Corpulent or excessively fat pets are on their way to becoming very common according to a recently released study. This found that about 1 in every 3 pets in the United States, be them dogs or cats, is either overweight or obese.
The research was conducted by specialists part of the Banfield veterinary hospital chain. These analyzed data from some half a million cats and 2.5 million dogs, all patients of their clinics throughout 2016.
Corpulent Pets Trends Differ From Human Ones
According to the report results, the overweight and obesity trends across states are quite different when comparing pets to humans statistics. Namely, the states with the portliest pets were not necessarily the same ones to present the highest rates of human obesity.
Southern US states, for example, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana, have some of the highest obesity statistics in people. In contrast, they also present some of the lowest rates of obesity in pets.
The highest number of corpulent pets was registered in Minnesota. Data showed that 46 percent of the house cats and 41 percent of the house dogs in the state were either overweight or downright obese.
The Banfield study also highlights the increasingly higher number of pets with weight problems. Results show that the percentage of overweight cats and dogs increased by more than 150 percent over the past decade.
Being overweight or obese can have just as a negative effect in pets as it does in humans. The extra pounds can also lead to a rise in the appearance of diseases associated with obesity, for example, arthritis.
Banfield’s report also points out the additional costs incurred from raising corpulent pets. Both their food and their healthcare will rake in more money when compared to ‘fitter’ pets.
The study also considers that this growing trend of extra pounds in pets may be possibly tied to several misconceptions. One of them is the fact that some owners are unsure as to how much food their pets actually need.
Banfield recommends discussing this with veterinary specialists. It also states that the risks of obesity can be reduced by simply increasing the pets’ exercise. Or by cutting down on their treats or snacks.
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