KEY POINTS:
As New Zealand's human population slips into the fleshy grip of the obesity epidemic, so too are the nation's pets, one veterinarian warns.
Alex Melrose, from VetCare Grey Lynn in Auckland, attributes the noticeable rise in pet fatness to owners spending less time with their animals. However, the old adage of pets resembling their owners was not always true.
"It often ties into the owner's lifestyle. We see some really active people, who run around all day and don't have time for their pets," he told NZPA.
Australian figures indicate 41 per cent of dogs and one in three cats in that country are overweight -- and Dr Melrose believed New Zealand's animals were in a similar state.
Like fat people, fat pets could suffer the gamut of obesity-related ailments, including heart and circulatory diseases, reproductive disorders and diabetes.
And overweight pets were rehabilitated the same way: less food and more exercise, he said.
A healthy dog needed about an hour of exercise a day, for both physical and mental stimulation, Dr Melrose said. If the owner couldn't walk their dog, he recommended arranging for a dog-walker to take care of it.
Cats' diets were harder to control, as they could hunt, or steal food from other cats. However, felines were able to walk themselves , helping them stay in shape, he said.
The veterinarian also advised pet owners to look at the nutritional information on the back of the can or packet.
"A lot of people associate high palatability with healthiness."
But like any food, salt- and fat-laden foods taste better, so the animal enjoys it more, he said.
"In some cases, it's like feeding your dog or cat takeaways every day."
- NZPA
