{"id":8976,"date":"2021-12-16T18:18:36","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T18:18:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/?p=8976"},"modified":"2024-02-18T14:19:02","modified_gmt":"2024-02-18T14:19:02","slug":"pet-obesity-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/pet-obesity-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"18 Pet Obesity Statistics and Facts That Will Surprise You in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity is one of the most common health problems of the modern age. Besides humans, pets are also getting more and more overweight and obese. If you\u2019re not aware of just how serious the situation is, this article is for you. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve prepared the top <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pet obesity statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that\u2019ll shock you, so let\u2019s go.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='top-10-pet-obesity-stats-and-facts-for-2024'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Top 10 Pet Obesity Stats and Facts for 2024<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#Pet obesity prevalence\">Pet obesity prevalence<\/a> is higher than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overfeeding and lack of physical activity are the <a href=\"#main causes of pet obesity\">main causes of pet obesity<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#Overweight owners\">Overweight owners<\/a> are more likely to have obese pets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only 51% of pet owners are able to <a href=\"#recognize if their pet is overweight\">recognize if their pet is overweight<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">52% of <a href=\"#dogs with osteoarthritis\">dogs with osteoarthritis<\/a> are overweight.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#30% of all dogs\">30% of all dogs<\/a> in the US are obese.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pugs are one of the dog breeds <a href=\"#most likely to be obese\">most likely to be obese<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"#33.8% of US cats\">33.8% of US cats<\/a> are obese.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dry food can increase the <a href=\"#risk of obesity in cats\">risk of obesity in cats<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There has been a 114% increase in obese or overweight cats <a href=\"#in the last ten years\">in the last ten years<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id='general-pet-obesity-facts-and-stats'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pet Obesity Facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and Stats<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you have a pet? Do you know what their ideal weight is? Most owners don\u2019t. If you\u2019d like to learn more, here are some interesting facts about pet obesity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='1-pets-that-have-over-20-more-than-their-ideal-weight-are-considered-obese'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Pets that have over 20% more than their ideal weight are considered obese.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, VCA Animal Hospitals)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, there are some experts that consider pets with above 30% more than the ideal weight to be obese. So, until there\u2019s a consensus, the diagnosis depends on the vet.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overweight pets, on the other hand, are those with over 10% more pounds than what they should normally have.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='2-pet-obesity-prevalence-is-higher-than-ever-due-to-the-covid-19-pandemic'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Pet obesity prevalence is higher than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Hills Pet Nutrition)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a recent survey, among the owners of obese pets, 30% admitted that their pets became obese during the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And 71% of vets interviewed have found that the pandemic has definitely changed our pet-feeding habits. Moreover, 49% of surveyed pet owners admit that maintaining their pets\u2019 weight is more difficult during the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, pets are less active, leading to more instances of registered <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pet obesity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2022<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='3-overfeeding-and-lack-of-physical-activity-are-the-main-causes-of-pet-obesity'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Overfeeding and lack of physical activity are the main causes of pet obesity.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(WebMD)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most owners overestimate how much food their pets actually need. If the pet is physically inactive, high-calorie food and treats in between meals will only be harmful.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pet obesity prevention,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> pet owners should consult their vets to see how much food their pet should have every day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Genetics can also be an important factor, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33233816\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">since some obesity markers can be hereditary<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Plus, not all animals\/breeds are equally prone to obesity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='4-overweight-owners-are-more-likely-to-have-obese-pets'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Overweight owners are more likely to have obese pets.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Science Direct)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Owners are likely to share their habits with their pets. So, if they tend to overeat, they are more likely to overfeed their pets too. This correlation is more evident in dog owners than in cat owners.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The problem also occurs because inactive pet owners also don\u2019t exercise their dogs as often as they should, feed them less frequently but in larger portions, and give them more snacks while the pet is resting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the numbers come from smaller sample studies, so they should be taken with a grain of salt.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='5-every-second-wednesday-of-october-is-national-pet-obesity-awareness-day'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Every second Wednesday of October is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Pet Obesity Awareness Day.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Days of the Year)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On this day, there are many different events helping spread awareness about this dangerous condition. Often, veterinarians participate as well. They examine the pets and offer nutritional advice free of charge.