Jo Spear, from the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy, said: "Canine obesity is a growing problem. Studies suggest that it affects 40 to 50 per cent of all dogs."

Their owner is already working on a new idea for a therapy animal donkeys.

Your donations help make children with special needs able to have alternative therapies such as animal-assisted therapy, art and music therapy, massage therapy and water therapy.