This Morning vet Dr. Scott Miller has issued a warning to dog owners as obesity runs rife in the canine community. Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, the ITV star admitted this isn't a new development and is something he has seen in his entire career as a vet. However, he said the impetus is entirely on the owners when it comes to ensuring their pet pooch remains a healthy weight.

He told us: "It's about working out when treats are appropriate. It's the same as treating kids. Kids aren't good all the time, so they shouldn't get treats all the time, and nor should dogs. And so if you are treating your dog, or you're using that as the impetus to get them to do what you're asking, then you do need to then look at what you're feeding them for the rest of the day, and then appropriately carve out that calorie intake. So in the end, the whole amount should still be the same.

The medic went on to explain the best ways to treat your dog and the most appropriate palces to use them. He explained: "But in most cases, I would say, when you are treating dogs if you're doing it indoors, that is just wasted calories - just calories without any benefit.

"But when you are out and about, you are stimulating both mind and body, and that does burn calories itself. I'd much rather a dog being treated in the park than that were treated at home. And my guess is, in most cases, the owners that are treating dogs when they're in the park, they're actually quite active.

"They're quite engaged with their dog, and they're giving them lots of mental and physical stimulation. So if the treat is a way in which to encourage the dog to to listen and to learn and to become sort of a better companion in a safe way I'm all for that".

Explaining that common sense needs to be applied, he added: "We just always ask if they are in total at a calorie deficit, or are they at at calorie excess?

"And if you do notice that your dog is getting a little rotund, and that's very easy for every owner to see, then there's loads of low fat treats that you can look to, and there's lots of veg as well. Things like carrots."

Pointing to his own beloved dog Mango as an example, he said: "Mango is a fan of carrots. Mango is fan of apple. So there's loads of other ways that you can go about it.

"And then also foods that have a calorie concentration. So in other words, a dog feels full, but is actually consuming less calories per meal, per mouthful, and that can then chip away at excess weight.

"But with every with every treat you give, especially when you're feeding them human food, if it's a small dog and you're giving them sort of, a little bit this much (indicates a strip about 4 inches), that can be like a hamburger.

"So it's right that we're responsible pet owners, and then step back, ask, 'Is my dog a little bit pudgy?' Maybe it is. Maybe I'm either overdoing the treats or feeding them too much at home, and I need to make a change'," he advised.

Scott was speaking after selecting the winner of the face of Peamutt Butter competition. The natural and healthy peanut butter for dogs will now boast a Liverpool border collie as a model in it's next marketing campaign. More than 200 dogs from across the UK entered the online competition with just 26 dogs making it through to the semi-final.

One-year-old Liverpool Peamutt Butter superfan, Oakley, ultimately won the judges over. While Scott acknowledges there are probably a lot of upset dog parents who naturally believe their poosch should have won, he says Oakley just stood out.

He gushed: "I think he's very much the kind of cheeky chappy that that we were after. So, you know, very firm favourite amongst amongst the judges. I think it's a mixture of the way he looks and that he's a very cool looking dog, but, also I just like the fact he's a bit naughty.

"He's got a bit of, he got a bit of something about his character. He's a really lovable, friendly, cuddly dog but at the same time, he's a big fan of digging and swimming and getting muddy. And he's just got a really beautiful smile as well, which I thought was just perfect. So, I think he just sort of encapsulated what we love about dogs - that boundless joy, energy and a little bit of cheekiness."