While American authorities and medical specialists are trying to temper an increasing obesity epidemic, something else seems to join this trend. This time it is about house pets and their loss of an agile image. Instead, they became puffier than their ancestors mostly due to their masters’ busy lifestyles. Even though they might look cute now, this obesity wave among animals is a sign of life-threatening conditions.
The New Study Was Based on More than 3 Million Analyses of Cats and Dogs
A new study attempted to take the pulse of the current athletic status of pets. The Banfield Pet Hospital conducted this research and what they discovered is a troubling reality for both cats and dogs. Their slender silhouette has given more way to puffy layers in the last decade. However, this animal trend doesn’t mirror the human one from a geographical point of view.
The study had a complex collection of data from which to extract some true-to-life conclusions. The BARK Research team used analyses from over 505,000 feline pets and 2.5 million dogs. All these reports were registered in all 975 veterinary hospitals under Banfield brand that span 42 states plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Obesity Wave among Pets Might Be More Concerning than Among People
The findings of this study suggest that there are 158% more obese dogs and 169% rounder cats than there were in 2007. On the other hand, they do not correspond to the geographical range of human obesity. For instance, the highest rate of overweight pets is in Minnesota where people have healthier lifestyles than half of U.S. states.
Obesity among animals might be more life-threatening than among people. That’s because negative symptoms remain unspoken and owners interpret them as effects of other causes. Nonetheless, the shape of pets can influence the presence of chronic diseases such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes or respiratory diseases.
Therefore, the study encourages people to consult a specialist when it comes to choosing the diet for their furry friends. Otherwise, the pets can suffer from mistakes that their owners are not aware of.
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