A big problem

  • 25-40% of pet dogs are overweight or obese
  • The number of obese dogs is rising
  • Obesity dramatically reduces life expectancy
  • Obesity reduces activity and quality of life
  • Obese dogs are at greater risk of serious health problems such as diabetes and heart disease

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Obesity in focus

Prevalence of overweight dogs in UK (PDSA surveys)

Bar chart: The number of

Figures cited in Mail on Sunday article 22/2/07

A growing problem

The number of overweight and obese dogs has increased dramatically over recent decades. In the 1960s and 70s, 6-12% of dogs in the US were estimated to be obese; more recent surveys suggest that around 30% of Europe’s pet dogs are seriously overweight.

A study of over 4,000 dogs conducted in the UK by the charity PDSA found that 1 in 5 dogs were obese and 27% overweight (compared to 21% in 2003).

It would then not be unusual for at least 1 in 4 of all the dogs seen by the average European vet to be obese.