http://animal.discovery.com/news/afp/20060424/porky.html

April 28, 2006 — British pet owners were warned this week in a report from
an animal protection society of the dangers of overfeeding their animals
with excessive quantities of sugar and fat.

"Feeding your pet full English breakfasts, chocolate, chips, burgers and
too much pet food may make you feel like a kind and loving owner," said
David Grant, a veterinarian working for the Royal Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

"But it could give your pet fatty tumors, diabetes, arthritis, high blood
pressure, liver failure, skin problems — and, even worse, an early death."

Of 143 veterinarians questioned by the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals for the report, 80 percent reported a steep rise in the
number of cases of overweight pets.

More than three quarters — 76 percent — had started special fat clinics to
reduce the girth of pets.

One owner in three of 2,300 questioned acknowledged that their four-legged
friend was too fat. For cats, the figure was above 50 percent.

One man used to feed his dog a breakfast of egg, sausage and bacon until it
became so fat it could not move and had to be put down. He was banned for
life from keeping animals, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals said.

"People who let their pets starve are labeled cruel and callous, but what
people don't realize is that overfeeding your pet can cause just as much
suffering as starving it," Grant said.

"A fat dog may look cute and cuddly but in reality you are killing it with
kindness. An animal only needs to be slightly over its ideal body weight
for health problems to begin," he said.

"If you think your pet is overweight, consult your vet today and show your
animal that you really do care about them."