Well he is a CHOCOLATE Labrador! Obese dog Jenson sheds a third of his nine stone weight after slimming down with a diet of PEARS
- Jenson, nine, a chocolate Labrador, has lost an incredible 17.6kg (2st and 10lbs)
- He was put on diet of fruit and veg after owners heard he may die from obesity
- Pet had taken a liking to sugary treats that saw him balloon to 58kg (9st)
- Owners should remove seeds from fruit before feeding it to pets as they contain traces of cyanide
An obese dog has shed a third of his body weight after slimming down on a bizarre diet of pears and carrot.
Jenson, a chocolate Labrador, has lost an incredible 2st and 10lbs (17.6kg) after being put on a weight loss plan by vets concerned about his size.
The nine-year-old pet had taken a liking to sugary treats that led to his weight to balloon to 9st (58kg).
Jenson’s owners were warned could die due to his obesity when he was checked by a vet and found to weigh a whopping 58kg
Owners David and Margaret Quinton were advised to introduce sweet-tasting pears into his diet to replace the unhealthy snacks.
And since setting off on his weight loss journey, Jenson has slimmed down to 6st and 6lbs (41kg). He still has another 14lbs (6kg) to go before he reaches his target weight.
Mr Quinton, 76, from Poole, Dorset, said that before the dramatic weight loss he had been warned Jenson could die due to his obesity.
He said: ‘I had to take him to the vets because he had a bad tooth but I was told by the vet that they couldn’t put him under anaesthetic because it could kill him.
David Quinton with his Labrador Jenson, has lost 2st and 10lbs following a weight loss programme by Registered Veterinary nurse Gisela Luckhurst
‘He was then given a new diet plan and it’s been absolutely remarkable.
‘The nurse said that we should try him on fruit and veg rather than sugary dog treats and it has worked wonders.
‘He took to the pears straight away and even kept staring at them up in the fruit bowl.
‘It’s now just become a thing that after his lunch he has to have a pear afterwards.’
Provided they are cut into bitesize chunks, pears are a great snack for dogs because they are high in calcium, vitamins C and K and fibre.
It has been suggested by the American Kennel Club that eating the fruit can reduce the risk of having a stroke by as much as 50 percent.
Jenson was given a diet plan consisting of fruits and vegetables that has allowed him to shed the excess weight
However, owners should be careful to remove the seeds first as they contain traces of cyanide.
Jenson’s vets say healthy snacks are used to supplement his diet with his ‘sweet tooth’ dictating his favourites.
Carrie Edwards, head nurse at Lynwood Veterinary Group of Wimborne, Dorset, said: ‘One of the things we regularly hear from owners is that their dogs are still hungry after eating meals while they’re on a weight loss programme.
‘To supplement that we suggest pets eat a variety of low calorie snacks, particularly raw vegatables and fruit.
‘It would appear that Jenson has a particularly sweet tooth and has taken a liking to pears and carrots.
Jenson the labrador has lost a third of his weight (pictured after weight loss) following a programme at Lynwood Vets in Wimborne supervised by Registered Veterinary nurse Gisela Luckhurst (pictured)
‘He’s doing really well and weighed in at around 90lbs last time he was in.
‘He has a target weight of around 76lbs so is well on his way to getting there.’
Pet obesity continues to be one of the key welfare and health issues facing pets in the UK, with owners dishing out treats a major cause of this.
According to latest figures by the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), vets estimate that 46 per cent of the dogs they see are overweight or obese.
The PDSA state that 91 per cent of owners give rich treats to their dog.