Citing Banfield Pet Hospitals’ electronic veterinary health records, Jackie Brown shares some disturbing findings:
- 114 percent increase in cats diagnosed as overweight in the last 10 years
- Dog obesity also rose 108 percent in the same period
A survey of 1,000 owners of overweight or obese pets discovered:
- 93 percent said they faced hurdles in maintaining a healthy weight for their pet
- 76 percent couldn’t identify at least one risk of pet obesity
- 61 percent didn’t realize obesity carries an increased risk of cancer
- 41 percent delayed a visit to the vet to avoid talking about their pet’s weight
Source: Catster, November 8, 2021. Link.
INSIGHTS: These scary data indicate the importance of pet owner education to gain stewardship and pet health support in the home. The Bridge Club Pets success with engaging animal owners indicates pet owners are hungry for information and knowledge as well as individualized discussions with animal health professionals.