Pet Obesity - Information & Resources

How prevalent is obesity?

Reports: Pet Obesity Prevalence Data is available...

• 2018 Pet Obesity Survey Results - U.S. Pet Obesity Rates Plateau and Nutritional Confusion Grows

            Note: Reports from previous years are available.

• UK: Pet Food Manufacturer's Association: PFMA Obesity Report - 2019 (PDF)

Obesity & Health problems - Connections?

IPFD Partner Royal Canine explains: "The risks of obesity in dogs"

"If your dog is overweight or obese, they are at greater risk of a number of serious and life-changing conditions:

•     Significantly reduced life expectancy
•     Cardio and respiratory problems
•     Diabetes
•     Reduction in immunity and therefore at risk of infections and other illness
•     Osteoarticular diseases such as arthritis
•     Cardiovascular disease
•     Urinary calcium oxalate calculi

Dogs who are obese are also likely to be lethargic, lack motivation and energy, and exhibit poor levels of effort when it comes to exercise, play, or activity."

Obesity Resources - Owners & Veterinarians

Pet Weight check

Pet Food Manufacturer's Association (UK) - PFMA Dog Size-O-Meter chart

Breed-specific: Pug: Body Condition Score Chart - Pugs - University of Cambridge - BOAS Research Group (UK)

WSAVA: Global Nutrition Guidelines (This page contains links to a wealth of nutrition resources [multiple languages]).

WSAVA Body Condition Score Chart: Dogs (PDF)

US: AVMA - Fighting Obesity Toolkit for Veterinarians (AVMA members only)

Recent Research:

• European dog owner perceptions of obesity and factors associated with human and canine obesity

• Associated article: Nature: European dog owner perceptions of obesity and factors associated with human and canine obesity

• Canine and feline obesity: a One Health perspective

• Canine and feline obesity: a review of pathophysiology, epidemiology, and clinical management

• Prevalence of Canine Obesity, Obesity-Related Metabolic Dysfunction, and Relationship with Owner Obesity in an Obesogenic Region of Spain

• Inaccurate Assessment of Canine Body Condition Score, Bodyweight, and Pet Food Labels: A Potential Cause of Inaccurate Feeding

Recent Articles:

Breed-specific: Bulldog: VetCompass: Disorders of Bulldogs under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013

RSA (UK)

RSA insurance group, has revealed that of the 12 most common pet insurance claims reported to it in 2018, half were affected by...
"Poor nutritional choices are not only making cats and dogs fatter but increasing their chances of ill health. Insurers report obesity as a significant risk factor in at least five of the top ten illness claims made." quoted from RSA's Press Release: Most common pet insurance claims are a result of obesity, studies claim (PDF)

Today's Veterinary Practice: Treatment of Obesity
Justin Shmalberg, DVM, Diplomate ACVN, explores one of the most common topics in nutrition: obesity. Recent research has better characterized the condition and identified new therapeutic approaches, which are discussed in-depth. Obesity is a frequently encountered condition in small animal veterinary practice and arguably the most common form of malnutrition.
 

Obesity Articles - Kennel Clubs

AKC: How to tell if your dog is fat
          Obesity related illnesses

The Kennel Club: Dog Obesity