Hundreds of pet parents and their four-legged friends are expected to take part in Petmania’s Operation TransPAWmation community dog walk in Santry this weekend.
The free event will take place from 12 noon on Sunday, March 15 at Petmania in Gulliver’s Retail Park, Santry. Early arrival is advised.
Petmania’s experts will be on hand on the day providing free weight checks and body condition score checks for every dog that takes part, along with tips and advice on how to form healthier habits for your pet.
Petmania is urging pet parents of dogs and cats to understand the health impacts
linked to being overweight.
Sixty percent of dogs are now classified as obese which can lead to health complications like arthritis, cardio-respiratory problems and ligament rupture. It significantly reduces a pet’s life expectancy and their wellbeing.
These troubling figures prompted Petmania to conduct its own survey into the health and lifestyle habits of Irish pet owners throughout December and January.
The survey revealed:
*43 per cent have not weighed their dog in the last three months; 53 per cent of cat owners have not weighed their cat in the same period; 30 per cent are unsure when their cat was last weighed, if at all; and a further eight per cent said they have never checked their dog’s weight.
*Less than half (46 per cent) of the respondents knew what an ideal ‘Body Condition Score’ for their pet should be.
*28 per cent do not measure their dog’s meals and choose to free pour; 63 percent free pour their cat’s food.
*36 percent give treats because their cat begged; 39per cent give dog treats two or more times each day.
*18 per cent of respondents said their dog gets less than 30 minutes of exercise each day, pet owners observed that their cat spent most of their day sleeping. Four percent of dog owners admit that their dog gets no exercise.
Operation TransPAWmation is currently running in Petmania until the end of March. Each dog that takes part will receive a booklet with top tips on preventing obesity and forming healthier habits. They will also go into Petmania’s draw to win a hamper of goodies.
For more information or to see the full survey results, visit www.petmania.ie