London: It's not just humans who are becoming fat, a study has shown that half of all dogs in Britain could soon be dying prematurely because they are overfed and spoilt.
An animal charity has warned that canine waistlines are expanding at a faster rate than those of humans, with a third of all dogs now classed as officially obese, reports express.co.uk.
It is estimated one in two animals will be overweight by 2013 if the trend continues at the current rate.
Senior vet Sean Wensley said: "Many owners were regularly feeding their pets fatty foods such as chips, cheese and cakes, as well as failing to exercise them enough."
"Owners view an overweight pet as cute and cuddly. They are using food to show their love but end up killing them with kindness. What they don't see is the threat that obesity poses to their beloved animals' health and lifespan," he added.
There are more than 3.5 million overweight dogs in Britain, according to the study
"Overweight pets are less mobile, less willing to play and more likely to develop a number of serious health conditions. One biscuit for a small dog could be the equivalent of a whole packet to a human being," explained Wensley.
The area with the most fat pets is the Southwest of England, where 39 per cent of dogs are overweight, followed by Scotland and the Midlands where the figure is 37 percent.
"We know dogs are not being walked as much as they used to be. This could be because owners spend longer hours at work and have less time," said Wensley.
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