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Is your pet losing the battle of the bulge?

Just like their owners, a growing number of British pets are becoming obese and face chronic illnesses such as heart complaint, diabetes and arthritis, according to research.
Combination of two undated handout photographs shows Mischief the cat before and after losing weight
A combination of two undated photographs shows a cat named Mischief before, left, and after losing weight. Mischief lost 11 pounds in nine months and won Britain's pet slimmer of the year competition in 2005.Reuters
/ Source: Reuters

Just like their owners, a growing number of British pets are becoming obese and face chronic illnesses such as heart complaint, diabetes and arthritis, according to research on Friday.

A survey of British vets and owners showed that one in three pets, or 33 percent, were considered overweight and 38 percent of pet owners said their animals put on weight over Christmas.

Despite this, few owners plan to put their pets on a diet.

“Pets, like their owners, tend to expand a little over the Christmas period,” said Frances Wright at Halifax Pet Insurance, who conducted the survey.

The survey said signs of obesity included a sagging stomach, bulging sides and a reluctance to take exercise.

About 30,000 human deaths a year in Britain are attributable to obesity, health experts say.