Pet food not necessarily to blame for US pet obesity epidemic

A 2011 survey, conducted by the association for pet obesity prevention, found that more than half of dogs and cats in the USA are overweight or obese, which is defined as being at least 30 per cent above normal body weight. Many pet owners do not recognise the problem of pet obesity. The association has a chart to help pet owners determine whether or not their pet is overweight, although a visit to the vet is still recommended. “The truth about pet food is that most pet foods are really good,” says Thomas Graves, a professor of veterinary clinical medicine at the University of Illinois' College of Veterinary Medicine. Most weight problems in dogs are the result of feeding too many leftovers, snacks and treats that are high in calories, not the dog’s regular food. In cats, weight problems come from a diet that is too high in carbohydrates.