical help to the pets and owners who take part, and raising awareness of these issues.
Sean added: “The owners of the Pet Fit Club finalists are taking a very positive step to tackle their pet’s weight problem, as they want their pets to be healthy and happy. Their pets are very much loved members of the family, but an inappropriate diet and constant treats and titbits given by themselves, friends and family or former owners have taken their toll. By following the advice of PDSA vets and nurses, the owners of the 18 finalists are determined to get their pets back down to a healthier weight, and this is a very positive message for other pet owners in similar situations.
“There are many pet owners who may be unsure what to do to help their pet. We hope projects like Pet Fit Club will encourage more pet owners to take a closer look at their own pet’s diet and exercise levels by seeking advice from their vets and using the PDSA website to learn more about what improvements can be made.”
Competition Sponsors
Diets for the dog and cat finalists are kindly supplied by Hill's. Hill's is also kindly supplying a year's free Hill's diet food for the overall national cat or dog winner
Diets for rabbit finalists will be kindly supplied by Burgess. Burgess will also supply a year's free rabbit food for the overall winning rabbit
The Four Seasons Hotel in Perthshire (www.thefourseasonshotel.co.uk) are kindly donating a holiday worth £500 for the owner of the pet crowned Pet Fit Club Champ. The holiday includes a two-night stay for two people (plus pet), with dinner, bed and breakfast in a four-poster room. The winner will also be able to enjoy the hotel's Pet Butler, which includes a bespoke pet menu, pet walking and pet sitting service.
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