63% of pets sick after eating Christmas leftovers

Almost two thirds (63 per cent) of UK pet owners said their animals had been sick after gorging on Christmas leftovers, according to research published today.

The survey by animal charity the Blue Cross also showed that 17 per cent of owners said their pets had been sick from eating too much chocolate, while nine per cent of owners admitted that their animal had choked on bones from the turkey.

Blue Cross chief vet Mark Bossley said: "Our pets aren't so different from us and they will over-indulge given the chance – most of us do at Christmas time!

"While it's lovely for pets to enjoy some treats too, do take care not to overfeed your animals to avoid a miserable Christmas.

"It's also best to keep leftovers and chocolate, which is poisonous to some pets, out of temptation's way."

Mark added: "Obesity is one of the biggest problems facing pets in the UK and the consequences to their health can be very serious.

"But it's never too late to tackle the problem and there are lots of ways you can help them to get healthy again.

"Make sure you take your dog for regular walks, introduce active games for both cats and dogs and your vet can advise you on a healthy, calorie-controlled diet."

The poll of 507 pet owners was carried out by nfpSynergy on behalf of The Blue Cross in December 2010.

The Blue Cross promotes animal welfare, rehomes thousands of homeless animals every year and provides subsidised vet care for those on lower incomes.

For more information on the charity and advice on getting pets into shape visit www.bluecross.org.uk.