Huxley Hounds London Dog Photography
We are loving our pets to death. Daily treats of crisps, cake and scraps from our dinner plates, combined with a lack of exercise, are all contributing to the new epidemic in pet health: obesity.
Experts have been ringing the alarm bells for some time now. A recent report by charity PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals) found that 80% of the vets they questioned listed obesity as one of their top welfare concerns.
Sharing our own food isn’t the only problem. The Pet Food Manufacturer’s Association says we spent more than half a billion pounds on dog and cat treats alone last year. All in all, it’s not surprising that current scientific literature estimates that more than 40% of dogs are overweight.
If I’m honest, I’m guilty as charged. I’ve never owned a dog or a cat but our hamster is spoiled rotten. The kids love sharing their croissants with him.
Weybridge-based Mike Deane of company Huxley Hound is all too familiar with our weakness for spoiling our animals. It’s the reason he and wife Zena started their healthy pet snack business, which does a roaring trade in organic vegetable treats. Who’d have thought dogs were partial to dried parsnips?
In fact, you may remember seeing Mike, Zena and their adorable Miniature Dachshund Huxley, when they appeared on BBC’s Dragon’s Den last year, securing backing from entrepreneur Jenny Campbell.
“Our relationship with canine companions has changed markedly in recent years,” says Mike. “It used to be humans first, dogs second. Now, they are considered part of the family on a par with the children. They are hugely loved. So, we want to indulge them.”
To quote that PDSA report again: “Owners aren’t acting out of cruelty, in most cases they’re overfeeding or ‘treating’ to show their love and affection. A much healthier way to do this is to take them for an extra walk or give them more playtime.”
While great strides have been made with pet food (see right for a list of raw food suppliers in Surrey), pet snacks are a different story. Even feeding specially made dog treats – as opposed to leftovers – has its pitfalls. “Many manufacturers are still in the Dark Ages,” says Mike. “The treats are packed full of calories.
“Dogs – unlike cats – are omnivores,” adds Mike. “Wolves in the wild eat a mix of larger prey, smaller prey and vegetation. They can digest plant matter, although we’ve discovered that nutrients are much easier for the dog to absorb when the vegetables are dehydrated.”
Giving low-calorie, nutrient-rich snacks is certainly one way of helping our pets. “Greedy dogs benefit the most from snacks like ours,” adds Mike. They are even good enough for humans to eat.”
Perhaps I should invest in some for the hamster... And myself.
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