Every October, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) unites with veterinary professionals and pet owners worldwide to raise awareness about the causes and health risks of pet obesity. The 2024 survey is open now if you want to participate, you can use this link – https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/APOP2024.

APOP conducts this cat and dog obesity prevalence survey every two years to track rising trends. While pet obesity is growing in the U.S. and Canada, it’s also surging in Europe, Australia, and countries like Japan, China, Brazil, and Argentina. Pet obesity is not just an issue here at home.

APOP Sheds Light on Pet Obesity concerns in the U.S.

The 2022 U.S. Pet Obesity Prevalence Survey found a staggering 61% of cats and 59% of dogs are overweight or have obesity, indicating a widespread problem with pet health. However, a survey conducted in Winter 2023 among pet owners and veterinary professionals showed a lack of awareness about this issue. Only 28% of cat owners and 17% of dog owners acknowledged that their pets were overweight, with 84% of dogs and 70% of cat owners assessing their pets’ body condition as healthy.

“Over the past two decades, we have consistently observed a significant discrepancy between the prevalence of pet obesity and pet owners’ recognition of this issue,” observed APOP Founder and President. Dr. Ernie Ward.

Pet owners reporting that ‘pet obesity is a problem, but not for my pet’ is a communication hurdle for veterinarians and our staff. While there could be many causes of pet obesity (although it’s usually overfeeding or under-exercising, or a combination of those two), acknowledging that there is a problem with your own pet is the first step in treatment. A dog or cat cannot decide they want to lose weight, it needs to be owner-driven!

In the last survey, many pet owners reported they were trying to address the issue. 63% of dog owners and 45% of cat owners said they were attempting to help their pets lose weight. The survey also found that only a small percentage of pets had been put on therapeutic weight loss diets, with 16% of dogs and 24% of cat owners sharing they tried such diets.

My opinion is that prescription food and prescription weight loss diets may be necessary in some instances. But for most dogs and cats who need to shave just a few pounds, cutting their portion size combined with a gentle increase in their exercise regime (admittedly easier for dogs than cats!) can deliver the results needed. Simply reducing calorie intake and increasing calories burned is the answer to weight loss for most pets, and most humans, unless there is an underlying medical condition.

Further complicating matters, many pet owners reported frequent treat-giving habits. 58% of dog owners and 12% of cat owners admitted to giving treats more than once a day, while an additional 24% of dogs and 18% of cats received treats at least once daily. 30% of cat owners revealed they gave no treats, with only 4% of dog owners claiming to restrict treats.

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Pet food is big business; there is a lot of money to be made feeding dogs and cats. Check the labels of your pet food and treats. Each should have a calorific value per cup or per treat. But don’t necessarily trust those label instructions. It’s in the manufacturing company’s interest to have you dish out more food than needed, as that means you have to buy another bag sooner. Speak with us at Compassionate Animal Care, or with your own vet, to figure out what a good daily calorie count would be. It will be based on your pet’s normal activity level and weight goals. Together we can figure out a plan.

Call 480.774.6995 to schedule an appointment with Compassionate Animal Care today.