U.S. pets are getting fatter, according to new report

[Eugene]

Last edited Sat Jul 22, 2017, 02:12 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: USA Today

U.S. pets are getting fatter, according to new report

USA TODAY NETWORK Mary Bowerman , USA TODAY Network Published 4:27 a.m. ET June 27, 2017 | Updated 4 hours ago

It’s no secret that Americans waistlines have been expanding for years, and a new report shows our pets are following suit.

Banfield Pet Hospital's 2017 State of Pet Health report found that one in three pets who visited Banfield pet facilities in 2016 was overweight or obese. The annual report details health habits of the 2.5 million dogs and 500,000 cats who visited facilities across the country in 2016.

Dr. Kirk Breuninger, a veterinary research associate at Banfield Pet Hospital, said they noticed a trend in pets gaining weight five years ago.

"More than 20 disease conditions have been linked with pets being overweight," Breuninger said. "While some may say, 'My pet looks cute being pudgy or plump,' ultimately carrying those extra pounds contributes to exasperating these diseases."

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Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/06/27/u-s-pets-getting-fatter-according-new-banfield-pet-hospital-report/428140001/

[HockeyMom]

1. We have two litter mate cats

Male and Female. She is Fat. He is Skinny. They both eat the same food and have same genes, but the brother is the Flying Wallenda of cats. She just sleeps all day. I suppose as with humans, diet alone isn't the answer.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. One of my cats is looking a bit more portly than he ought to be.

He has a bit of a pot belly. Guess it's time to cut back on the treats but he won't be happy.

[Freddie]

3. My Charlie is, um, substantial

Almost 16 lb. and he's really not a "big" cat. Per the vet, the boys are no longer free-fed but given 2 half-cup servings of their favorite kibble (Purina One Indoor Advantage) per day plus they split a can of Fancy Feast which they never finish as they way prefer dry food to canned. His weight has stabilized.

[CountAllVotes]

4. One of my boys is 16.8 lbs.

and no, he is not fat, he is one big tomcat! *eek*

[ginnyinWI]

6. try giving to him first thing in the morning.

I have a kibble lover too, and she gets her half can Fancy Feast in the morning along with just 1 T. dry good as a side--to keep her from complaining--and she eats it. She also gets a quarter regular 5.5 oz can of something else in the evening with the same side of dry food. She gets another 2 T. dry at noon. Fed three times a day--spoiled!

Total for the day is about 86 calories of wet food and 100 calories of dry--and so far she is maintaining her 14 lbs on that!

My other cat is maintaining his 13 lbs on that. It's supposed to be low enough to make them lose weight--but alas.

[meow2u3]

5. You're not kidding!

My Max weighs 24 pounds and should be 18. I've had him on a portion reduction diet since this past December and he's beginning to lose some serious weight.

He weighed almost 26 pounds when I took him to the vet 6 months ago. He's not moving very well and sometimes cries in pain, but the cries are fewer since he's been on the diet.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. I stood next to a woman at the vet who said her cat weighed 32 lbs.!

She was there to pick up meds and when they asked his weight, that was what she said. She didn't have the cat with her.