Slimming's a bitch, say SA's sausage dogs

Trends exponent Dion Chang has gone to the dogs.

Chang, a confirmed cat lover who is also known for his fashion flair, is on a panel of celebrity judges who will decide which animal will walk away with the canine "slimmer of the year" title.

With South Africa in National Obesity Week, it appears that weight issues are not confined to people.

Ten dogs are vying for the title and on November 1 the country's slimmest hound will be revealed.

Chang, whose cat Oscar is quite hefty, said the feline's diet programme was a "work in progress".

"I have a cat who eats voraciously, that's why I wanted to get involved with the competition.

"I think a lot of people don't realise the health implications of having an overweight pet. I was interested to learn that the lifespan of an overweight pet is shortened by two years."

Vets say that more than half the pets they treat these days are overweight.

"Pets are being overfed and under-exercised. Nine out of 10 pet owners mistakenly think their pet's size is normal. The truth is, we've forgotten what a healthy pet looks like," said Guy Fyvie, veterinary adviser for Hills' Pet Nutrition.

The top-slimmer dog will bounce off with R10,000.