The feeding of inappropriate diets, one of the root causes fuelling the UK’s pet obesity epidemic, shows no sign of letting up - if anything the problem is set to get even worse based on what owners told the charity for the PAW report.

While a high percentage of owners understand that overweight pets will have a shortened lifespan (91%) and an increased risk of ill health due to obesity (93%), and 95% believe owners have overall responsibility to learn about their pet’s dietary needs, it appears this isn’t translating into positive action. 

Despite acknowledging the consequences of pet obesity, millions of pet owners are still providing unsuitable diets for their companions with the levels of unsuitable treats being fed, rising.

Diets are being influenced by human emotion rather than an understanding of what pets really need, with 48% of owners motivated to feed treats because of the short-term happiness it appears to bring to their animal companions. Even more worrying, 29% of owners feed treats because it makes them feel happy.

Putting emotion aside, owners do have strong opinions on what should happen if people persistently fail to heed warnings and act on veterinary advice about their pets’ weight - with 61% believing that severely overweight pets should be removed from an owner in such cases.

Dr Alex German, leading animal obesity specialist at the University of Liverpool Veterinary School, says: “I am pleased to see PDSA stressing the important message that obesity is entirely preventable. Prevention is vital to reduce the number of overweight and obese pets, and a key benefit of PDSA’s research would be to help set a national agenda on pet obesity prevention.”

Further PAW Report findings:

As well as serious issues regarding pet behaviour and obesity, the PAW Report has also uncovered other health and welfare failings:

• The fate of millions more pets could be at risk for generations to come as hundreds of children who were surveyed for this year’s report lack basic knowledge about animal welfare needs. Whilst 76% of children think they should be taught at school about caring for pets, only 16% actually have been.
• Around 2.5 million dogs, cats and rabbits still aren’t registered with a vet, 4.5 million aren’t vaccinated and over 4 million aren’t neutered. The consequence of neglecting the health needs of pets can prove fatal. Pets that aren’t vaccinated or neutered are at serious risk of developing potentially fatal illnesses such as parvovirus, cat flu or pyometra.
• When it comes to cost, nearly half of vets and vet nurses believe that the financial responsibility of looking after pets is one of the least understood aspects of pet ownership. This is particularly worrying as 17% of owners surveyed for the report said they would consider giving up their pet due to the associated costs if they became too much. This increases to 33% amongst 18-24 year old pet owners who are currently some of the most financially challenged people in the UK due to the uncertain job market.
• 47% of those surveyed think prospective pet owners should pass a test before taking on a pet, but children feel this is even more important with 65% of them agreeing that everyone taking on a pet should take a test first.
•  92% of pet owners agree that all pet owners should have a basic understanding of the five welfare needs as outlined in the Animal Welfare Act (2006), yet over two thirds of owners (69%) are not familiar with the Act.

As part of its launch of the 2012 PAW Report PDSA has created a special animation designed to support the pet owning public and increase their basic understanding of pets’ needs. The charity is calling on animal lovers across the nation to view the animation, download the report and commit to making a better life for pets www.abetterlifeforpets.co.uk