Vet's view: What to do if you feel your pet is overweight

If you’re anything like me, you’ll have steered clear of fat, sugar, alcohol, salt and of course fun. Or perhaps not…

Similarly, our pets too may have enjoyed odds and ends of turkey, gravy, that odd piece of Stilton which was dropped by accident, that chunk of nut roast that wasn’t.

Hopefully, you’ve avoided visiting the vets over the season as we are normally awash with dogs attempting to poison themselves with chocolate, fruitcake, mince pies and oddly-shaped baubles.

Still, even if you’ve navigated these dangerous waters, the after-effects of Christmas may be… too big to miss.

A report by UK Pet Food in 2024 concluded that vets believe up to 50 per cent of dogs, 43 per cent of cats and 31 per cent of small mammals are overweight and that the problem is expanding (sorry).

In contrast, 77 per cent of 2,558 owners surveyed believed their pet was at a healthy weight with just four per cent acknowledging the need for weight loss.

Veterinary conversations on the issue are tricky and can be fraught with embarrassment.

Weight checks are patchy and the consequences can be severe — worsening joint disease, increased anaesthetic risk, cancers, diabetes, skin disease and pancreatitis to name a few.

So what can we do about this?

First off, consider a weigh-in at the vet.

This is often free and can tell you your pet’s actual, rather than assumed, weight.

Weighing out food is annoying but incredibly helpful.

Avoid table scraps like the plague, dental chews are often a calorie-rich expense (raw carrot is better) and if you’re training your dog remember to remove the training treats from their overall ration.

Remember too — we’re not there to judge and our nurses can provide diet plans, measurements or support in the journey.

Our columnist Will Trewarman MRCVS is a senior veterinary surgeon at Vale Vets which is based in Kidderminster and Stourport.