Hi, everybody. My 11-month-old pup's mum is a labrador/collie cross and his dad is a standard poodle. He looks reminiscent of a 'scruffy-coated labradoodle'. He's taller than his mum, but not quite as tall as a standard poodle. His character is boisterous and energetic but very affectionate. Last week, when it was hot down here in Weymouth and he was suffering with the heat, I had his curly coat clipped, and was horrified to see how thin he looks.

After his mum, Lizzie, was spayed last year, she's put on a bit of weight, and I've had to cut down on her food. She's not fat but solid, obviously taking after her lab father. I give them what I believe to be good food, Arden Grange Lamb & Rice, and I give Sandy (the pup) quite a lot more than Lizzie.

I've decided to give him a piece of Madeira cake with butter on every day, in addition to his normal food, to fill him out. Actually, after I bought the cake, I thought it might be better to get him pork pies and sausage rolls instead, to avoid the sugar in cake turning him diabetic. I'll be putting butter on the pies. Do you think there's any harm in this?

Or do you think he might be thin because he needs wormed?

Hilary