Springer spaniel Myrtle ditches pork pies to become slimming champion

Dog owners, Sue and Michael Thomas, turned to Raoul Dowding Vets in Gainsborough for help to manage Myrtle’s weight and diet after their pet piled on the pounds.

They attended free weight clinics at the Gainsborough surgery, which held a three month Weight Reduction and Mobility Campaign, during March, April and May, in an attempt to tackle the problem of pet obesity among pets in Lincolnshire.

Myrtle tipped the scales at 5st 3lbs but, after being advised to stop feeding her pork pies, biscuits, scraps from their plates and too many treats, the black and white Springer now weighs a much healthier 4st 4lbs.

All pets who signed up for Dowdings’ Weight Reduction and Mobility Campaign were assessed to find the animal with the biggest weight loss and Myrtle has now won a year’s supply of Hill’s Prescription Diet pet food.

Sue said: “Once Myrtle was spayed she put weight on and was getting too many treats, which made her gain even more weight. We took her sister Audrey into Dowding Vets as she had a leg problem and the staff recommended they both got some weight off.

“We have been going into the vets for eight weeks for help and advice, and they’ve both lost weight, so we will be keeping them on their healthier regime.”

Dowdings head nurse, Jane Ridgway, said: “Myrtle is the big success story of our Weight Reduction and Mobility Campaign because of the dedication of her owners.

“We gave them advice on changing her lifestyle and diet, and the results have been fantastic. A lot of people don’t realise their pets are overweight, so it is a worrying situation, and we would encourage people to seek our help and advice.”