FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 24 October 2017

London, England. 90% of dog owners don’t know how many calories their pet needs, according to pet food startup Tails.com, which surveyed 2,800 UK pet owners. The results highlight how little the British public understands their pet’s nutritional needs.

Almost half of UK dogs are overweight according to Tails.com Head Vet Sean McCormack BSc (Hons), MVB, MRCVS. This leads to myriad health problems including breathing problems and joint disease, limiting mobility in later life. Survey findings include:

1 in 5 owners cannot identify an overweight dog
13% of dog owners admit they lie to their vet about dog nutrition
Only 11% of owners can resist those puppy dog eyes which lead to over-feeding

Owners are also unaware of the dangers that feeding “human foods” can have. A whopping 3 in 5 don’t know that mushrooms can be dangerous to dogs, and nearly half don’t know that nuts can be harmful.

How can owners combat obesity in dogs?
Head Vet Sean says
“Portion control is key to maintaining a healthy weight in a dog. Simple changes can have a big impact on your dog’s weight too; if feeding human foods as treats, choose healthy options such as lean unprocessed meats and be careful not to provide too much.”

How can UK dog owners identify if their dog is overweight?
Head Vet Sean says
“The scale doesn’t tell the full story, have a feel of your dog on a regular basis to assess if your pet is putting on weight. This type of check is called a ‘body condition score’ and includes reviewing several areas of your dog’s body to identify excess fat. You can also easily find out what your dog’s daily calorie needs are using our simple and free online tools.”

To educate owners about dog nutrition and combat dog obesity Tails.com has:
Created an infographic about dog nutrition
Head Vet Sean has created a YouTube video about checking a dog’s weight:
Developed the Perfect Portion Scoop (Patent Pending) delivered to all customers for easy portion control of dog food servings to prevent over-feeding as part of a complete tailored feeding plan

For complete media pack,view this link to DropBox:
Infographic on dog nutrition
Images of dogs
Images of Head Vet Sean
Social media banners for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
Press release as word document and PDF

NOTES TO EDITOR

Survey Details
2,800 respondents via survey provider usurv.com and Tails.com database. All respondents have identified themselves as pet owners prior to the survey being conducted.
9 in 10 don’t know how many calories they should be feeding their dog
60% didn’t know mushrooms can be dangerous to dogs
13% of dog owners admit they lie to their vet about dog nutrition
1 in 5 owners cannot identify an overweight dog
29% of dog owners do not measure the portion of food they feed their dog
89% of owners give in to puppy dog eyes
34% of dog owners admit they treat their dogs more than themselves
30% didn’t know grapes and raisins were harmful
44% didn’t know nuts can be harmful
30% don’t use a measuring cup

About Tails.com
Tails.com offers custom blends of dog food based on breed, age, exercise levels, and a range of other health factors. With a score of 9.6 out of 10 on consumer review site Trustpilot, we’re proud to be keeping the nation’s dogs happy and healthy. With a mission to transform the lives of dogs and their owners, as well as the pet food industry, we have the backing of the founders of Innocent and Graze.

Website: tails.com
Twitter: @tailsdogfood
Instagram: @tails.com_uk
Facebook: /tailsUK/

Relevant links:
Press resources:
Dropbox
Nutrition Infographic:
Infographic
Video about dog weight:
Video

For further information, and additional quotes from Sean the Vet
Kiera Fitzgerald
PR Specialist at BlueGlass
Direct line: 020 7242 0142
Mobile: 07906 422 478
Email: kfitzgerald@blueglass.com

Nafisah Atcha
PR Specialist, BlueGlass
Direct line: 020 7404 2402
Mobile: 07515 739 346
Email: natcha@blueglass.com