Half of America’s Pets Should Have This New Year’s Resolution

Are you hitting the treadmill for your New Year’s resolution? Trying to shed a few extra pounds? Well there’s a good chance that your pet could benefit from the same goal in 2018.

Approximately 59% of cats and 54% of dogs are overweight in the United States, according to an annual survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. Extra weight increases the risks of heart and lung problems, skin infections, and joint pain, just to name a few issues.

A Fixable Problem

One of the hardest parts about being a vet is not being able to fix health issues in our furry friends. Sometimes treatments are expensive, or conditions are simply incurable, even with all the resources in the world.

Luckily, obesity is not one of those problems. Obesity can be fixed with a leaner diet and more exercise. Weight loss can be even easier for pets than people, as weight loss diets are easy to feed, and Sparky isn’t able to go into the fridge for that extra slice of cake before bed.

Purina OM (Overweight Management). One of many choices for a weight-loss diet.

A Longer, Leaner Life

Pets that are overweight are expected to live about 2 years LESS than pets that are of a normal weight. If that isn’t a good enough reason to slim down your little buddy, then I don’t know what is.

To learn more about the pet obesity epidemic in America, visit the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention website.