Fat dog Storm fights puppy fat (From The Argus)

Fat dog Storm fights puppy fat

11:07am Wednesday 31st October 2007 in

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A fat dog, which can't blame its weight on being big-boned, is taking part in a 100-day diet competition.

Black labrador Storm ballooned after gorging himself on chips and other titbits and weighed a whopping eight-and-a-half-stone when his owner Stephen Graham decided to take action.

Stephen, 26, of Orme Road, Worthing, blamed the dog's weight on his "puppydog eyes" which he had no resistance to.

He said: "Storm gives me the look that says 'I'm hungry, please feed me' and I just give in.

"He loves his food and once stole a huge bit of pork from the dinner table."

But following a visit to Brighton's People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) surgery for a regular health check for Storm, Stephen has entered him into the charity's Pet Fit Club competition.

This 100-day diet sees eight podgy pets from around the country and with a combined weight of 175kg, go belly to belly in a battle of the bulge.

As well as another labrador and several other dogs, the contestants include a cat with a 25in waist and a 6kg chihuahua from Middlesex.

To help Storm from his current weight of 48kg to his target weight of 35kg, Stephen and his girlfriend Karen Cope have vowed to only feed him 400g of dog food a day and increase his exercise.

Stephen said: "I have had Storm for two-and-a-half years and during that time he has put a lot of weight on.

"It's partly because I got him neutered and he put on weight after that but also because I feed him too much.

"Karen and I take Storm for two walks a day and are being strict with his meals.

"He has lost a lot of weight already and is looking much better.

"He still tries his puppydog eyes with us but we don't give in now.

"I want him to lose the weight and maybe even win the competition."

The winner will be announced in January after the 100-day diet ends.

PDSA's senior veterinary surgeon Elaine Pendlebury said one in three pets seen by the charity was overweight and the problem of pet obesity was growing, especially among our feline friends.

She said: "The rise in pet obesity is of great concern.

"PDSA vets estimate that there has been a 50 per cent rise in cat obesity over the past 20 years.

"The aim of PDSA Pet Fit Club is to highlight ways in which owners can improve their pets' health.

"Safe weight-loss is possible for pets - it just takes a little time, dedication and patience.

"Many well-intentioned pet owners spoil their pets with treats and over-feed them, not realising that they are effectively killing them with kindness."

Do you have a podgy pet? Call the newsdesk on 01273 544519 or leave your stories here.