Has your pooch got a paunch?

It’s not just the British people who have a problem with obesity, it appears. It seems that our pets are also carrying around some extra poundage, which is one reason why you might want to get your pet insurance early.

A survey from Halifax Pet Insurance suggests that more than one third of British pets are overweight leading to an innovative response from many veterinarians. Fat farms are not just for people, but for pets, and some 82 per cent of vets now have special clinics for overweight pets. And there’s good reason to catch the problem early. Obese pets are much more likely to develop diabetes, arthritis and heart disease.

Now pet owners can attend these clinics to learn how to keep their pets healthy. And as just as people sign up for gyms in January, the pet fat clubs will be oversubscribed. Just like us, pets put on weight over Christmas, with indulgent owners providing treats. In fact, 57 per cent of pet owners provide special Christmas meals.

But while it’s great to treat our pets as part of the family, this indulgence may not do them much good in the long term. Overweight pets are likely to have shorter life spans than those at the target weight and may be in pain or discomfort because of the health conditions they can develop as a result. Pet owners, too, will literally pay for this overindulgence by having increased vets’ bills for expensive and prolonged treatment.

Overindulgence is going with lack of exercise in some cases. Halifax recently published research which showed that 81 per cent of dogs were not getting the right amount of exercise for their breed. Most of them were only getting half the amount they needed. Luckily, there’s a way that both pets and owners can cut down on weight gain. Walkies, anyone?