Fat dog

[123everton]

Did anyone see the story in todays Metro about an over weight dog called Rusty? Health issues aside, is it just me, or does he look happier as a fatty?

[messyjessy12]

same with humans,always seems like the big person of the group is happier and fun,but are they really?

[FKNelectro]

is rusty the hugely fat lab?
my dog is a yellow lab, and she used to be HUGE, and i mean huge, shes a reasonable sized dog, and right now shes something between 4 or 5 stone, before she was 7 or 8 stone, and her bum was HUGE

[123everton]

Big fat black Lab (11 stone) but sat there bold as brass with a big fat tum and his tongue hanging out. Then comes the "after" shot he just looks so sad, he looks so sad you'd have to give him a biccie.
Sorry I can't do the cut and paste thing, I'm not very computerist mentis!

[lankeela]

Don't get me started on this! I have a real problem with people who let their dogs get overweight to the extent that it affects their health. If they were that much underweight they would be prosecuted for cruelty. Whats worse is the canine slimmer of the year competitions where the owners win a holiday etc.

Its not hard to feed a dog correctly and give it the right amount of exercise. Some people don't deserve to have a dog.

[fredpuli47]

Absolutely Lankeela. Though isn't a problem with labs that they are such greedy guts in the first place that innocent owners tend to think that the dog must have a need to eat more, and is happier when it is fatter? But how anyone can let a medium dog, even a lab, get to eleven stone , is beyond me !

[leelapops]

I have to agree with lankeela and fred. I think it's appaling when people allow their dogs to become overweight. Jack, our BC, has had weight fluctuations, for example when he was ill and we couldn't find out what was wrong (eventually a Gluten intolerance was diagnosed). But he has never been 'overweight'.

Dogs don't feed themselves. It is entirely the owner's responsibility, and I can;t understand why you would indulge a dog to such an extent. At the end of the day an overweight dog often has an impaired quality of life, and can suffer severe health implications.

If I want to eat crap and get fat I will (and do!) but my dog certainly won't be subjected to it.

x

[lankeela]

"Ask your vet about taking part in the Hill's Pet Slimmer programme and you could win �2,000 of holiday vouchers, a year's supply of pet food and �500 of pet accessories."

How long before someone deliberately overfeeds their pet so they can they slim them down and win all this?

[leelapops]

lankeela, that is so wrong! I can't believe that would be an active promotion. They are looking at the problem the wrong way round.

"Take part in our Pet Slimmer programme and we won't report you to the RSPCA and have your pet taken from you as you are incapable of caring for it" would perhaps be a more appropriate tagline?

[wolf63]

I agree that some of the dogs are really fat and unfit, neither of my dogs were overweight - but I was!

I am reading this thread with a really pathetic and horrible "meowing" sound in the background - "feed me fatso" he says over and over again.

I think some of us are guilty in feeding our animals more food just to get a quiet life. I think that he is a labradorcat.

[leelapops]

wolf, that's funny! Oh dear...

I suppose I don't have the pressure of a labrador's big sad eyes when it comes to food, as Jack isn't as obsessive about food as that. My friend's black lab will just come and sit in front of you with pleading eyes if you are out on the front with a snack. It's as if he didn't get enough dog food and vegetables to power a house!

[Ice.Maiden]

It's cruel to over-feed animals, but I have to say that I like to see one which's a bit chubby.