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='6-only-51-of-pet-owners-are-able-to-recognize-if-their-pet-is-overweight'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Only 51% of pet owners are able to recognize if their pet is overweight.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Purina)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The study was conducted on 3,399 dogs across five countries. Of all the owners, 49% were unable to make a difference between ideal weight and extra weight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The same study has also found that 33% of owners identified their dogs\u2019 weight as ideal, but it turned out that their pets were overweight or obese.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the main reasons for this might be the fact that most dogs presented on TV and social networks are actually overweight.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='dog-obesity-facts-and-stats'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dog Obesity Facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and Stats<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s hard to say no to your pet when they look at you with those puppy eyes. However, if you look at the causes and consequences of dog obesity, you\u2019ll understand the importance of not overfeeding your dog.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='7-30-of-all-dogs-in-the-us-are-obese'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. 30% of all dogs in the US are obese.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(VCA Animal Hospitals)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">US <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">dog obesity statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also show that close to 45% of dogs between the ages of 5 and 11 are overweight. If we also exclude underweight dogs, that means that a lot less than 50% of US dogs have a healthy weight.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='8-a-small-scale-study-shows-that-dogs-eating-leftovers-are-more-likely-to-be-overweight'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8. A small-scale study shows that dogs eating leftovers are more likely to be overweight.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(NCBI)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Processed food is generally not great for dogs, and it can do them more harm than good. This is especially true if processed food is given in addition to their regular meals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, raw food doesn\u2019t produce the same effect in dogs, and they can actually benefit from it. You just have to pay attention and choose <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/what-human-food-can-dogs-eat\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">food that\u2019s not toxic to dogs<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='9-healthy-dogs-should-have-an-hourglass-shaped-body'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9. Healthy dogs should have an hourglass-shaped body.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Association for Pet Obesity Prevention)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the dog is overweight, it\u2019ll look more round when you look at them from above. An ideal dog body should include a slightly tucked stomach, ribs that can\u2019t be seen but can easily be felt, and a clearly visible waist.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='10-dogs-will-eat-88-more-if-served-a-larger-portion'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10. Dogs will eat 88% more if served a larger portion.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Science Direct, PetMD)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A study found that this happens if dogs get 300% of their normal meals. So, when served more than they need, they\u2019re likely to overeat. As mentioned, obesity is directly related to eating too much.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A vet can help you avoid this and determine the perfect portion size for your dog.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='11-pugs-are-one-of-the-dog-breeds-most-likely-to-be-obese'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11. Pugs are one of the dog breeds most likely to be obese.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Wiley Online Library)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And this obesity is highly dangerous for them. Obesity in pugs can worsen their brachycephaly and make their breathing even more difficult.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides Pugs, Beagles, Golden Retrievers, and English Springer Spaniels are also predisposed to becoming obese.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='12-52-of-dogs-with-osteoarthritis-are-overweight'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12. 52% of dogs with osteoarthritis are overweight.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Banfield Pet Hospital)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity significantly increases the chances of a dog getting osteoarthritis. And, since osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints, being overweight can only make the condition worse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a pet loses weight, the condition can significantly improve. The pain can get easier to manage, and the progression of the illness can be slowed down.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='13-obesity-can-increase-the-risk-of-developing-cancer'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">13. Obesity can increase the risk of developing cancer.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(American Kennel Club)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides cancer, there are many other diseases that are caused by obesity in dogs. They can get diabetes, develop heart disease, and have high blood pressure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other problems, like bladder stones and lower heat tolerance, are also possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='14-overweight-dogs-have-a-shorter-lifespan'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">14. Overweight dogs have a shorter lifespan.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Wiley Online Library)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is one of the most common <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">overweight dog problems<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, an overweight Yorkie lives only 13.7 years, while the normal average for the breed is 16.2 years. For some breeds, though, like the German Shepherd, the difference is only a few months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still, these are precious months and years lost only because of obesity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='cat-obesity-facts-and-statistics'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cat Obesity Facts<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and Statistics<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cat obesity stats are just as concerning. If you have a pet cat, keep reading to learn more about how obesity looks in cats.