March 26, 2015, Calabash, N.C.—The majority of the nation’s dogs and cats continue to be overweight, and most pet owners aren’t aware of the problem, according to new research from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). The eighth annual National Pet Obesity Prevalence Survey conducted by APOP found 58% of U.S. cats and 53% of dogs were overweight in 2014.<!–more–> The study also found a significant “fat pet gap,” in which 90% of owners of overweight cats and 95% of owners of overweight dogs incorrectly identified their pet as a normal weight.
I listened to an interview about this on Doctor Radio today. It is overwhelming. The main point that the doctor kept coming back to was quality of life. Being overweight causes a plethora of health problems, including pain and depression. Here’s a list from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention:
Osteoarthritis
Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes
High Blood Pressure
Heart and Respiratory Disease
Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injury
Kidney Disease
Many Forms of Cancer
Decreased life expectancy (up to 2.5 years)
The problem is, most of us don’t even know what healthy weight looks like in our cats and dogs. Here is a page to help you figure it out.
For me, I know that some of my cats are overweight and I don’t know where to begin in dealing with it. Gorgeous went from 9 pounds to 14 pounds in maybe 8 months! We’re talking post-nosectomey, too. At his skinniest, he didn’t look too thin.
So please, take a look at their site and consider rethinking your cat or dog’s weight, diet and treats!