A new study from the University of Copenhagen reports that the prevalence of overweight dogs is twice as high among owners of overweight dogs (35%) than among owners of "normal" weight (14% overweight dogs).
To conduct their study, the researchers studied 268 adult dogs recruited from veterinary clinics on the island of Seeland and the Copenhagen area in Denmark. Of the pets recruited, 20% were either overweight or obese.
A matter of treat management
Faced with this result, part of the explanation would lie in the way the owners manage the distribution of treats.According to the Danish study, owners of "normal" weight would only use the treats as rewards for educational purposes, while owners of overweight dogs would distribute them to their dog for "free" .
Obesity, a worrying he alth problem in dogs
In developed countries, 34-59% of dogs are overweight or obese.
People often don't view their dog's weight as a problem, which can contribute to a dog being overweight
says Peter Sandøe, professor of bioethics at the University of Copenhagen and co-author of the study.
A real vicious circle from which we should get out because, as with humans, being overweight in dogs not only reduces short-term well-being but also their life expectancy.
And that's saying something because previous studies have shown that, on average, overweight dogs live 1.3 years less than their normal-weight counterparts.
Castration of male dogs triples the risk of overweight
Researchers have also studied the impact of sterilization on dog weight gain.
Neutered male dogs are three times more likely to be overweight than entire dogs. On the other hand, the study demonstrated that sterilization has no impact on weight in bitches. Whether spayed or not, female dogs are more likely to be overweight than whole males.
According to Charlotte R. Bjørnvad from the Department of Veterinary Science at the University of Copenhagen and the lead author of the study:
Castration appears to decrease the ability to regulate appetite in male dogs and, at the same time, it may also decrease their motivation to exercise, leading to an increased risk of being overweight. Therefore, the owner must be [even more] careful about how he feeds his dog once he has been neutered.
Researchers hope that these new data will raise awareness of canine weight issues among veterinarians and dog owners and help improve obesity prevention and treatment strategies by identifying areas of priority interventions.