Thanet has some of the most overweight dogs in the nation, a study has revealed.

Data by analyst vets at Pets at Home found 45% of the dogs in Cliftonville are bigger than they should be – and owners giving their pets too many treats are to blame.

They weighed more than half a million dogs across the UK including in Thanet.

The stats show Cliftonville to be the fourth worst place for the number of obese dogs compared with other areas looked at in the study.

The owner of Thanet mobile veterinary service Vet2U, Kate Higgs, said: “We see obesity in pets, it is endemic and something about which we try to educate owners.

“We try to relate it a lot to people and if a pet is overweight it is going to have an effect on their heart and joints.

“If they are carrying extra weight it is going to have a greater impact on them as they get older.”

Mrs Higgs said that for every 10 dogs that her team sees, as many as seven or eight of them will be overweight.

She added: “There is no way we could say to owners do not give treats to your pets but they have to reduce their calorie intake, so if they are given a nice treat they need to reduce their normal food.

“Some owners are aware of it, others can be a bit shocked and it is trying to help manage their expectations and there is not an instant fix.

“What shocks me is that owners are not necessarily aware of their [pet’s] weight because you see a lot of chunky dogs around and it is becoming the norm.”

Damage to joints, bones and ligaments and problems with breathing can develop and digestion can suffer as a result of having too many treats.

In extreme cases vets found the quality of life of some animals had been restricted and their lives were shortened.