Obese Beagle Goes On Diet

Hi,

Jack my beagle could end up like the obese beagle reported below if we do not watch how much he eats as Jack has a bottomless pit... ha..ha....

A dog so obese he is unable to walk has been being placed on an extreme low-fat diet by vets.

Patch weighed 28kg when he was brought in to the Dogs Trust centre in Glasgow just before Christmas after his owner passed away.

His legs could not support his weight - roughly equivalent to an eight-year-old child - so he had to be carried around in a special harness.

The centre's staff want to get the six-year-old Beagle Cross into shape.

Their aim over the next few months is to slim him down to a more manageable 15kg.

Patch's weight leaves him at grave risk of developing heart failure, diabetes, liver disease, pancreatitis or arthritis.

Dogs that have been overfed can exercise to reduce their weight - what has happened with Patch is that his weight has prevented him exercising

However, he risks organ failure if he loses weight too quickly.

Staff are therefore placing him on a gradual exercise programme, consisting of short daily walks in his harness and hydrotherapy sessions.

So please do not over-feed your dogs .....!