Here's how obesity can shorten your dog's lifespan
| Jan 7, 2019, 12:13 IST
If you are of the opinion that obesity only affects human beings and not your furry friends, trust us when we say that you are terribly wrong. A new research from the University of Liverpool in the UK, reveals that the lifespan of overweight dogs was up to two-and-half years shorter when compared to ideal-weight dogs.
“Owners are often unaware that their dog is overweight, and many may not realise the impact that it can have on their health,” said Alex German, Professor at the university. “What they may not know is that if their beloved pet is too heavy, they are more likely to suffer from other problems such as joint disease, breathing issues, and certain types of cancer, as well as having a poorer quality of life. These health and well-being issues can significantly impact how long they live,” he added.
Examining more than 50,000 dogs across 12 of the most popular dog breeds, the study states that feeding habits are found to play a role in pet obesity. “For many owners, giving food, particularly tasty table scraps and tidbits, is the way we show affection for our pets,” German said. “Being careful about what you feed your dog could go a long way to keeping them in good shape and enabling them to be around for many years to come,” he noted.
The study has been published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
“Owners are often unaware that their dog is overweight, and many may not realise the impact that it can have on their health,” said Alex German, Professor at the university. “What they may not know is that if their beloved pet is too heavy, they are more likely to suffer from other problems such as joint disease, breathing issues, and certain types of cancer, as well as having a poorer quality of life. These health and well-being issues can significantly impact how long they live,” he added.
Examining more than 50,000 dogs across 12 of the most popular dog breeds, the study states that feeding habits are found to play a role in pet obesity. “For many owners, giving food, particularly tasty table scraps and tidbits, is the way we show affection for our pets,” German said. “Being careful about what you feed your dog could go a long way to keeping them in good shape and enabling them to be around for many years to come,” he noted.
The study has been published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.