A DOG owner is encouraging people to keep their pets at a healthy weight after her beagle's life-saving weight-loss.

June Greens lives in Culcheth with her eight-year-old dog, Daisy, who originally weighed 27kg, 11kgs heavier than her target weight.

New research from the University of Liverpool and Mars Petcare’s WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition has revealed overweight dogs are more likely to have shorter lives than those at ideal body weights.

June engaged with the Royal Canin weight management clinic after Daisy started having health problems as a result of her weight.

She said: “In 2017, we were referred to the small animal practice at The University of Liverpool.

“I went along to the weight management clinic and they took her weight and did a full body scan and measured her body fat content.

“She was off the scale."

Daisy's body fat was at 47.2 per cent and she was suffering from joint pain, a sore back and a limp before she started losing weight.

She had regular check-ups, a special food and was even given a tracker to monitor her activity.

Now her body fat is at 24.9 per cent and June said she is like a different dog.

June recalled: “When she was young, she would jump up onto the windowsill but when she put on the weight she stopped.

“She’s back to doing that now – she's gone back to being like a puppy.

"I had to be so strict with her food but you've got to cruel to be kind sometimes."

To date, Daisy has managed to lose over nine kilos, representing 36 per cent of her body weight, and reached her ideal weight level in just 10 months.

Alex German, study co-author and professor of small animal medicine at the University of Liverpool, said: “Owners are often unaware that their dog is overweight, and many may not realise the impact that it can have on health.

“What they may not know is that, if their beloved pet is too heavy, they are more likely to suffer from other problems such as joint disease, breathing issues, and certain types of cancer, as well as having a poorer quality of life.

“These health and wellbeing issues can significantly impact how long they live.

“For many owners, giving food, particularly tasty table scraps and titbits, is the way we show affection for our pets.

“Being careful about what you feed your dog could go a long way to keeping them in good shape and enabling them to be around for many years to come.”