21 July 2008

Pet owners giving their furry friends sugary snacks is one of the most common causes of obesity in animals.

Sean Wensley, leading veterinary surgeon, has revealed that many owners are giving their pets unsuitable food such as chips, cheese, curry and ice cream.

Mr Wensley warns that human serving sizes are far too big for animals to cope with.

"A single biscuit is like a packet of biscuits or a single crisp is like a packet of crisps," he said.

Pet owners have also been reminded that some of their favourite foods may actually be poisonous to their animals.

For instance, chocolate can lead to heart failure in dogs due to the presence of theobromine which acts as a stimulant.

Another potentially dangerous food is avocado which can also affect the heart in rodents and can irritate the stomach of dogs and cats.

Dogs can also be negatively affected by eating macadamia nuts, garlic and onions.