Cats-dogs.co.uk | Pet Advice

Nine out of ten vet professionals believe UK pets are at serious risk of diet related diseases, mirroring the alarming trends seen in human health, and the recession has increased the risk.

A study of more than 100 veterinary professionals suggests their daily case loads are weighed down with a host of serious “man-made” dietary-related problems including obesity, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, simply because owners are not feeding their pets appropriately. What’s more, these problems are on the increase as a result of owners switching to lower quality food – or feeding a man-made diet of crisps and chocolate as in the case of Barney the 70kg dalmatian uncovered recently.

“As a nation, our modern lifestyles of fast food, large food portions, and too little exercise are taking a toll on our health, our children’s health, and now our pet’s health. Excessive calories and lack of physical activity are leading to alarming rates of obesity, which has become the most common form of malnutrition in pets today. As the links between obesity and disease are becoming clearer, it is vital that pet owners adopt healthier practices such as feeding appropriate portions of food, avoiding too many snacks and treats, and exercise with their pets,” said Pet Obesity Task Force Committee Member and Veterinary Nutritionist, Dr Daniel Chan, DVM, DACVECC, DACVN, MRCVS.

Alarmingly, despite obesity being the most physically obvious diet related disease in the UK, the vet professionals who participated in the Hill’s Pet Nutrition study agreed unanimously that owners do not realise their much-loved but overweight pet is actually suffering from malnutrition. If the most physically obvious diet related disease is not recognised as a health problem, little wonder vets have such concern regarding the more ‘silent’ yet no less deadly diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

The vet professionals were also in agreement that not all pet foods are the same, believing to some degree you get what you pay for. Yet worryingly, 83% of vet professionals believe our pet’s health has been another casualty of the economic downturn, as cutbacks in the family budget saw trading-down on pet food. Vets suggest the effects of these cutbacks will lead to increases in cases of diet related diseases in the next two years, with a surge in potentially fatal conditions such as diabetes (61%), intestinal problems and pancreatitis (66%).

Adrian Pratt BVSc MRCVS, Hill’s Pet Nutrition Veterinary Affairs Manager, said: “The results make sombre reading. Almost all (98%) of the vet professionals who participated report seeing a host of preventable diseases in practice which are the result of inappropriate feeding. While obesity tends to be caused by an excess of ‘empty calories’ and too little exercise, inadequate nutrients or excess nutrients like salt, will also affect a pet’s general health and wellbeing, leading to sickness or long-term diet related diseases.”

Other findings of the study include:

· Diet-related problems that cause suffering on the most widespread scale include problems in the intestines and pancreas, which 40% of vet professionals saw at least once a day in practice. Pancreatitis is one of many dietary-related diseases that can be fatal.

· Vet professionals expect to see an increase in diseases associated with malnutrition such as kidney disease (55%), lower urinary tract disease and urolithiasis (58%), heart disease and high blood pressure (30%). Over half (56%) also anticipate an increase in growth abnormalities and/or skeletal deformities and skin diseases (51%). All of these conditions can be avoided or managed with the appropriate diet.

· On the point that you are what you eat, 93% of vet professionals agree that this is relevant to pets just as it is in humans.

· More than three-quarters of vet professionals agree that feeding quality will save money in the long term.

· In addition to trading-down on foodstuffs, owners have been tightening the purse strings and cutting back on vaccinations, worming and flea treatments (80%), routine surgeries, such as neutering (51%) and pet insurance (50%).

The study was conducted by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, global leaders in pet food and makers of Hill’s Science Plan, one of the few products available in the UK that provide specifically tailored nutrition to ensure that pets receive the optimal range of nutrients, every day.

Click here or below to shop at GJW Titmuss for Hill’s products.

By Laura Dutton

It was rather ironically, whilst delivering leaflets door to door offering a reward for the return of my beloved kitten, Nelson, I got bitten by an Alsatian!  It wasn’t the type of attack that saw me pinned to the ground having my arm torn off - it was more of a nip through the letter box - but boy what a nip!

As I dragged my hand back through the letterbox to safety I was confronted with the full horror of this ‘nip’.  Across my fingers now lay an impressive imprint of canine dentistry!   My fingers had literally been punctured by its teeth, blood was oozing, layers of skin were hanging and the pain was searing.

