It's not just people who pile on the pounds, but often our pet pals do too.
But as pet owners we have a responsibility to keep our dogs (and other animals of course) healthy, which includes managing their weight.
Pet charity the PDSA have even launched their annual 'Pet Fit Club' where they search for the UK's fattest pets in a bid to help them scrub the chub.
Up to 15 overweight pets (dogs, cats, rabbits and rats) from across the UK will be chosen to participate in Pet Fit Club.
Selected pets are then placed on a six-month diet and exercise programme, individually tailored to their needs and overseen by vets and vet nurses at their local PDSA Pet Hospital.
But before they get too fat, is there a way that we can stop them putting on excess weight first?
Grain free pet food brand, Canagan have put together their top tips on how you can help keep your best friend maintain a healthy weight.
The right weight for your dog depends on its breed; Whippets, for example, have vastly different parameters to Newfoundlands.
Theres a healthy weight range for each breed, and if your dog falls within this, there should be no cause for concern.
Weight changes often arent that noticeable, especially if the change is gradual and over time. If you are worried about your dogs weight, there are some key visual indicators that can help determine if theyre under or overweight.
Are the ribs, backbone or other bones visible? Can you see them from a distance? If so, this could be a sign that your dog is underweight.
Can you barely see the rib cage or not at all? This could indicate that your dog is overweight. There are also other medical issues that could cause bloating, so if this is the case, its best to book an appointment with your vet to rule these out
Does your dog have a large/bloated looking stomach that hangs too low? This is another sign that they may be carrying a few too many pounds.
How can you control your dogs diet for weight loss?
Here are some tips to start your dogs weight loss journey:
What is the best dog food for maintaining a healthy weight?
Whilst exercise is a good way to help your dog lose weight, sometimes, due to illness or old age, dogs can be less active.
Senior dogs are often a lot less mobile, meaning they burn less calories, so their food should contain a lower percentage of fats and fewer carbs.
Cutting out carbohydrates can also be helpful, but make sure you cut out the right ones. Grains all contain high levels of carbohydrates which release their energy quickly so are best to avoid, but sweet potato releases energy slowly and is a great source of soluble fibre, so this makes a great addition to your dogs diet.
Keep a note of your dogs weight to monitor their progress and remember that slow and steady wins the race a healthy rate of weight loss is one per cent per week. If you begin to see a dramatic change, visit your vet to rule out any other health issues.
If you do switch your dog onto a grain-free dog food, it is quite common for them to appear hungry initially. As grain-free food is often full of higher quality ingredients, this means that the quantity you will be feeding them is less.
Their stomach will need time to adjust to this decreased amount of food, but dont worry, your dog will still be getting all their dietary needs met in the recommended portion size.
How do you stop your dog begging?
Why your dog is begging in the first place? More often than not, its because weve reinforced this behaviour as we want to give them treats every now and again, but this is a slippery slope.
Here are some top tips to break this cycle:
Read more:
Fat and furry - top tips on how to stop your pooches getting pudgy - Gloucestershire Live
