
Research[1] reveals solely 17% of pet house owners consider that their pet is chubby, but 77% of vets have mentioned that pet weight problems is growing with 50% of canine, 43% of cats and 31% of small animals they deal with being overweight[2].
Only 47% of householders examine their pet’s weight on the vets and virtually a 3rd (30%) of pet house owners admit to both by no means checking their pet’s weight in any respect or guessing, revealed the analysis by UK Pet Food, in partnership with Agria Pet Insurance.
38% of pet house owners admit to giving their pets treats simply because they appear cute, and 22% to maintain them quiet or occupied.
41% of householders agreed that desk scraps had been a potential reason behind weight problems, particularly probably as a result of human scraps may be greater in fats, salt, sugar and energy than pet meals. For instance, one chunk of cheese for a cat is equal to 9 chunks of cheese for a human.
The findings current a regarding image as a result of weight problems in animals brings critical welfare points, reminiscent of:
- Reduced high quality and size of life
- Increased joint issues and arthritis
- Increased respiratory issues and coronary heart illness
- Increased diabetes and a few cancers
Alongside these life-changing dangers, weight problems danger once more will increase with neutering, resulting from a bigger urge for food and fewer exercise, and in your furry pal reaching middle-age.
Agria’s companion, UK Pet Food, is a devoted business physique for pet meals, selling greatest apply and offering free info on pet meals and feeding. Best apply is to feed a ‘full’ industrial pet meals. The time period full on the pet meals label signifies that the weight-reduction plan has been fastidiously formulated to offer all of the vitamins a pet wants in the proper proportions. This takes the guesswork out of feeding. All pet meals packets embody a feeding guideline to information on how a lot to feed. Pet house owners ought to begin with the beneficial quantity primarily based in your pet’s superb weight. If unsure, converse to your vet for recommendation.
Robin Hargreaves, Senior Veterinary Consultant for Agria Pet Insurance, feedback: “As nicely as being a well being danger in its personal proper, pet weight problems additionally makes each single different well being situation worse, from pores and skin circumstances to coronary heart illness and arthritis. Furthermore, there are the elevated dangers with any surgical procedure that is perhaps required on an animal that’s overweight. So many later-life issues may be both eradicated or mitigated by avoiding weight problems, so vets at all times urge house owners to have their pets weighed recurrently to maintain on high of their weight earlier than it turns into a difficulty.”
Vicki Wentworth, Managing Director at Agria Pet Insurance, added: “Animal welfare is a high precedence for Agria and we’re dedicated to highlighting what house owners can do to present their pets the absolute best lives. We should deal with the uncomfortable subject of weight problems, a serious animal welfare subject and a giant drawback with the UK’s pets.”