Vets warn of fat pets risk

Owners of pets risk killing them with kindness as a human obesity and diabetes epidemic is being mirrored among animals, vets say.

Mike Gething, who runs a vet clinic in Auckland, said the number of cats and dogs diagnosed with diabetes had risen by 20 per cent in the past decade, with up to 10 new cases at his clinic this year.

In serious cases, diabetic dogs and cats would require regular insulin injections, just like humans.

Although more animals were being diagnosed, and environmental and hereditary factors played a role, many of the cases were the result of obesity, he said. "Middle age to older dogs and cats that are obese are at higher risk. Right now we're treating nine dogs and seven cats for diabetes.

"People let their dogs and cats carry more weight than they should. Dogs are around when a family is eating and they can't resist giving them food." MORE>>

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