Why it might be time to put your podgy pet on a New Year diet: As vets warn HALF of dogs are now too fat, ANTONIA HOYLE reveals how she helped her labrador lose a stone - and transformed his health
Share:
Stepping on to the scales, the slimmer was visibly transformed, from chiselled jaw and toned tummy to pert posterior – strutting slightly in celebration, perhaps, because the months of sacrifice had been worth it. Well, perhaps this was all in my imagination. But I was delighted to discover my labrador Herbie had lost a whopping 1st 3lb.
![[Having shed 1st 3lb, the labrador is now fitter, lapping up compliments on his slimmer frame and has lost his limp]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/03/10/93704253-14246671-image-m-18_1735899037462.jpg)
And as his vet heartily congratulated him and he scampered home for a (healthy) dinner, I’m pretty sure Herbie was pleased, too. Five months ago, he cut quite a different figure; at 6st 4lb, Herbie, four, was nearly a stone over the ideal weight for his breed.
![[He used to sulk in the kitchen after his usual dinner titbits were denied, but a now slimmed-down Herbie is happy to join the family for an evening's TV]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/03/10/93704251-14246671-image-m-17_1735898939093.jpg)
Barely a day passed without someone remarking on his size, whether affectionately (‘Hi, chunky!), with concern (‘He’s a big dog, isn’t he?’), or as my bluntest friend put it: ‘Look, there’s no two ways about it - he’s just way too fat.’.
Yet while her words stung – much as they would if my own flesh and blood were being criticised - they had no impact on his diet. Herbie, I insisted, was simply a bon viveur, happy in his furry skin, entitled to sausages whenever he pleased. For though when it comes to myself and my children I’ve always been aware of the importance of maintaining a healthy weight, when it came to our dog I was shamefully impervious.
But I am far from alone. A recent survey by UK Pet Food found that while vets believe 50 per cent of dogs to be fat, putting them at risk of a host of illnesses - from diabetes and heart failure to skin complaints and breathing problems - only 4 per cent of pet owners believed their animals needed to slim down.
Share:
More for You
Top Followed
Trending
You Might Also Like
