Ever since celebrities, such as Paris Hilton, started dressing their pets in designer outfits there has been a surge of shops in the UK offering everything from diamante dog collars to organic pet biscuits.

Sarah Alton runs her business, Doggy Days Bakery, from her home in Putney. The former media worker, who recently added nine-week-old yellow Labrador, Lily, to her family was inspired to change career to fill a hole in the market as the demand grew for organic pet food.

She even created some specialist treats over the Christmas period, which included dog treats shaped like holly, bells and Christmas trees.

“Nowadays pet owners are much more concerned with what their pets are eating. I don’t use any additives, sugar or salt in my cooking, and it’s all organic produce that humans can eat as well as pets,” she said.

The most popular snacks Sarah sells are her Cheesy Basil Doggies, made with low-fat mature cheddar from £2.80, which she says dogs love because of the strong smell.

“People shouldn’t think it extravagant to buy gourmet food for their pets. You are what you eat, and dogs are just the same, “ she added.

Hydrovet’s pet boutique in Wandsworth Road, Battersea, offers a range of therapies for animals to run alongside its veterinary surgery.

In fact it’s billed as London’s first hydrotherapy centre for dogs.

Mostly the hydrotherapies are to help with medical conditions but overweight pets can also be exercised in water to help them shed the pounds.

If you want to go all-out in the pet style stakes look no further than pet boutique Waggin’ Tales across the bridge in Fulham, where designer clothes and diamond-studded dog collars are all the rage.

This boutique sells Juicy Coutre dog velour hoodies and trenchcoats so they can match their owners wardrobes.

Manager Carmen Bellacasa said: “People want to treat their pets, at this time of year especially. Now it’s turned colder our pet coats and jumpers have been flying out the door.”

They say you should never work with children or animals but one professional photographer has made a business out of snapping pet portraits.

Robert Hooper, a wedding photographer who has recently branched out into pet pictures, offers the star treatment for your pet for the day with £50-an-hour photo shoots in the studio, on location or at home.

Robert says has been inundated with enquiries for animal portraits in recent years.

“I’ve been getting a lot more orders for pet photos being bought as gifts for loved ones. I prefer to shoot these outside when possible because I think they make such lovely photos. This usually means I end up laying on my belly in the dirt, but as long as we get great pictures, I’m a happy bunny.”