Kanga
03-09-2007, 01:05 AM
Now The Dogs Suffering From Eating Disorders
from UK Lifestyle Article Friday, 9th March 2007, 07:27
Now even Britain's dogs are suffering from eating disorders, reveals new research.
In fact, half of the UK's 6.8 million dogs are now officially overweight, and there has been a surge in popularity in doggy anti-obesity drugs, and 'fat clinics' where podgy pet pooches can check in for training and diet tips.
But a canine compulsion to swallow strange and potentially dangerous items - from steak knives to lightbulbs - is making life a misery for dog owners nationwide who are forking out ?1.1 billion on pet insurance.
Dog experts say that Retrievers and Labradors are the most likely breeds to be obsessed with having things in their mouths.
And German Shepherds are the most susceptible breed to developing pica, an eating disorder where potentially dangerous non-food items are compulsively consumed.
But this unpalatable behaviour is costing British dog owners more than ?1 billion a year in vets' fees, according to price comparison site BeatThatQuote.com, as well as the ?22,000 that it takes on average to own a dog during its lifetime.
Favourite snacks for dogs gripped with the compulsion to swallow everything in sight include light bulbs, batteries, staples and even kitchen knives.
One dog reportedly had eight assorted batteries, a plastic racoon, seven rocks, a marble, two broken light bulbs, machine parts and a variety of staples in his stomach, while another ate 14 golf balls.
Dog experts say that, unlike other breeds, Labradors and Retrievers remain orally fixated beyond their teething stages and will attempt to drag, pull or carry anything they can fit into their mouths.
But uninsured pet owners are unlikely to be amused by this beastly behaviour, as emergency surgery to remove foreign objects can cost between ?300 and ?1,500 - or even more if their pet is a serial swallower.
And last year, it was reported that only one-in-five dogs is insured, with many owners more willing to hope for the best than to pay premiums on pet cover, which came to ?1.1 billion last year.
Sophie Neary, director of BeatThatQuote.com, said that the increase in overweight dogs could be linked to the soaring obesity rates among British people.
She said: "We haven't seen any anorexic dogs yet, that's for sure, just the other way around.
"The bad eating habits of dogs are obviously something that people are becoming aware of now. There's a new anti-obesity drug for dogs called Yarvita, and I think what's happening is that the dogs are following the habits of their owners.
"As more people are becoming overweight and eating too much, they are spoiling their dogs with the same treats.
"It does seem to be that different dogs have different habits. If you have a Labrador or a Retriever, it may well add something to your insurance premium because they are known to be more likely to swallow things they shouldn't."
Ms Neary said that the research proved how important it was to make sure your dog was insured.
She added: "The issue that we have is that only one-in-five dogs are insured. If something happens to an insured dog, then you're covered, but if you're not the costs could be huge.
"The average cost of owning a dog is ?22,000 over their lifetime. There's a huge amount of cost involved in owning a dog, and you can manage some of that by being insured, so if it gets run over or swallows something silly, you're covered.
"It's not just medical bills that are covered by a typical insurance policy. If your dog damages other peoples' property or - worse still - causes an accident, you are covered for damages and legal fees too."
Pet owners in the south need to be the most careful when protecting their pooches, as they get hit with higher vets bills and insurance premiums.
The ?530 cost to treat a dog with a broken leg in Sheffield would double in Bristol, and come to nearly four times that amount in London.
And highly bred pedigree dogs like Border Collies incur higher insurance premiums, and are also more susceptible to hereditary illnesses, and more likely to need medical attention than hardier crossbreeds.
Ten Strange Things Dogs Have Reportedly Swallowed:
1. 2-carat diamond engagement ring
2. 11-inch steak knife
3. A live pet turtle
4. Mobile phone
5. Car immobiliser chip
6. Mistress?s knickers
7. Light bulb
8. Batteries
9. Rolex watch
10. Stage props
from UK Lifestyle Article Friday, 9th March 2007, 07:27
Now even Britain's dogs are suffering from eating disorders, reveals new research.
In fact, half of the UK's 6.8 million dogs are now officially overweight, and there has been a surge in popularity in doggy anti-obesity drugs, and 'fat clinics' where podgy pet pooches can check in for training and diet tips.
But a canine compulsion to swallow strange and potentially dangerous items - from steak knives to lightbulbs - is making life a misery for dog owners nationwide who are forking out ?1.1 billion on pet insurance.
Dog experts say that Retrievers and Labradors are the most likely breeds to be obsessed with having things in their mouths.
And German Shepherds are the most susceptible breed to developing pica, an eating disorder where potentially dangerous non-food items are compulsively consumed.
But this unpalatable behaviour is costing British dog owners more than ?1 billion a year in vets' fees, according to price comparison site BeatThatQuote.com, as well as the ?22,000 that it takes on average to own a dog during its lifetime.
Favourite snacks for dogs gripped with the compulsion to swallow everything in sight include light bulbs, batteries, staples and even kitchen knives.
One dog reportedly had eight assorted batteries, a plastic racoon, seven rocks, a marble, two broken light bulbs, machine parts and a variety of staples in his stomach, while another ate 14 golf balls.
Dog experts say that, unlike other breeds, Labradors and Retrievers remain orally fixated beyond their teething stages and will attempt to drag, pull or carry anything they can fit into their mouths.
But uninsured pet owners are unlikely to be amused by this beastly behaviour, as emergency surgery to remove foreign objects can cost between ?300 and ?1,500 - or even more if their pet is a serial swallower.
And last year, it was reported that only one-in-five dogs is insured, with many owners more willing to hope for the best than to pay premiums on pet cover, which came to ?1.1 billion last year.
Sophie Neary, director of BeatThatQuote.com, said that the increase in overweight dogs could be linked to the soaring obesity rates among British people.
She said: "We haven't seen any anorexic dogs yet, that's for sure, just the other way around.
"The bad eating habits of dogs are obviously something that people are becoming aware of now. There's a new anti-obesity drug for dogs called Yarvita, and I think what's happening is that the dogs are following the habits of their owners.
"As more people are becoming overweight and eating too much, they are spoiling their dogs with the same treats.
"It does seem to be that different dogs have different habits. If you have a Labrador or a Retriever, it may well add something to your insurance premium because they are known to be more likely to swallow things they shouldn't."
Ms Neary said that the research proved how important it was to make sure your dog was insured.
She added: "The issue that we have is that only one-in-five dogs are insured. If something happens to an insured dog, then you're covered, but if you're not the costs could be huge.
"The average cost of owning a dog is ?22,000 over their lifetime. There's a huge amount of cost involved in owning a dog, and you can manage some of that by being insured, so if it gets run over or swallows something silly, you're covered.
"It's not just medical bills that are covered by a typical insurance policy. If your dog damages other peoples' property or - worse still - causes an accident, you are covered for damages and legal fees too."
Pet owners in the south need to be the most careful when protecting their pooches, as they get hit with higher vets bills and insurance premiums.
The ?530 cost to treat a dog with a broken leg in Sheffield would double in Bristol, and come to nearly four times that amount in London.
And highly bred pedigree dogs like Border Collies incur higher insurance premiums, and are also more susceptible to hereditary illnesses, and more likely to need medical attention than hardier crossbreeds.
Ten Strange Things Dogs Have Reportedly Swallowed:
1. 2-carat diamond engagement ring
2. 11-inch steak knife
3. A live pet turtle
4. Mobile phone
5. Car immobiliser chip
6. Mistress?s knickers
7. Light bulb
8. Batteries
9. Rolex watch
10. Stage props