Pet obesity has increased in the U.S. for the eighth consecutive year, according to pet insurance provider Nationwide. The company reports nearly 20 percent of its members’ claims in 2017 were for conditions and diseases related to pet obesity, marking a 24 percent increase over the last eight years. “Obesity can be detrimental to the livelihood of our pets,” said Carol McConnell, DVM, MBA, vice president and chief veterinary officer for Nationwide. “Scheduling a routine wellness exam with a veterinarian is an effective way to get started on monitoring a pet’s weight.” Nationwide recently sorted through its database of more than 700,000 insured pets to determine the top 10 dog and cat conditions related to or made worse by obesity. The most common dog obesity-related conditions are: Arthritis Bladder/urinary tract disease Liver disease Low thyroid hormone Torn knee ligaments Diseased disc in the spine Diabetes Chronic kidney disease Heart failure High blood pressure The most common cat obesity-related conditions are: Bladder/urinary tract disease Chronic kidney disease Diabetes Asthma Liver disease Arthritis High blood pressure Heart failure Gall bladder disorder Immobility of spine
