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22nd Jan 2018

One in three dogs and almost 40 percent of cats in Ireland are overweight

Conor Heneghan

overweight pets

Have you been overfeeding your pet?

Approximately one in three dogs and two in five cats in Ireland are overweight, according to Irish specialist pet retailer, Petmania.

Similarly to humans, excess weight not only has a negative impact on the general well-being, happiness and overall quality of life of pets, it can also significantly shorten a pet’s life expectancy.

If pets develop obesity it will increase the risk of developing serious health conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes, Heart & Respiratory Illness, Kidney Disease, Osteoarthritis and Cancer.

In an effort to encourage pet owners to take note of their animals’ wellbeing and weight, Petmania have launched an ‘Operation TransPAWmation’ initiative, which will take place in 12 locations around Ireland from now until 25 February.

An owner-led educational wellness initiative created in association with nutritional experts from Royal Canin, the initiative is urging owners not to underestimate the body condition of family pets and to seek regular specialist advice. It is understood that one extra kilogramme in a cat’s weight, for example, is the equivalent of a human carrying 16 kilogrammes in excess weight.

As part of the initiative, owners can bring their dogs or cars for a free weight check to meet with one of Petmania’s certified weight management advisors.

Combining weight with a Body Condition Score, Petmania’s team will assess whether the pet needs some special attention. If the pet is at risk of becoming overweight, the Operation TransPAWmation team at Petmania will guide pet parents on choosing tailored diets and exercises for pets.

All participants will be provided with food diaries, exercise guides and vouchers to help pets on their journeys towards a happier and healthier life.

Commenting on the initiative, Emily Miller, Marketing Manager with Petmania, said: “Our programme focuses on the key points in our pets lives which warrant diet and lifestyle reviews. Similarly to humans, it is important to regularly look at the most appropriate diets that match our pet’s life stage. What you were feeding your dog or cat 12 months ago may not necessarily be what they need now.”

“We understand why so many pet owners may miss the first signs that their family pets are becoming at risk of putting on excess weight,” Miller added.

“It’s not necessarily about feeding your dog too much, it’s what you are feeding them. What was right 12 months ago, may not meet your pet’s needs now.”

Petmania has 12 stores nationwide in Kilkenny, Carlow, Laois, Offaly, Limerick, Waterford, Wexford, Galway, Meath, Dublin and Kerry.

For more information, check out the Petmania website.

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