Research Finds 1 In 3 American Cats and Dogs Are Overweight (arstechnica.com)

After surveying 2.5 million dogs and 500,000 cats in the U.S. last year, a group of researchers found that about one in three were overweight or obese. "Looking over data from the last decade, the researchers say the new figures reveal a 169-percent increase in hefty felines and a 158-percent increase in chunky canines," reports Ars Technica. From the report: All the data is from researchers at Banfield, which runs a chain of veterinary hospitals across 42 states. The researchers surveyed animals that checked into one of Banfield's 975 locations, putting them through a five-point physical and visual exam. Animals were considered overweight if their ribs were not clearly visible or easily felt and if their waists were also hard to see. Pets were dubbed obese if their ribs couldn't be felt at all and they had no visible waist. As in humans, being overweight makes pets more prone to chronic health conditions. Also similar to humans, doctors blame pets' weight problems on overfeeding and lack of exercise. Other contributing factors include genetics and health issues such as arthritis, which can make play painful. Last, some pet owners may not be able to spot weight issues in their pets -- particularly because so many more dogs and cats are now overweight, making chubby pets the new norm. Dog breeds with the highest prevalence of obesity are Labrador Retrievers, Cairn Terriers, and Cocker Spaniels, the researchers report. For cats, the fattest breeds are Manx and Maine Coons.

Comments

Cat food lobby

[Kergan]

The industrial cat food you find in stores is choke full of nutrients that are pointless for obligate carnivores. It's akin to feeding kids with cookies and candy bars on grounds that there's a bit of flour and nuts in them.

Not to mention the severe lack of water in the case of dry food. Cats get the bulk of their daily water intake through their food, and only partially compensate the lack of intake by drinking more if you give them dry food.

Dogs should be given carnivorous diet, too

[swb]

Dogs may be able to digest carbohydrates but if you stop and think about it, where would dogs get carbohydrates in the wild? Trace amounts from eating grass, but otherwise they would be eating meat or scavenging carrion. They can only tolerate some carbohydrates because of their long association with humans.

Most dog food is chock full of carbohydrates and it fattens dogs just like fattens people and cattle in the feedlot.

My girlsfriends cat...

[unique_parrot]

...was overweight too. Until we got a tip to look out for sugar in the food.
It wasn't easy to find a cat food without sugar and we were worried that he - the sugar junkie - wouldn't like it BUT he loves it!
I think the meat must be better (didn't taste it).

Now he is back to normal and way more active (immediately after the food change).

Re:My girlsfriends cat...

[Anonymous Coward]

It surprises people, but Cats cannot taste 'sweet'. There is really no reason for sugar to be put into cat food to benefit the cat.

The manufactures add it as cheap filler. It's the same thing with people food. Government subsidies on corn in the United States means it is super cheap to replace something else with HCF "sugar" or corn meal to increase weight, improve appearance and improve smell to people.

But your cat doesn't care. He or she is just as happy eating freshly killed mouse or crunchy live beetles as the top-shelf pureed fish-n-bits.

Re:And yet more fit than the owners

[BarbaraHudson]

Rather normal - chocolate is deadly for cats and dogs. Also cats cannot taste sweets

Most chocolate is no more deadly for dogs than it is for humans. Milk chocolate doesn't contain the chemical theobromide in amounts necessary to do damage - the dog would have to eat it's weight in milk chocolate to kill it. Same as eating your own weight in milk chocolate will kill you. My first newfie found my stash of solid easter bunnies I had bought on sale after easter, and ate 10 pounds of them. No harm. The family cat would get into the Hershey's Kisses and eat them, aluminium and all. It definitely could taste sweets. Just made for tinsel-wrapped poop. A sister's tiny Lhasa Apso ate a box of crayons - the only effect was the poop was easier to spot. Cats and dogs are a lot tougher than you think.