摘要：
最新公布的一项调查显示，尽管有三分之一的英国宠物目前正处于体重超标的状态，但相当一部分宠物主人并未采取有效措施来帮助宠爱们除去在圣诞期间新添的赘肉。
Pet owners are failing to help their animals work off their Christmas excess despite the fact that a third of British pets are overweight, a survey has showed.
最新公布的一项调查显示，尽管有三分之一的英国宠物目前正处于体重超标的状态，但相当一部分宠物主人并未采取有效措施来帮助宠爱们除去在圣诞期间新添的赘肉。
据英国《每日邮报》1月6日报道，本次调查活动的主办方是英国哈里法克斯宠物保险公司，调查显示，将近四成的宠物主人承认自己的宠物在圣诞节前后的确长胖了一些，46%的受访者声称他们甚至给宠物准备过特别的圣诞大餐。但仅有13%的受访者计划在新年期间为宠物制定减肥食谱或是加大其运动量来使宠物尽快恢复身材。该项调查还表明，44%的兽医对爱养宠物的社会名流提出指责，认为这些人对宠物的健康状况关心不够。
哈里法克斯宠物保险公司有关人员警告说，那些体重超标的宠物很可能患上心脏病、糖尿病及关节炎等疾病，该公司工作人员呼吁宠物主人，应清楚知道自己宠物的理想体重值并采取措施帮助它们将体重保持在这一水平。该公司的弗朗西斯·赖特表示：“和主人一样，宠物们往往会在圣诞期间变得略微发福。
当然在过节时额外多给它们一些关爱没有什么不对，但是主人们一定要清楚，这只是对宠物在假期的一种特例而非常态。肥胖是使宠物患上各种疾病的主要原因，这些病不仅治疗起来花费不菲，而且还会给宠物及主人带来精神上的严重伤害。”
Pet owners are failing to help their animals work off their Christmas excess despite the fact that a third of British pets are overweight, a survey has showed.
Nearly four out of 10 owners admitted their pet put on weight during the Christmas period, with 46% saying they even prepared a special Christmas meal for them.
But despite this, only 13% of people plan to put their animal on a New Year diet or exercise regime to help them get back into shape, according to Halifax Pet Insurance.
The group warned that overweight pets were more likely to develop problems such as heart complaints, diabetes and arthritis, and it is calling on owners to find out what their pet's ideal weight is and take steps to help them maintain it.
It said 44% of vets blamed celebrity pet owners for the lack of attention people paid to their pets' health, claiming they promoted irresponsible ownership.
A third said too many pets were being used as fashion accessories with people failing to pay sufficient regard to their overall welfare.
Frances Wright, of Halifax Pet Insurance, said: "Pets, like their owners, tend to expand a little over the Christmas period.
"Whilst a little extra affection over Christmas is fine, it's important to ensure that it doesn't set a precedent.
"Obesity is a major cause of pet illness, which is not only costly to treat, but traumatic for both animal and owner." | 
