You might be killing your dog with treats as 1 sausage is the equivalent of 3 burgers

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Four in five vets have seen an increase in pet obesity in last two years
One in three Brits admit they feed their pets scraps from the table
Dog nutritionist says dogs love raw vegetables and to keep treats small

By Annabel Fenwick Elliott for MailOnline

Published: 05:13 EST, 25 June 2015 | Updated: 05:58 EST, 25 June 2015

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Animal lovers know how difficult it is to say no to that mournful canine face at the dinner table - or to turn down that mewling cat - but are these affectionate treats sending pets into an early grave?

According to new research, four out of five vets have seen an increase in pet obesity cases over the last two years, but half of owners surveyed were unaware that it was a major issue.

Perhaps unsurprisingly therefore, Ocado's new online pet store, Fetch, found that one in three Brits admit to feeding their pets scraps directly from the dinner table - which is not a healthy habit.

Ssh! One in three Brits admit to feeding their pets scraps directly from the dinner table, and four out of five vets have seen an increase in pet obesity cases over the last two years

Many pet owners drastically underestimate how many calories are hiding in human food.

For instance, one hot dog for a 20lb pooch, a King Charles spaniel for example, is the caloric equivalent of three hamburgers for a person.

Zara Boland, a TV and clinical vet, explains: 'By feeding scraps and human food treats to our pets we are literally shortening their lives as well as accelerating them towards a range of adverse health conditions associated with malnutrition and obesity.

'Yet simply by ensuring nutritionally balanced and tasty meals, we can demonstrate our love and commitment to them.'

According to the survey, one in four owners are sneaking their furry friends treats like biscuits, chocolate and sweets on a regular basis.

And nearly a fifth are serving their pets their very own roast dinner.

Transformation: Sammy's owner Penny Catchpole, from Winchester, used to feed him chocolate, biscuits, and roast dinner leftovers, but after a diet she's gone from podgy (left) to slim (right)

A third of owners don't feel confident they understand what their pet's food contains, and two in five are clueless when it comes to the variety of diets available.

FEMAIL spoke to two reformed pet owners who managed to change their bad habits for the sake of their four-legged companions.

Penny Catchpole, a 54-year-old complaints officer from Winchester, had no idea her habits were harming her beloved shih tzu: 'I used to feed my dog Sammy chocolate and biscuits as well as the leftovers from our roast dinner on a Sunday. With eyes like hers it was difficult to say no.

'But what I didn’t realise was that I was pretty much killing her with kindness when my vet told me how I was putting her health at risk. So I cut out the scraps and created a new diet plan for her and she lost so much weight.'

Francesca Scott, 32, a commercial director from London, was accidentally over-feeding her cat: 'Willow was a very pampered cat and I regularly fed her biscuits and other treats from the dining table.

Let Jamie Collie-ver take you through Fetch Pet Dinners

Feline much better: Willow's owner Francesca Scott from London also managed to stop feeding her human food treats and says the weight fell off her, pictured before (left) and after (right) her diet overhaul

'What I didn’t realise though was that every biscuit I was feeding her was the equivalent of us eating the whole packet!

'As soon as I stopped feeding her biscuits the weight fell off her. She is now on an appropriate diet and as a result is a much healthier, fitter and, more importantly, happier cat.'

But when it comes to human food - not all of it is bad for pets.

Dog nutritionist Kristina Johansen told FEMAIL: 'Vegetables such as green beans, baby carrots, broccoli, zucchini or any other dog-safe crunchy vegetable are excellent treats - as are some fruits such as apples, pears, bananas, and melon.

TOP TIPS FOR YOUR PET'S DIET

Pets have different nutritional requirements at different times in their life, so choose an age-specific formula
Grain-free foods tend to be high-quality, so beneficial whether your pet has allergies or not
Dry food is good for your pet's oral health, but wet food has a higher water content
There is no legal definition in the UK for 'premium' pet food - but look for foods with as few ingredients as possible
You don't need a prescription for 'prescription' pet food, but it can help treat urinary problems, joint pain and allergies
Some human food make excellent dog treats, including crunchy vegetables and fruits like apples and pears
Feed your dog smaller treat portions - they care more about the number of treats than the size

'Avoid treats that are high in fat and calories such as cheese, sausages and peanut butter, and feed them smaller treat portions.

'Dogs care more about the number of treats they get than the size of each treat.'

And according to Fetch, there are a number of factors we should be looking at when choosing the right diet for our animals.

For example, pets have different nutritional requirements at different times in their life.

Puppies require more calcium, whereas seniors may require less calories, so opting for a life stage food is always a good idea.

When choosing between wet and dry foods, consider the pros and cons. Dry food is popular for having less odour and being less likely to spoil when left in a bowl.

It is also good for dental hygiene, as the crunching action reduces the build-up of tartar.

However, wet food has a higher water content and may be beneficial for dogs and cats that need to keep their water intake up.

If your pet has a specific health ailment, prescription food is a good bet.

Misleadingly, they don't actually require a prescription from your vet, but they do help treat specific medical conditions such as joint disease, urinary problems, diabetes and various allergies.

Grain-free foods tend to be of high quality and contain good protein sources so it can definitely be beneficial to your dog, allergies or no allergies.

Lastly, it should be noted that there is no legal definition in the UK for a 'premium' or 'super premium' pet food.

A good rule of thumb, however, when choosing a high-quality brand is to look for as few ingredients on the label as possible, much as you would with your own food.