Many dog owners think it isn’t a big deal to give their pup a few extra treats when they’re being good or giving in and allowing them a few bites of their leftovers when they beg.
However, one UK dog owner learned the hard way that those innocent indulgences can add up when Millie the Dalmatian ended up gaining so much weight that she weighed as much as an adult person. Normally, healthy Dalmatians weight anywhere from 44-55 pounds.
After years of being over-fed and not being taken out to exercise enough, the nine-year-old dog ended up weighing 147 pounds. With all the extra weight, Millie started struggling to move around and her owner ended up giving her to an animal care home since they couldn’t care for her anymore.
The team from Dogs Trust in Glasgow immediately got to work and set up a plan to get her to exercise more and eat healthier meals. “Excess weight puts strain on a dog’s body, particularly the heart and joints, so it’s really important that every dog has regular exercise and isn’t over-fed,” said Dogs Trust Deputy Veterinary Director Runa Hanaghan.
Millie has already started losing weight and has even found a new home that plans on continuing her new healthy lifestyle. “When we first saw Millie on the Dogs Trust website, we were instantly won over by her smile.
Older dogs have so much to give as they get a new lease of life when they find a loving home,” said new owner Astra Foster. “We plan on making sure Millie continues her healthy new lifestyle and look forward to jumping in the car, getting out of the city and going for long walks in the country.”
Do you think it’s animal cruelty that Millie’s owner let her get SO big? Let us know what you think in the comments below, and please SHARE this with friends on Facebook.
[Featured Image: SWNS]
Dalmation Who Weighed As Much As A Human Goes On A Strict Diet is an article from: LifeDaily