Pet Obesity Is On The Rise Again: 3 Easy Ways To Keep Your Four-Legged Friends Healthy

Did Fido have a few too many cookies throughout the holiday season? Well, it might be time to put that dog on a diet!

If you do have a pudgy pet, you're certainly in good company. Data from Nationwide, the nation's largest provider of pet health insurance, reveals that pet obesity is on the rise for the sixth straight year. Just like humans, dogs and cats who are overweight have an increased risk of many health problems, including diabetes, high blood pressure, respiratory disease, kidney disease and some forms of cancer.

"Obesity can be detrimental to the livelihood of our pets," said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for Nationwide. "Pet owners need to be aware of the quality and amount of food or treats they give their furry family members. The New Year presents a perfect opportunity to create regular exercise routines for our pets and begin to effectively manage their eating habits to avoid excess weight gain. Scheduling routine wellness exams with your veterinarian is the most effective way to get started on monitoring your pet's weight, particularly for cats."

Although some breeds are more prone to obesity, diet and exercise are the main factors impacting your pet's weight. Here are three go-to tips for keeping your furry family members healthy in 2017:

1. Limit goodies. Treats and more than the occasional table scrap add up quickly, so it's best to avoid feeding your four-legged friend too many extra calories that way.
2. Buy quality food. It's important to feed dogs and cats quality food and in its recommended amount, as overfeeding is another reason our pets are packing on the pounds.
3. Make time to play! Just like with humans, safely incorporating some fun exercise into a dog or cat's day brings benefits far beyond any numbers on a scale.

As the American Veterinary Medical Association points out, maintaining a healthy weight also reduces our pets' risk of disease and injury and contributes to a better quality of life and longer life expectancy. Excess weight can reduce an animal's life expectancy by more than two years, and even a modest reduction in weight can significantly reduce a pet's risk of many life-threatening diseases.

That's it: Time to see Spot run! Here's to a happy, healthy 2017 — for people and their pets.

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First Photo Credit: Jared Frazer via Flickr