Two dogs have been named slimmers of the year in the PDSA’s Pet Fit Club after each shedding a quarter of their bodyweight.
Every year, the charity throws down the gauntlet, to owners whose pets are battling the bulge, with a six-month diet and exercise challenge, overseen by nurses and vets.
Packing pounds
This year, Labrador retriever Sadie was named one of the two winners after shedding almost 2st.
Originally, she weighed in at 42.2kg (6st 9lb) – 41% over her ideal weight – but after battling the bulge, she now tips the scales at 31.5kg (4st 13lb) – an achievement that wowed competition judges.
Owner George Chaplin from Basildon, Essex said Sadie’s historically unrelenting appetite and love of leftovers led to her sumo size.
He said: “PDSA has given us the help we desperately needed to kick-start the change – there’s no way I could have done this myself.
“She’s a totally different dog now and is so much happier.”
Sadie’s weight loss was supervised by RVN Kerry Griffith from Basildon PDSA Pet Hospital.
Slimmer spaniel
Elsewhere, once obese cavalier King Charles spaniel Borris lost 25% of his bodyweight – overseen by Louisa Carey, head nurse at Margate PDSA Pet Clinic. The canine is now a trimmer and healthier 20.9kg (3st 4lb).
Borris’ owner Annmarie Formoy admitted the family had previously fed him too many treats, and his love for food had seen him get into some scrapes – from raiding a cupboard full of Easter eggs to eating Ms Formoy’s father’s false teeth.
‘Rewarding’
PDSA vet Olivia Anderson-Nathan, who helped judge the competition, said: “It’s been hugely rewarding to see our Pet Fit Club pets’ weight decrease over the past six months, thanks to their new diet and fitness regimes. “Their success is testament to the hard work of their owners and our PDSA veterinary teams across the UK.”
Overall, this year’s Pet Fit Club finalists lost 28.5kg (4st 7lb).
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