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Pet Obesity

A medical condition characterized by excessive body fat accumulation in dogs and cats, significantly impacting overall health and longevity.

Key Facts

Approximately 60% of dogs and cats in the U.S. are classified as overweight or obese.
Pet owners frequently underestimate their animal's body condition due to the normalization of overweight pets.
Excess body fat contributes to systemic inflammation and increases the risk of multiple secondary diseases.
Maintaining a lean body condition can extend a dog's median lifespan by up to 2.5 years.

Excess adipose tissue directly alters pharmacokinetics and surgical accessibility.

Obesity induces insulin resistance, particularly in cats, raising diabetes risk.

Rapid fat mobilization in obese cats during anorexia overwhelms the liver, causing failure.

Excess weight places mechanical stress on joints, accelerating degeneration.

Thoracic fat deposition directly restricts respiratory mechanics.

Caloric restriction and diet modification are the primary interventions for treating obesity.