West Mount Vets
Get fit, Fido!
IT'S TIME FOR PETS TO FIGHT BATTLE OF FLAB
More walkies needed after the festivities Press Item 12 January 2005 by Elaine Jinks (Halifax Evening Courier)
Diet needed: Charlotte Whiteley with chubby Dudley at West Mount Veterinary Health Centre
Picture: Charles Round
Pets who have pild on the pounds over Christmas are being urged to fight the flab with a strict detox, diet and fitness regime.
According to Chris Hewison, a vet at West Mount Veterinary Group, Elizabeth Street, Elland, the consequences of overeating for pets is the same as it is for humans.
He said: "Unfortunately it goes unnoticed and unrecognised by a lot of pet owners. If they were to stick to sensible diets and walking regimes it would not become such an issue."
"The risks to the animal are the same as for people- obesity can lead to arthritis, diabetes, breathing problems, back problems and heart and liver disease" said Mr Hewison.
He added that New Year's resolutions to eat less and exercise more should be passed on to pets and the best way of combatting obesity was regular walks.
Discipline from owners is also important, to stop pets begging at the table during meal times and help them stick to healthy diets.
Mr Hewison said that there are so many obese animals in Calderdale that West Mount Veterinary Group runs a regular free clinic to combat the problems suffered by overweight pets.
He said at each session the animals are weighed and prizes are awarded to those which have done exceptionally well.
Charlotte Whiteley, a veterinary nurse responsible for the clinic which is held daily, said: "We start by discussing the animal's weight and setting a target weight to work towards.
"We usually look at losing 10 to 15 per cent of the animal's body weight, depending on their size and then put them on a sensible diet."
Miss Whiteley said obesity can affect all breeds of cats and dogs and many are elderly which means that they are prone to exercising less - particularly if they already suffer from arthritis.
"I would normally advise increasing their exercise routine by five minutes per week to begin with, so it is not such a big jump" said Miss Whiteley.
She also warned that there is a significant link between obese cats and feline diatetes. She said owners who leave bowls of food out for their cats often do not realise they are also out catching birds and mice which they fill up on too.
According to Pets At Home at Pellon Lane, Halifax, a third of all dogs and 10 per cent of cats are obese.
A spokesman for the store advised playtime as a good form of exercise as well as regular grooming to help keep coats healthy, along with a balanced diet
