Scope of the Problem and Perception by Owners and Veterinarians.
Obesity is a common disease of modern dogs and cats. Dog and cat owners often do not realize their animal is affected. Some pet owners are skeptical of the diagnosis or rationalize the overweight condition of their pets. Animal-related factors associated with obesity in dogs and cats include breed, neuter status, age, and gender, whereas owner-related factors include diet choice, feeding method, and provision of exercise. Owner characteristics, such as age and income, are also potential risk factors for pet obesity. Identifying such risk factors for both animals and owners may help provide targets for prevention or interventional tools.
VM: Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA. Electronic address: jalarsen@vmth.ucdavis.edu.
Jennifer A
JA
Larsen
Departament de Ciència Animal i dels Aliments (Animal and Food Science Department), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Edifici V, Campus UAB, Bellaterra 08193, Spain.
Cecilia
C
Villaverde
D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D010067:Ownership; D018634:Veterinarians
Canine; Diet; Feeding; Feline; Nutrition; Obesity