The Hill's Pet Slimmer of the Year Competition celebrates it's 10 year anniversary in 2001. Since the launch in 1991 the competition has helped over 2,500 overweight pets lose a combined weight of over ten tonnes! Now they are looking for a Slimmer of the Year for 2001 and also trying to reunite previous winners.

In 1991, 'Lucky', the Springer Spaniel shed 50% of her own bodyweight and became the nations first ever Hill's Pet Slimmer of the Year and ambassador for pet slimming. Since then, 18 cats and dogs have won the title.

But for every pet slimmer there is fellow feline or canine that could lose some extra pounds. A survey by Hill's Pet Nutrition shows that up to 50% of our pets are considered to be clinically obese; that's an astonishing 7 million cats and dogs who may be too weighty for their own good. So if your pet is looking podgy, speak to your local veterinary surgery and your pet could be entering the 10th anniversary Hill's Pet Slimmer of the Year 2001 Competition.

It seems we treat our pets as one of the family, we buy them special toys, luxury beds and even designer clothes – not forgetting how often we feed them the same food we eat! As with the human population, obesity is a growing concern for our pets, a 1% calorie excess on a daily basis can cause obesity by middle age. If your pet is eating as many snacks and tidbits as you are, then the chances are that they're well on their way to becoming a heavy hound or fat feline!

Obesity is still the most common form of malnutrition in pets and has many potential implications for your pet's health: arthritis, heart and respiratory problems and a reduced resistance to infection are all associated with increased weight.

As well as a happy, healthy animal, if your pet loses plenty of pounds, you could have a chance of winning a luxury holiday for two. Even if you're not the top prize winner, everyone's a winner with Hill's because each entrant receives a Hill's Pet Slimmer of the Year certificate and of course, a slimmed-down shapely pet!

Here how to enter:

• Discuss your pet's weight with your vet and if your vet agrees that it is overweight you are eligible for an entry form for Hill's Pet Slimmer of the Year Competition 2001.
• Your pet can now embark on its weight loss programme to be monitored by your veterinary surgeon/veterinary nurse.
• With the help of your veterinary practice, a 'before' in-profile photograph of your dog or cat must be taken (from one side with the pet standing normally).
• Each time you take your pet to be weighed, your vet or vet nurse will enter its details within its personal Hill's Pet Passport so that you can see how its weight loss is progressing.
• When your pet reaches its target weight, take a similar 'after' in-profile photo.
• Your vet / veterinary nurse is required to write a testimonial highlighting the improvement that your pet has made as a result of its weight loss.
• Send in the testimonial with the entry form and the Hill’s Pet Passport signed by your vet, and the 'before and after' photos to the following address: Hill's Pet Nutrition, Wingfield Court,Croxley Business Park,Hatters Lane,Watford, WN18 8YL

And there's more. If your pet has been a national or regional finalist in the Hill's Pet Slimmer of the Year Competition – please get in touch. Just call Alistair Turner on 020 7539 2757 and you could be joining us at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Hill's Pet Slimmer of the Year Competition.