California's Cats And Dogs Are Getting Fatter, Pet Obesity Report Says

America’s cats and dogs are a lot like their people: They’re fat and getting fatter. One in three are overweight, a number that continues to grow (and grow, and grow), according to the 2017 State of Pet Health Report released Tuesday.

(Pets are actually doing better than humans on the obesity front. Two out of every three adults is overweight, according to national statistics, but that’s a story for another day.)

The point is, according to the report’s authors at the Vancouver, Washington-based Banfield Pet Hospital, a nationwide chain, carrying extra weight can be as dangerous for your pets as it is for you. It’s not just a matter of vanity.

Obesity in cats and dogs is linked to 20 different ailments they may suffer; a healthy weight may delay the onset of chronic diseases; and as pets balloon, so does the rate of conditions such as arthritis (82 percent increase) and tracheal collapse (83 percent increase) in dogs, according to the report.

Plus, if you allow your cats and dogs to eat whatever they want whenever they want, your veterinary costs will soar along with the cost of kibble, the report said.

So, where are these obese pets? (Hello, Minnesota, you’ve got a big problem.) Here in California, our dogs and cats fall right in the middle of the rankings, coming in at number 26 for obese dogs in the nation. A total of 80,296 dogs were diagnosed as being obese in 2016, according to Banfield Pet Hospital.

As for cats, California felines are slightly less pudgy than the dogs in the state, ranking number 27 in the nation on the Banfield Pet Hospital report. The report says 16,750 cats were diagnosed as being obese last year.

Here are the rankings of the top 10 most obese states for dogs and cats:

Paunchy Pooches

1. Minnesota
2. Nebraska
3. Michigan
4. Idaho
5. Nevada
6. New Mexico
7. Washington
8. Utah
9. Indiana
10. Oregon

1. Minnesota
2. Nebraska
3. Iowa
4. Idaho
5. Delaware
6. Michigan
7. Nevada
8. Kansas
9. Utah
10. New Mexico

To find svelte cats and dogs, you’ll need to go to Mississippi, which topped both lists.

Slim Dogs

1. Mississippi
2. Puerto Rico
3. Arkansas
4. Alabama
5. Louisiana
6. Rhode Island
7. District of Columbia
8. Wisconsin
9. Connecticut
10. Kentucky

Fit Felines

1. Mississippi
2. Arkansas
3. Puerto Rico
4. Connecticut
5. Alabama
6. Louisiana
7. Rhode Island
8. Kentucky
9. District of Columbia
10. Arizona

Banfield, which operates clinics in PetSmart stores, said that over the past 10 years, the number of overweight cats and dogs its staff sees has increased 169 percent and 158 percent, respectively.

Dr. Kirk Bruninger, the lead researcher in the study, said the increase in weight is mainly due to pet owners looking at their dogs and cats as members of the family.

“And because of that, they use food as a form of communication and to show affection,” he said in a news release. “So they end up giving a lot more treats. And probably more treats than are necessary in the course of the day.”

A treat like a slice of cheese isn’t horrible for your large dog, but it represents 33 percent of a smaller dog’s recommended daily caloric intake, the report said. A better food reward choice for dogs is a carrot.

By Beth Dalbey (Patch National Staff) / Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone