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More U.S. Cats and Dogs Becoming Overweight

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A lot of emphasis has been placed on combating the ever-growing obesity epidemic in the U.S.  And now, veterinarians are becoming more concerned as the numbers of overweight furry family members climbs.

68% of the American population is considered overweight or obese.  And it’s estimated that 25% of pets, mostly cats and dogs, are also overweight.  However, most people may not realize their pet has a weight problem.

“The identification of an ideal body weight is one of the most challenging things.  Sometimes our perception of what a dog or cat should look like tends to be an overweight animal,” says Assistant Professor with Community Practice at CSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Camille Torres.

While some people find fat cats and dogs cute, extra weight on a pet can cause numerous health problems. 

“With cats we worry a lot about increasing their risk of Diabetes; it’s a common problem we see with overweight cats.  With dogs, the biggest thing would be orthopedic disease. It just puts so much more strain on their joints,” says Torres.

Just as with humans, Torres says a good diet and exercise are the keys to keeping pets at a healthy weight.

A pet caloric needs chart, a pet weight check chart and other tips can be found here:

Association for Pet Obesity Prevention