WHITTLESEY is the next stop for the PDSA PetCheck vehicle, currently on its sixth tour of the UK on a mission to improve the health of the nation s pets. The PDSA PetCheck vehicle will be at Manor Leisure Centre on Tuesday May 1 (10am-5.30pm), offering fr

WHITTLESEY is the next stop for the PDSA PetCheck vehicle, currently on its sixth tour of the UK on a mission to improve the health of the nation's pets.

The PDSA PetCheck vehicle will be at Manor Leisure Centre on Tuesday May 1 (10am-5.30pm), offering free health checks to dogs.

PDSA veterinary staff will be on hand to provide advice on the care of other popular household pets.

The vehicle will then move on to Wisbech, March and Chatteris. The council's dog warden service is urging dog owners to take advantage of the free health-check offer.

While the check-up is free for everyone, free PDSA treatment is eligible only to pet owners who live within the designated postcode area of a PetAid service and be in receipt of either Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit. More information on reephone 0800 731 2502.

On board the vehicle, PDSA staff will examine the general health of canine visitors checking their weight, teeth, eyes and condition of their coat.

PDSA senior veterinary surgeon, Elaine Pendlebury, said: "During the 2006 PDSA PetCheck tour our figures revealed that obesity in dogs had increased to 21 per cent compared with 17 per cent back in 2003 and dental problems had also soared, reaching 27 per cent in 2006, compared to 21 per cent in 2003.

"Both these conditions can have very serious health implications, so we are urging as many dog owners as possible to visit the PDSA PetCheck vehicle to get their dogs checked over."

For safety reasons, only dogs can be brought along to the PetCheck vehicle, but advice from PDSA veterinary nurses is also freely available on other popular pet species. Owners are asked to keep their dogs on a lead and are reminded not to leave them in parked cars.

For further information contact freephone 0800 917 2509 or visit www.pdsa.org.uk

The PetCheck vehicle will visit the following locations in Fenland:

Tuesday May 1 - Manor Leisure Centre, Whittlesey (10am-5.30pm)

Wednesday May 2 - Hudson Leisure Centre, Wisbech (10am- 5.30pm)

Thursday May 3 - George Campbell Leisure Centre, March (10am-5.30pm)

Friday May 4 -Chatteris Market (10am-5.30pm)