According to the APOP, an estimated 54 percent of cats and dogs in the U.S. are considered overweight or obese.
In February 2012, the APOP released the results of the fifth annual survey. The survey found 53 percent of adult dogs and 55 percent of cats to be classified as overweight or obese by their veterinarian. That equals 88.4 million pets that are considered too heavy by veterinarians.
“The most distressing finding was the fact that more pet owners are unaware their pet is overweight.” said APOP founder Dr. Ernie Ward. “22 percent of dog owners and 15 percent of cat owners characterized their pet as normal weight when it was actually overweight or obese. This is what I refer to as the ‘fat pet gap’ or the normalization of obesity by pet parents. In simplest terms, we’ve made fat pets the new normal.”
In addition to a decreased life-expectancy, animals that are overweight are at risk for cranial cruciate ligament injury, heart and respiratory disease, insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes, as well as osteoarthritis.
The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) has launched campaigns to fight pet obesity within the veterinary medical community, veterinary schools, and state and local veterinary organizations, and it has reached out to various media outlets. It is made up of dedicated veterinarians and veterinary healthcare personnel who are committed to making the lives of dogs, cats and all other animals healthier and more vital.
Individuals interested in participating in the 2012 survey can contact the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention by visiting www.petobesityprevention.com/npoad/.
The vet told us a year ago (when Mario weighed)) 12 pounds that she didn't want him to gain any weight. Easier said than done. Now he's at 15 pounds. We've been measuringh is kibble for a good year and I'm at a loss as to what to do next. He's such a loveable cat that he'd rather sit on a lap than play. It's really hard if you don't have an active animal.
ReplyDeleteHere are some suggestions from PetMD: http://bit.ly/SRxJEs
DeleteAllie just got weighed and was up 1/2 a pound. Then mom caught dad giving her junk food. He looked SOOOOO guilty.
ReplyDeletePet obesity is a serious issue - and we have to deal with it a lot at the shelter. It's so sad to see seriously overweight kitties come in for adoption>...
ReplyDeleteIt's a difficult issue to deal with once the cat is overweight because you risk other health issues if you cut back their food too much. I switched my cats from dry to canned in the past year and have noticed a definite improvement in their weight.
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