Dog tired: Chunky the bulldog hitches a ride up the stairs on the World's first stair lift for overweight poochesThey may be man's best friend, but some dog owners have been throwing their hungry hounds a few too many bones as hundreds of the UK's favourite pets are being turned into bloated bowwows.
While there may still be a few starving strays on the streets, it would appear that for many pampered pooches the 21st century dog's life involves a lot of eating.
Dog obesity is dramatically on the rise, with insurance company More Than predicting that over half of the nations dogs will be overweight by 2022.
Extra layers of 'puppy' fat can put pressure on an animal's back and cause a plethora of bone, respiratory and skin conditions which can render a pet unable to climb a set of stairs.
That's why munching mutts could soon give a whole new meaning to the term 'doing it doggy style' - taking a gentle ride on a dog stairlift.
Dog eat hog world: Chunky the bulldog is pictured waiting for a ride up the dog stairliftAlthough it is still in the prototype phase manufacturers hope the £5,000 doglift will be be taken on by a big company and developed for a growing market.
Chunky, pictured above, certainly wasn't working like a dog when he took a ride up the new elevator.
The machine has been made with mutts in mind as it features a special 'paw push' start button situated close enough to the ground for the animal to reach with an outstretched leg.
Pets can clamber into the plastic basket which then raises several feet off the floor before carrying the four-legged passenger up the stairs.
Taking a paws: Chunky looks content as he gives his legs a rest to glide up the stairs on the new dogliftsource: dailymail
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