Top 10 calorie-laden foods for pets

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home have revealed the top 10 calorie-laden foods in order to help owners address their pets' diets and prevent obesity in dogs and cats.

The list gives the food offenders, followed by the human equivalent of those foods, as well as a vet comment advising healthier options to swap the food with.

The top 10 includes one chipolata, the equivalent to a 12oz steak; a 3cm cube of cheese, the equivalent to a whole cup of molten fondue cheese; one custard cream, the equivalent to half a pack of custard creams; a handful of ready salted crisps, the equivalent to a slice of pepperoni; and a slice of white bread or toast, the equivalent to half a loaf of white bread.

Vets face the issue of pet obesity on a regular basis and it is known to be a silent killer amongst pets.

Battersea vet Phil Robinson says: "The amount a pet needs to eat depends on its breed, age and size, but as a rough indication, a small dog only needs about 350 calories a day while a cat is looking at about 280 calories.

"A slice of toast is equal to a third of a dog's daily calories," he adds.

Phil advises that owners ban human food altogether and always avoid falling for "appealing" eyes when eating their dinner.