What is wrong with pet owners in this country that they’d let the animals in their care become dangerously obese? I’ve owned dogs all my life – 11 in total – as well as seven cats and I’ve never allowed a single one to become fat.
My old cross-breed corgi, who was my friend through my childhood, would have eaten anything I put in front of him. And there’s the clue. Feeding an animal has to be done in a well-informed and disciplined manner.
But such is the extent of the pet obesity problem – the latest figures show 50 per cent of dogs and 43 per cent of cats are overweight – that fat jabs dubbed ‘Wagovy’ are being developed to help slim them down.
As someone who’s been jabbing myself with Mounjaro for nearly 12 months and has lost 5st without any nasty side-effects, you might assume I’d be happy about extending the miraculous medication to our furry friends. Not so, I’m furious at the very idea.
Not to mention the careless owners who allow their dogs to get into such a predicament.
The food industry has done no favours to humans, filling our food with salt, sugar and other additives. Yes, there is pleasure to be had in sharing delicious flavours in good company, but we overdo it. All because we lack self-discipline when faced with temptation.
That is not relevant when it comes to dogs. I know there are certain breeds who can drive you crazy with their greed. But they can only succumb to more food if we give it to them. After all, they do not control their consumption; it is entirely up to us.
I had a beautiful golden Labrador when I was in my early 20s, who was so smart he learned how to open the fridge. He was tall enough to grab hold of any meaty treats kept on the higher shelves. He had to be disciplined. We had a lock fitted to the fridge and he had to learn to wait for us to provide the best quality dog food. He would be allowed to eat once a day. We worked out, with advice from our vet, exactly how much food we should put in his bowl. If he didn’t eat it straight away (a very unusual occurrence), it would be taken away and served again later. Immediately after his meal he would be exercised.
Minnie, a two-and-a-half year old chihuahua, will not be taking ‘Wagovy’ any time soon
The best quality treats were used during his training period to encourage obedience. He learned we were the source of special treasures which would only be given sparingly and as a reward. He never came begging at the table because he quickly learned there was no point. We were not to be persuaded by beautiful begging eyes. That dog was disciplined and never got fat.
Yes, it was extra work for us, but we loved him and, as responsible owners, we knew it was our duty to do our best for him.
The miniature schnauzers I had in my thirties and forties were fed and exercised in a similar fashion. They did have quite a good time when the children were small, and food fell from their highchairs but they never got fat.
And then came the chihuahuas. First Butch, Frieda and Madge – now all deceased, followed by Minnie, now two and a half, and Maggie, who’s just ten months.
They may be little, but food is not too much of a problem. They rarely eat the portion that’s put down in the morning. Later when it’s returned to them, they eat it. Chihuahuas are small and certainly wouldn’t need the amount of food a Labrador might need, but they are adept at begging for treats. Good discipline teaches them this is a pointless exercise, that treats will only appear in small quantities to help with training.
There is not a fat dog to be seen in my family and the cat is pretty lean too. She’s given her food – exactly the correct amount – once in the morning and again in the evening, dished up high enough for it to be unavailable for the dogs.
She eats hungrily and immediately takes herself outside to climb trees and hedges and keep herself phenomenally fit.
What’s gone so wrong that we now have a nation of dangerously obese cats and dogs? I have no doubt overfeeding and lack of activity will be causing this problem.
I know we all want to do our best by our animals, but is it really best for a cat to be kept permanently indoors as so many now are? Of course it’s not. Yes, there’s a risk they’ll stray, but a cat needs to be out playing, hunting, climbing – keeping fit. And dogs will play any game they can to get hold of the treats they know you have in your pocket.
As for canine or feline fat jabs? I’m sorry, but this isn’t the answer. Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic are sophisticated drugs. They contain man-made versions of a natural hormone which helps regulate blood sugar levels.
With ‘doggie Ozempic’, the drug would be delivered via an implant, so no weekly jabs for dogs to endure, but what about the side effects?
I’ve kept my own jabs at a low dose because I know how powerful the substance can be. It’s effective at weight loss but can cause constipation, diarrhoea and vomiting, and no one would want to inflict such unpleasantness on their dog – nor on themselves. After all, it’s the owner who’s left to pick up the mess.
Far easier to keep your pet slim and fit in the first place.
Don’t listen to doubters, Catherine 
Catherine Zeta-Jones, 55, has had quite a tough time in recent years.
Her marriage to Michael Douglas, 80, has been tested during his treatment for cancer in 2010 and the pair split temporarily in August 2013. Now she’s basking in rave reviews for her star turn as Morticia in the new season of Netflix hit Wednesday, and proving the doubters wrong by celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary next month.
I’m so glad she seems to be blossoming again. She deserves it.
Day I went wobbly for Terence 
Superman actor Terence Stamp died last week at the age of 87
It’s not often BBC Woman’s Hour gets to interview a beautiful man.
And I admit I went quite wobbly when I sat opposite Terence Stamp, pictured, to discuss his role in Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert. At the age of 56, he was still stunning – those amazing blue eyes putting me right off my track. RIP Terence, what a delightful man you were.
Maybe it’s the heat, my age or my current sedentary lifestyle. I really don’t know the cause of the lymphoedema that’s caused my once lovely feet, ankles and calves to swell horribly, but I’ve spent a fortune on possible cures: tight socks, special creams and a massager that claims to carry out reflexology. Nothing works. Beware snake oil salesmen online.
Zelensky’s in a suit. Who cares? 
Volodymyr Zelensky was all smiles during his second meeting with Donald Trump on Monday
How bizarre to see the world’s most powerful men bitching over fashion this week.
President Volodymyr Zelensky’s suit at Monday’s White House meeting prompted the journalist Brian Glenn to comment on his previous criticism of the Ukrainian’s casual appearance. Quick as a flash, Zelensky hit back that Glenn was wearing the same suit he wore last time: ‘I changed, you have not.’
Honestly, you’d have thought there weren’t more important things to focus on.