Oversize pooches turn to fitness mantras

LUDHIANA: It's not just city folks that are treading the path of fitness, but their pets too seem to have joined the trail. Pushing onto the concept of a fit-family, several pet dogs in the city are being put on diets by their owners so they too can breathe the healthy air. Veterinary diets is the new trend among dog-lovers who are known for their unhealthy approach of showering affection by way of untimely treats to their pooches.
These diets are available at several pet clinics in the form of feed or are customized by the vets depending on need and choice of the owner. "There certainly has been a rise in the number of obese dogs in the city and 90% of these cases are due to an unhealthy lifestyle and mismanagement by their owners. Owners have to realize that there are better ways of loving their pets rather than untimely treats", said Dr Jaspreet Singh from Sarabha Nagar.
It's true when they say that fitness level of a pet closely depends on fitness and health of his owner. And now that the city has finally woken up to gyms and diets, its time for their pets to share the same mantra and undergo change in diets as well.
"I can totally relate to this transformation and awareness because ever since I became conscious about my weight, I started watching my pet Buzzo's diet too. Earlier, I would give him a snack so that he would stop disturbing me, and that could be umpteen times a day. Similarly, whenever we would sit down for meals, he would get some share of it even though he had his meal before", said Tanya Mehra, a resident of Tagore Nagar.
Another pet lover, Kitty Gupta from Dugri, said that on recommendation of the doctor, she has put her pets on diet. " My seven-year-old Labrador Pogo loves bread and egg. He is 65kg now and he has lost some considerable weight ever since we started keeping a check on his diet," she said.