How prevalent is obesity in dogs?
“Obesity is probably the No. 1 health problem among dogs,” says James Sokolowski, DVM, Ph.D., director of the Quaker Pet Nutrition Center (Barrington, IL) As many as four out of every 10 dogs that veterinarians see in their practices are overweight, according to Dr. Colin Burrows, associate professor of veterinary medicine at the University of Florida (Gainesville). “The canine obesity problem is one which is sad — and so unnecessary,” Burrows says. What are the primary causes of obesity in dogs? Burrows and Sokolowski agree that the root of the problem is overfeeding coupled with lack of exercise. “Overfeeding is the most common form of malnutrition we see in pets today. Many owners equate food with love. Consequently, they ‘love’ their pets to the point of obesity. What they don’t understand is that there are serious health consequences associated with being overweight, ones which can dramatically affect the pet’s life span and life style,” Burrows explains. “Dogs are overweight bec
