Over 3.8 million dogs in the UK are overweight or obese, according to a new study.
It was been revealed that nearly a quarter of owners (23 percent) have tried to put their dog on a diet.
New data also shows that a third of owners (33 percent) have been guilty of overfeeding, with five per cent admitting they have even sent their pet to ‘doggy bootcamp’.
The worrying figures show that just one in five (20 percent) of owners are aware of the recommended weight for their dog.
Feeding a dog a balanced diet could extend a dog’s life by at least two years and dramatically improve their quality of life, according to veterinary estimates.
Tails.com published the figures as a call for people to change the way they feed their dogs.
Dr Samantha Ware, the former Royal dogs nutritionist and lead nutritionist at tails.com, comments: “Fad diets can be as bad for dogs as they are for humans often leading to weight, skin and behavioural problems, so it’s important to make sure your dog is fed a nutritionally appropriate diet.”
According to the analysis, nearly three quarters (71 percent) feed their dogs ‘human’ food treats like cheese or biscuits, over half (57 percent) feed their pet treats more than twice a day and a third (33 percent) feed their dog leftovers or scraps.
