Here's Why Most Of Our Pups Are Overweight

Obesity is not just a problem that people face. Did you know that nearly half of all the cats and dogs in the world are considered obese?

Of course, an overweight pet may not have to deal with all the same social negativity that an obese person faces, there are still big problems they could develop. An overweight pet is more likely to develop osteoarthritis and diabetes. One study done and published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association publication found that the lifespan of a dog could be increased if they were given 25% less food.

The dogs in the study were not even obese, they were 10-20% overweight. The Veterinary Journal published an article that stated an overweight pet has a lower quality of life and has more pain and emotional disturbance that a pet that is of normal weight. But, the study also found that those things can improve if the animal loses weight. To help your pet stay at a healthy weight, make sure you do not give them too much human food and that they get plenty of exercise.

Studies have shown that pets become obese because of the relationship they have with their owners. We treat our fur babies like our family – which is good, however, the more you see your dog as a ‘person’ the less you treat them like an animal. You do not want to be an overindulgent pet parent.

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