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='15-33-8-of-us-cats-are-obese-as-revealed-by-statistics-on-cat-obesity'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">15. 33.8% of US cats are obese, as revealed by <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">statistics on cat obesity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Statista)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the same stats for 2018, 25.7% were reported to be simply overweight. When these two are combined, we can see that 59.5% of all cats in the US had a weight problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And only 38.5% had a normal weight.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='16-indoor-cats-are-more-likely-to-become-overweight'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">16. Indoor cats are more likely to become overweight.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(NCBI)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity of in-home pets<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is generally more common, and cats are no exception. Free-roaming cats are more stimulated, more active, and less likely to eat out of boredom. However, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/cat-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">they live much shorter lives<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If they live in a multi-cat household, they are also less anxious. Anxious pets eat more, which can lead to obesity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='17-dry-food-can-increase-the-risk-of-obesity-in-cats'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">17. Dry food can increase the risk of obesity in cats.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(MDPI, Veterinary Practice News)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the reasons for this is the fact that dry food is usually more caloric and richer in carbs. Moreover, packages can sometimes be misleading and suggest larger serving sizes than necessary.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Canned cat food in gravy<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is recommended for preventing obesity since it provides cats with additional moisture, and it is harder to go wrong with it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, these are just some of the factors. Portion sizes, frequency of feeding, type of food, and cat activity levels all play a role.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='18-there-has-been-a-114-increase-in-obese-or-overweight-cats-in-the-last-ten-years-according-to-pet-obesity-statistics-for-2020'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">18. There has been a 114% increase in obese or overweight cats in the last ten years, according to <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pet obesity statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2020<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Banfield Pet Hospital)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Banfield Hospital pet obesity research found that in 2011, they diagnosed only 18% of cats with obesity. In 2020, that number grew to 38%, which is a more than 100% increase in less than a decade.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That being said, it\u2019s safe to assume that a greater part of that percent has happened during the pandemic period. As mentioned, pet owners have found it more challenging to maintain their pets\u2019 weight.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='faq'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FAQ<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 id='what-are-the-symptoms-of-obesity-in-dogs'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the symptoms of obesity in dogs<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main symptom is extra fat layers. Obese dogs have no waist, and their belly is at the same level as their chest. They also often have extra layers of fat on top of their hips.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some behavioral symptoms are a lack of will to exercise, trouble walking, and inability to breathe normally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(American Kennel Club)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='how-is-obesity-in-dogs-treated'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How is obesity in dogs treated?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dog obesity is treated through diet and exercise. To <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">end pet obesity<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, pet owners should consult vets and see how much food and exercise their pets need.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What pet owners can do on their own is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.akc.org\/expert-advice\/health\/getting-the-overweight-dog-in-shape1\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">start exercising more with their dogs and slowly reduce the amount of treats they give to their pets<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(PetMD)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='is-pet-obesity-an-epidemic'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is pet obesity an epidemic?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pet obesity is definitely starting to be an epidemic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are more pets than ever that are at least overweight. Some studies suggest that as much as 51% of pets are overweight. And less than 10% of those diagnosed pets manage to lose weight in the long run.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Banfield Pet Hospital)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='how-common-is-cat-obesity'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How common is cat obesity?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cat obesity is more common than you would think. According to stats from 2018, a staggering 33.8% of cats are obese. And the numbers are expected to rise, since 25.7% are already overweight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Statista)<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='what-does-obesity-do-to-cats'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What does obesity do to cats?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity is the primary cause of diabetes in cats. But, there are many other cat obesity problems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cats with obesity have problems with their joints, breathing, steatosis (fatty liver), urinary tract, and bladder. Moreover, they can also get heart problems, which prevent them from living normally.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Heene Road Vets)<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id='final-thoughts'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you\u2019ve looked at our<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> pet obesity statistics<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we hope you\u2019ve realized just how serious the problem is.