Warning to owners not to overindulge pets over the festive season

It’s not just humans who are set to overindulge this Christmas, with owners expected to feed their dogs an extra 12 treats on Christmas day – 62 per cent more calories than their daily recommendation. This Christmas could see canine waistlines grow significantly!

It seems we can’t resist spoiling our four-legged friends, with 97 per cent of dog owners – 17.4 million people – giving their pets a treat at Christmas. The most commonly given treats at Christmas are: human food such as leftover turkey and Christmas pudding (71 per cent), soft treats (68 per cent), dental chews (64 per cent) and hard treats (62 per cent).

The research by Direct Line Pet Insurance found extra-small dogs, such as Yorkshire Terriers, Toy Poodles and Pomeranians, are to be most at risk of piling on the pounds this festive period, consuming more than twice the recommended number of calories in treats alone.

Aston spoke to TV vet and author Emma Milne.

Photo by Berkay Gumustekin on Unsplash