Pet obesity on the rise in America

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MONROE, La. (KNOE) - Our pets are getting fatter, and veterinarians are taking notice. It’s such a problem in the U.S. that The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention named October ‘Pet Obesity Awareness’ month. According to APOP, research says over half of cats and dogs are overweight.


Dr. Brent White has been a vet for over twenty years and says he's seen pet obesity steadily increase. “Even the veterinarians didn't realize the significance of it, but much like people there's a trend, and it's an upward trend since 1999,” says White.

For pet owners, it can be hard to tell if your pets are overweight, therefore it’s even harder for vets to get an accurate number of how many pets are obese in America. That’s why APOP is asking vets to record the number of pets that are overweight during routine exams.

"Obesity is a serious problem, and I think collectively Americans are in denial of our dogs' weights,” says White. “We've learned that from a young age fat equals happy, and happy equals healthy and that's not so correct.”