Somehow I managed to drive myself to the nearest ‘non emergency’ hospital, where I was jabbed up for Tetanus, cleaned up and bandaged.

“Did the owner apologise,” asked the nurse.  I hadn’t even considered this being the fault of the owner, as far as I was concerned - I walked on to their property and stuck my hand through their letterbox - my fault surely?

Not according to the law - I had a case to sue the owners, but chose not to go down this route - after all I have to live on the same street as these people.

The whole incident got me wondering about many dog owners are actually aware of their responsibilities when it comes to such incidents and how many, if sued, would have adequate pet insurance to cover the legal costs of a claim.

Here are a few tips to becoming a responsible dog owner

• If you have a volatile dog, make visitors aware of this by putting up a ‘Beware of the Dog’ sign
• Install a post box on the outside of your property for people delivering post
• Make sure that when out walking your dog, you always have them on a secure lead.
• You may want to consider fitting a muzzle if your dog is particularly aggressive
• Small children should not be left alone with dogs in the home - or when out walking.  They don’t have the experience or strength to deal with a dog should it become aggressive.

Pet Insurance can be not only prove invaluable when paying for life saving veterinary treatment but the right cover can give you legal protection too.  You can compare Dog Insurance policies at http://www.moneysupermarket.com/petinsurance/ to ensure that you receive the correct cover for you and your dog.

Dogs have always been known as man’s best friend. With long walks in the park and nights cuddled up in front of the TV, the relationship we share with our canine companion is a special one.

Simple dog agility exercises can be an ideal way to develop even further the bond you have with your pet as well as improve your dog’s obedience and behaviour. And it’s not only an enjoyable way to not only improve your dog’s health and fitness, but yours too!

Best of all, it’s easy to do and absolutely anyone can give it a go. Pet owners can use nature’s resources to construct their own course, from weaving in and out of trees to jumping over logs. You can also buy training kits at minimal cost to set up in your back garden or local park.

Of course, with all of this additional exercise a well-balanced diet has never been so important for your dog. Look for hearty foods like Supadog from Burgess, make sure they are nutritionally-packed, provide energy and sustenance, and will set him or her up for a good work out!

In the following video, Jeremy Edwards and his five-year-old Boston Terrier Molly are put through their paces by dog agility expert Gina Graham. Jeremy and Molly demonstrate just how accessible dog agility is, whilst showing us the great benefits it can bring - including good health, bonding and interaction, and best of all fun!

We’ve got a couple of discounts for Pet Supermarket as follows:

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Just use the above codes at the checkout in order to claim the discount on your favourite pet products.

Pet Supermarket offers a complete selection of pet-related products, including pet food, pet toys, and hundreds of pet accessories at unbeatable prices.

Dog lovers looking for a gift for their pooch will love the Doggydry pet towel, from the makers of the award-winning Cuddledry, as seen on Dragon’s Den. The towel takes the struggle out of bathing and drying a small dog, keeping the owner dry and the pet warm and secure.

The beige towel with cream paw print pattern is worn like an apron leaving both hands free for holding, bathing and lifting. The two ample layers of high quality 100% cotton snag-free towelling protects clothes, as the dog is simply lifted out of the bath and snuggled against its owner. No more great escapes with a wet pooch racing through the house!

The Doggydry towel costs £24.99 and is available from www.cuddledry.com.

For those pampered pets who ‘simply have everything’, consider splashing out on a clawfoot pet bath. Designed as a baby bath, this miniature roll top bath will provide pooches with their very own bathing sanctuary. The baths cost £199.99 and are available from www.cuddledry.com

Nearly one in three pet owners across the UK think their pets are overweight according to a recent survey, however pet owners themselves are often unsure of the measures they need to take to help keep their pet in shape.

Being both overweight and underweight can increase your pet’s chances of developing serious health problems. But as every pet owner will know, it can be hard to spot the signs of weight change in our beloved animals and it’s often even harder to keep a track of their eating habits. Despite a growing number of out of shape pets, the study carried out by PURINA reveals that almost two thirds [60%] of owners have never considered any dietary change. *

So how do we make sure our pets stay the correct weight? In this video with vet Zara Boland offers three simple steps you can do at home to help you recognise if your pet has a weight problem. Using the PURINA Body Condition Tool, Zara shows you how by looking at the ribs, waistline and tummy, Zara shows you how to be sure your pet is a healthy size and weight.