A VET and online blogger says dog owners should look after their four-legged friends, and they in turn will keep us fit and healthy.

Vet Catherine Henstridge lives and works in Sheffield and runs the online blog Cat the Vet, posting tips and features on how best to look after your animals.

And she was at Crufts 2017 last weekend, one of 150,000 visitors and 22,000 dogs to descend on Birmingham’s NEC from March 9 to 12.

The Kennel Club, organisers of the world’s biggest dog show, is committed to maintaining happy and healthy dogs in its shows, and Cat’s advice for owners is if you scratch your dog’s back by keeping them fit and healthy, they will scratch yours by doing the same for you.

“It’s really important to keep dogs healthy and it’s really important to know how to do that,” said Cat.

“Crufts is somewhere where you can know how to do that - there are plenty of vets there, lots of companies that provide healthcare for animals, the kind of problems that they have and the best way to avoid them.

“It’s vital to keep your dog healthy, because we all want to be in good health and that’s the best way to get the best out of your pet.

“The bond between a dog and their owner is one of the most special relationships you’ll ever have in your life, and it’s one that we need to work really hard to protect.

“It works two ways – we look after our dogs and it’s really important that we do it well, but our dogs look after us.

“There’s loads of evidence to suggest that dogs are good for your health, they’re good for your mental well-being, they’re our companion, your family and our best friends - that relationship we have with them is just amazing.”

Cat is a regular contributor to Companion Dog World magazine, a pooch publication with features, news and tips for dog owners.

The magazine had a stall at Crufts, and Cat added the show was the number one place for owners to get their information on all things dogs.

“I think Crufts is an absolutely fantastic show,” she said. “I come every year and I love it.

“There is so much more to it than being just the show ring, I think some people still think it’s all about dogs going round in a circle.

“Crufts is a celebration of everything about dogs. If you haven’t been to Crufts, and you are a dog owner who wants to learn more about dogs and are interested in dogs then you should come.

“It really is a must at least once for every person who loves dogs.”