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With more than half of all pets overweight, pet obesity is a serious epidemic. Obesity can cause their health to get worse and even shorten their lives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With all that in mind, every pet owner should put effort into preventing their pet from becoming overweight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id='sources-%c2%a0-%c2%a0-%c2%a0-%c2%a0-%c2%a0-%c2%a0-%c2%a0-%c2%a0'><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sources: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.akc.org\/expert-advice\/vets-corner\/canine-weight-gain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Kennel Club<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.akc.org\/expert-advice\/health\/how-to-tell-if-your-dog-is-fat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Kennel Club<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/petobesityprevention.org\/about\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Association for Pet Obesity Prevention<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/petobesityprevention.org\/pet-weight-check\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Association for Pet Obesity Prevention<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.banfield.com\/about-banfield\/newsroom\/press-releases\/2019\/banfield-pet-hospitals-ninth-annual-state-of-pet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Banfield Pet Hospital<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.banfield.com\/en\/about-banfield\/newsroom\/press-releases\/2021\/new-data-reveals-pet-obesity-epidemic-existed-long-before-quarantine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Banfield Pet Hospital<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.banfieldexchange.com\/VET-Report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Banfield Pet Hospital<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.daysoftheyear.com\/days\/pet-obesity-awareness-day\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Days of the Year<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heeneroadvets.co.uk\/obesity-in-dogs-and-cats\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heene Road Vets<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hillstransforminglives.co.za\/news\/covid-19-fuels-pet-obesity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hills Pet Nutrition<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/11\/10\/2881\/htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MDPI<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC7459892\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NCBI<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6709657\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NCBI<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/blogs\/nutritionnuggets\/dr-coates\/2015\/july\/are-you-feeding-your-dog-right-amount-32905\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PetMD<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.petmd.com\/dog\/conditions\/digestive\/c_multi_Obesity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PetMD<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0031938418309223\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Science Direct<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0167587719300868?via%3Dihub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Science Direct<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.purina.eu\/news\/all\/4692\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Purina<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/524790\/obese-and-overweight-cats-share-in-the-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Statista<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/vcacanada.com\/know-your-pet\/obesity-in-dogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VCA Animal Hospitals<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pets.webmd.com\/dogs\/dog-gaining-weight#1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WebMD<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/jsap.13325\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wiley Online Library<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1111\/jvim.15367\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wiley Online Library<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What are the symptoms of obesity in dogs?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The main symptom is extra fat layers. Obese dogs have no waist, and their belly is at the same level as their chest. They also often have extra layers of fat on top of their hips.\\n\\nSome behavioral symptoms are a lack of will to exercise, trouble walking, and inability to breathe normally.\u00a0\\n\\n(American Kennel Club)\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How is obesity in dogs treated?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Dog obesity is treated through diet and exercise. To end pet obesity, pet owners should consult vets and see how much food and exercise their pets need.\\n\\nWhat pet owners can do on their own is start exercising more with their dogs and slowly reduce the amount of treats they give to their pets.\\n\\n(PetMD)\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Is pet obesity an epidemic?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Pet obesity is definitely starting to be an epidemic.\u00a0\\n\\nThere are more pets than ever that are at least overweight. Some studies suggest that as much as 51% of pets are overweight. And less than 10% of those diagnosed pets manage to lose weight in the long run.\\n\\n(Banfield Pet Hospital)\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How common is cat obesity?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Cat obesity is more common than you would think. According to stats from 2018, a staggering 33.8% of cats are obese. And the numbers are expected to rise, since 25.7% are already overweight.\u00a0\\n\\n(Statista)\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What does obesity do to cats?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Obesity is the primary cause of diabetes in cats. But, there are many other cat obesity problems.\u00a0\\n\\nCats with obesity have problems with their joints, breathing, steatosis (fatty liver), urinary tract, and bladder. Moreover, they can also get heart problems, which prevent them from living normally.\\n\\n(Heene Road Vets)\"}}]}<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you want to learn more about pet obesity statistics and find out how serious this issue is in the pet world? If your answer is yes, read on. [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/pet-obesity-statistics\/\">Read More&#8230;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> from 18 Pet Obesity Statistics and Facts That Will Surprise You in 2024<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":8981,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8976","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-stats-and-facts"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8976","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8976"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8976\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8981"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8976"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8976"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}