Over-feeding and under-exercising are the main causes of obesity in humans and pets! We are literally killing our pets!

Australia

Obesity rates for Australians have doubled over the past 20 years, with approximately 60% of men and 45% women now classified as overweight or obese! The same trend has now been passed onto children and our pets!

*Australia has one of the worlds highest rates of pet ownerships – 64% of households compared to 62% in the US and 44% in UK.

We have over 4 million dogs, 2.5 million cats and over 20 million other types of pets ie fish, birds, mice etc). Research has proven that over 40% of dogs and one in three cats are now overweight due to poor diets and lack of exercise!

* Source: Reuters

USA

Studies show between 25 -40% of all American household pets are overweight or obese. According to the nation's largest pet insurer, this trend is leading to a steady rise in obesity-related pet illnesses and increased veterinary costs.

*In the large majority of countries, pet owners spend billions of dollars on their pets. In the US alone, estimated total expenditure on companion animals is almost $24 billion, $3.8 billion is spent on pet medications, $4.5 billion is spent on pet foods of which an alarming $628 million is spent on cat and dog treats alone.

Source:

UK

“Pet obesity in the UK, you could say, is at epidemic proportions. Nearly 50% of dogs and cats in this country are overweight, and 15% of these are clinically obese." Andrew Wilson, Orchard Veterinary Centre, UK.

The Hill’s Pet Nutrition study also showed one in four dog owners do not exercise themselves or their dogs. Only 30% exercise their dogs enough to the level needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle with almost 90% of owners also admitting they don’t exercise enough themselves. Regular exercise is essential for keeping trim and healthy for you and your dog!

There are many ways that you can prevent excessive weight gain in your pet including:

• Feed your pet a balanced diet and follow the recommended feeding guidelines on pet food
• Avoid feeding your pets tit bits. If you must give pets occasional treats,
  a) make sure they are the appropriate treats ie not human food
  b) Take this into account at meal times
• Feed your pet not the bowl! -Use a smaller feeding bowl if you think that you're in danger of overfeeding your pet.
• Make sure that dogs get plenty of exercise. A small dog should get at least 30 minutes exercise every day, and a larger healthy dog should get 60+ minutes a day
• Play with cats to ensure that they are kept active and alert.
• Don't feed cow's milk to cats or dogs;

Over-feeding and under-exercising are the main causes of pet obesity. An excess calorie intake of one percent is enough to produce pet obesity by middle age.

In dogs, obesity causes an increased risk of:

• Early onset of arthritis, including hip dysplasia
• Diabetes
• Pancreatitis
• Cancers
• Respiratory disease
• Early death!

In cats, obesity causes an increased risk of:

• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Liver disease (hepatic lipidosis)
• Urinary tract problems
• Early death!