DOGS have been put on strict diets after nearly a third of the South West’s canines gained between two and four pounds this winter.

A survey by Butcher’s Pet Care of 2,000 dog owners revealed it was not just humans who sat down to enjoy Christmas dinner, with two thirds of owners admitting their pampered pets also tucked into turkey, roast potatoes, and other seasonal trimmings.

Some of those polled also confessed to giving their dogs a diet of cheese, crisps, sandwiches, bacon, and even alcohol during the festivities.

A fifth of dogs even indulged in ice cream and trifle for dessert.

Since then, half of dog owners in the South West said they had been taking steps, such as going on longer and more walks with their dog to try and shed some of the pounds, as well as giving them smaller and less frequent meals to try and bring their weight down.

Clare Scallon, from Butcher’s Pet Care, said: “We firmly believe that this aspect of ‘humanising’ our dogs comes from the very real love and friendship owners feel towards their dogs. We want to be able to treat them like members of the family, and while the rest of us overindulged during Christmas, why wouldn’t we want to spoil them too?

“Nevertheless, a dog’s short digestive tract means that these types of foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugars can actually be very dangerous to dogs. Dogs are natural meat eaters and this is all a dog should really need as part of a healthy and balanced diet.”

As well as over indulging our dogs with festive feasts, the survey has revealed dog owners in the region spend on average £9.21 per month on treats, presents and pampering for their dogs.

Of the dog owners polled in the region, a quarter add extra human food, such as cheese or vegetables, to their dog’s meals, and almost half (46%) go the extra mile and pour gravy on it or serve it on a human plate.

Clare continued: “It’s fine to give your dog the odd treat now and again, but all a dog really needs to stay active and healthy is meat; it’s what dogs love and thrive on.

“In addition, upping your dog’s exercise regime and going on more walks is a great way to ensure they stay healthy, and an added bonus is that this will hopefully help owners keep fit too.”