Causes

In many ways, the rise in canine obesity in recent years mirrors a similar rise in human obesity in Western Europe. The availability of cheap, high calorific foods, the advent of fast food culture and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle have been blamed for the dramatic weight problem in the human population and the worrying rise in childhood obesity. As canine lifestyle is largely dictated by owner behaviour and attitudes, it is hardly surprising that the dog population has shared the same trend for increasing weight.

Although obesity can be the result of an underlying medical condition, in many cases the problem is the long-term consequence of inappropriate feeding and/or lack of exercise. Owners often use food ‘treats’ as a way of showing their love for their pet. In order to achieve a sustained reduction in weight, the owner has to adopt a new attitude and change his or her behaviour long term.

A recent survey conducted on behalf of Pfizer Animal Health among 1,500 dog owners in Spain, Germany and the UK, revealed that only 22% of them believed their pet was overweight. This lack of recognition by owners means that obesity is not actively addressed in many cases.