Fluffy balls of fat!

By Shaun Inguanzo
A PET obesity epidemic has struck Greater Dandenong with some of the fat, fluffy friends weighing as much as human beings.
But two veterinary nurses from Noble Park Animal Hospital are hoping to buck the growing trend, which they say affects 50 per cent of dogs brought into the clinic, by organising a unique canine boot camp.
Sarah Davies and Kelly Caldwell are getting ready to unleash Paw Camp in Noble Park later this month and this week urged dog owners to take better responsibility for their pets’ health by providing them with regular exercise and proper nutrition.
As an example of the obesity epidemic, Ms Davies and Ms Caldwell showed Star one of the animal hospital’s clients – a four-year-old female labrador named Bailey, who currently weighs 45 kilograms – almost 13 kilograms over the recommended weight – but who once weighed an unbelievable 68 kilograms.
While Bailey’s case is extreme, Ms Caldwell said at least 50 per cent of dogs the clinic had seen were obese, and a about 80 per cent of their owners were also tipping the scales.
Ms Davies said people weren’t aware of the dangers of feeding their dogs anything other than designated dog food.
The vet clinic has a conversion chart to put the nitty gritty in terms that anyone can understand.
A sweet biscuit to a dog is what a greasy hamburger is to a human, while the same can be said for 30 grams of cheese – which is like a person devouring a whole block of chocolate.
And the Aussie favourite, the humble sausage, means Rover will have had the equivalent of six doughnuts by the time he has finished the tasty treat.
Ms Caldwell said vets performed a lot of knee surgery on animals because they were overweight.
The two nurses are now finalising their own project aimed at culling the obesity rate.
Paw Camp will launch on Sunday 18 November at Ross Reserve in Noble Park with the support of the City of Greater Dandenong council.
Attendants and their companions will perform exercises and learn about good pet nutrition, with the last half hour devoted to a weigh-in a la The Biggest Loser, and a debriefing period for dog owners to discuss tips and techniques for keeping their canines healthy.
Paw Camp is a free event and kicks off at 12.30pm and runs until 2pm, with anyone – and their dog – being encouraged to attend.
Ms Caldwell and Ms Davies said the day would be a good social opportunity for owners, too.
Prizes, festive stalls and pet welfare information booths will be available on the day.
For more information contact either Sarah Davies or Kelly Caldwell on 9547 8666, or email pawcamp@hotmail.com.