Roxanne can now run and play with her ball.

RSPCA shares story to highlight pet obesity.

An eight-year-old Staffordshire terrier cross who came into the care of the RSPCA has shed half her body weight after arriving at the RSPCA's Crewe, Nantwich and District branch morbidly obese.

Roxanne arrived at the RSPCA in October 2021 weighing a staggering 38.5kg, and couldn't walk without becoming out of breath.

The animal welfare charity is sharing Roxanne's story to remind pet owners that pet obesity is a serious issue, and to encourage owners of overweight pets to consult their veterinary surgeon to rule out underlying health conditions and create a plan to support them.

An exercise and diet plan was quickly put together for Roxanne, and she started hydrotherapy, which helped her to safely lose the extra weight without putting too much pressure on her joints.

Angela Chan, dog rehoming coordinator at the branch, discussed Roxanne's experience: “Roxanne was clearly well-loved but had been over-indulged over the years with lots of unhealthy treats and was morbidly obese. She could barely move due to her weight.

“We put Roxanne onto a sensible diet immediately and, although her progress was slow, she started to shed the weight. 

“She now weighs 21.1kg and the vet, who has been monitoring her closely over the last 10 months, is happy for her to officially be discharged as pet slimming supaw star of the year!

“We slowly increased her walks and it’s so lovely now that she’s able to enjoy exercise, running and even playing with her ball!”

In sharing Roxanne's weight loss experience, the RSPCA hopes to encourage pet owners that it is achievable for their pets, and to remind owners of the dangers that obesity presents for animals.

RSPCA chief veterinary officer Caroline Allen shared guidance for owners: “Pet obesity is a serious welfare issue and recent studies have suggested that around half of all pet dogs are overweight. We are, quite literally, killing our pets with kindness.

“Obesity can affect all types of pets and the main causes are from eating too much or not exercising enough. As a rough guide (for cats and dogs), you should be able to see and feel the outline of their ribs without excess fat covering them. 

“You should also be able to see and feel their waist and it should clearly ‘pinch in’ when you look down at them from above.

“Overweight pets can suffer from serious health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. Carrying more body weight can also increase the chances of pets suffering from conditions such as arthritis and can even shorten their life expectancy.

“If you’re worried about your pet’s weight, we’d recommend speaking to your vet before making any significant diet or lifestyle changes and ruling out any health conditions that may be affecting their weight.”

Image (C) RSPCA