The SPCA has warned pet owners not to over-feed their animals after an Auckland woman was prosecuted for failing to meet the health needs of her “morbidly obese” dog.
The dog, named Nuggi, weighed 53.7kg when he came into the SPCA’s care in October 2021 after police carried out a search warrant at the woman’s Manurewa property.
The SPCA’s scientific officer Alison Vaughan told Breakfast that Nuggi was at the “extreme end” of the obesity scale, but that obesity among companion animals was a “growing issue” worldwide.
“We know from surveys that 45% of people would actually identify an overweight dog as ideal weight. Our sense of what is normal has really shifted, so it can make it really difficult for people to figure out if their pet is at a good weight.
“Most vets watching will recognise that many companion animals are getting chubby… not just dogs but cats, rabbits, even horses.”
Vaughan said there were a few key markers of a healthy animal that owners should look for in their own pet.
“A healthy animal, when viewed from above, you’d be able to see a nice waist and you should be able to feel their ribs. They shouldn’t be poking out, but you should be able to feel them,” she said.
“If it feels like your knuckles, that’s too skinny. If it feels like the palm of your hand, that’s too chubby.”
She demonstrated how to feel the back of your own hand to mimic the feeling of a healthy pet’s ribs as a “good way of checking in”.
“We just need to be checking and regulating. If they are getting chubby, reduce their feeding.
“If that’s not helping, check in with your vet and they can help you out with things like diet.”
Vaughan said products such as “puzzle feeders” could be useful tools for helping animals slow down their eating and feel fuller for longer.
“This means that they’re literally having to play with their food, so it takes them a bit more time, it’s more interactive and when we think about how our pets would eat naturally, they’d have to do a bit more work for their food.”
Anyone with concerns about the health of their own pet should contact their vet in the first instance and check the SPCA’s website for more advice on animal welfare.