Research published in the journal ‘Preventive Veterinary Medicine’ shows that dogs with obesity have a life expectancy that is 1.5 years shorter than dogs in ideal body condition, especially the smaller breeds. Fat cats too have a shorter average lifespan than those in ideal body condition. So, for instance, the age by which 20% of British shorthair cats were dead was 6.6 years for those in the top bodyweight bracket when young, compared with 12.3 years for those not so heavy at that age. Excess weight gain during growth persists into adulthood for pets. The study says that monitoring bodyweight gains in puppies and kittens against standard growth charts, and regular measurement of bodyweight in adult pets, should be core to preventative strategies led by veterinarians in partnership with pet owners.
