Chubby pug from Livingston who loves cheese and crisps signed up to pet weight loss competition

Peaches the pug struggles to run and play with other dogs due to her weight.

An overweight pug from Livingston whose owner 'can't say no to her puppy dog eyes' has been signed up to the UK's largest pet weight-loss competition.

Four-year-old pug peaches, who weighs in at 10.6kg, needs to lose 3.6kg to reach her ideal weight.

She currently struggles to run and play with other dogs, and is at a high risk of breathing difficulties because of her weight and breed.

Peaches is 3.6kg overweight.

Peaches' owner, student nurse Danielle Porter from Livingston, said she and her struggle not to over-feed Peaches.

“I find it really hard to say no to Peaches, especially when she looks at me with her puppy-dog eyes," she said.

"My mum looks after her when I’m at uni and tends to feed Peaches big portions, which is definitely adding to her weight-gain."

Ms Porter has tried putting Peaches in weight-loss classes at a local hydrotherapy pool, but said the dog "finds it hard work".

Peaches struggles to run and play because of her weight.

Peaches has now been signed up to the PDSA Pet Fit Club, run by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, a UK vet charity.

She will be put on a six-month diet and exercise programme including free diet pet food.

PDSA figures reveal that up to half of dogs and a third of rabbits in the UK are overweight, leaving them at risk of health problems and reduced life-expectancy.

The most common reasons given by UK vets for overweight pets are the owner giving too-large portion sizes, 'treats' or human food, and the owner's lack of recognition that the pet is overweight.

The charity, which provides free and reduced-cost vet care to pets in need, has run Pet Fit Club since 2005.

In that time it has helped 89 dogs, 44 cats, eight rabbits and two cats lose weight.

PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing said: “Pet obesity has been a huge problem in the UK for many years and sadly there is no sign of improvement, with nearly one in every two pets seen by vets and vet nurses overweight or obese.

"This is a serious health issue, one of the biggest currently threatening pet wellbeing across the UK.