Hungry hound
Britain has got some of the unhealthiest pets in Europe as a result of overfeeding and under exercise. Take a look at these chubby creatures and maybe you'll think twice about plying Butch with those extra Boneo's. 50% of dogs and cats in the UK are overweight, but 76% of owners think their pet is a healthy weight (Hill's pet research).



Food thief
Sally is a 13-year-old tortoiseshell cat from Sheffield. One of the main reasons for Sally's whopping 6.2kg weight is the fact that she steals unwanted food from the other household cat, Felix. She's 77% overweight.



Fat rat
As with humans, the risk of a pet becoming fatter increases throughout its life. In that case, this rodent must be 106.



Pampered pooch
Max is a seven-year-old 'miniature' poodle from Leicester. But at 14.7kg he’s 47% overweight and more like a 'giant' poodle.



Bunny blubber
Britain's first animal 'fat clinic' opened in Liverpool in 2005. Looks like the owners of this floppy-eared fatso could do with booking him in.



Just say no...
Giving titbits to animals is a growing problem. One biscuit to a cat is like a human eating a whole packet.



Piggy pug
Some breeds of dog are more predisposed to developing weight problems.



What a cat-astrophe!
Molly Youngling's 11-year-old indoor cat Zippy weighs in at a hefty 40-or-so pounds.



Fat fish
Okay, so this last image is for comedy effect, but this is a serious issue. If your pet's weight is showing signs of getting out of control, act now before it's too late. Stop overfeeding your animal and introduce increased walks and activity over time. Regular weight checks, a balanced diet and exercise can drastically improve the health of your pet.