Pet owners 'shouldn't overfeed animals'

Fri 19 Feb 2010 - Published in Pet Insurance

Pet insurance customers should ensure they are feeding their furry friends a sensible diet, an expert has suggested.

Sean Wensley, senior vet at free veterinary service PDSA, claimed that many people do not realise the risk of overfeeding pets and misguidedly do this thinking they are being kind to their animals.

"They may enjoy making their pet happy by giving them treats but in reality, by giving them the wrong types of food and too much of it, they are killing their pets with kindness," he added.

Mr Wensley claimed that some owners develop 'pet body dysmorphia', where they fail to realise that their animal companions are overweight.

The expert also warned that pet obesity leads to a range of health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis, ultimately shortening the animal's life expectancy.

In addition, he pointed out that giving an animal plenty of exercise is another way to fight obesity and gives the owner an opportunity to bond with their pet.

Recent figures from PDSA showed that 35 per cent of dogs are thought to be overweight, while one-quarter of cats are carrying too much padding.

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