Manufacturers’ trade association UK Pet Food has launched its latest Obesity Report, which indicates a continuing rise in the problem across the UK.
The latest version of the report, which is compiled every five years, reveals that 50% of dogs, 43% of cats, 31% of small mammals and even 9% of birds are currently considered overweight or obese by vets. This compares to the corresponding report in 2014, for which the figures were 45% of dogs, 40% of cats and 28% of small mammals.
To build the report, UK Pet Food conducted a survey of 148 veterinary professionals at LVS in November 2023 and a Kantar / Soulor Consulting online survey of 2,558 households were asked questions about pet health and habits in March 2024. While 100% of vets expressed concern about the growing obesity problem, 77% of owners believed their pet is at a healthy weight, with just 4% acknowledging the need for weight loss.
The report also reveals that only 25% of pet owners regularly weigh their pets, and just 7% know how to assess their pet’s body condition correctly. Half of the pet owners surveyed have never consulted a veterinarian or vet nurse about their pet’s weight and, although 63% of owners claim to follow feeding guidelines, many still engage in counterproductive practices, such as feeding human food scraps (34%) and not weighing out pet food (18%).
In response, UK Pet Food has gathered input from vets, nutritionists, retailers, and other industry experts in the form of advice, toolkits and actionable steps in the report to support the industry and owners in managing their pets’ weight.
Nicole Paley, deputy ceo of UK Pet Food, stressed the need for awareness of the issue but also that support is available. She said “Pet obesity, much like human health, is a complex issue. While there’s a gap between how owners perceive their pets’ weight and the reality, there’s also a vast amount of expertise and strong commitment from all sides to address this challenge.
“This is our fourth report, published every five years, and for the first time, we’ve included practical toolkits for frontline professionals like vet nurses and retailers. These resources are designed to help initiate important conversations with pet owners, supporting them on their pets’ weight management journey.”
Cat Henstridge, vet surgeon and influencer known as Cat the Vet, added: “Fat cats, rotund rabbits, and dumpy dogs have sadly become the norm in our pet population, significantly reducing both their quality and length of life.
“Obesity is a complex, multifactorial disease, making weight loss a challenge for any pet. However, given the severe health risks, it’s vital that we, as animal care experts, support owners in helping their pets shed those extra pounds. UK Pet Food’s Obesity Report is a great resource with useful appendices for professionals so we can work together to encourage change.”
The full report can be found here.
