Research from the University of Liverpool and Mars Petcare's WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition indicates that overweight dogs are likely to have shorter lifespans compared to those at an ideal weight. Published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, the retrospective study analyzed data spanning two decades and found that overweight dogs could live up to two and a half years less than their healthy-weight counterparts.
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The study assessed over 50,000 dogs across twelve popular breeds, noting that the extent of reduced lifespan due to being overweight varied among breeds—from a five-month decrease for male German Shepherds to a two-year and six-month decrease for male Yorkshire Terriers.
In the UK, over a quarter (26%) of households own a dog, while nearly half (47.6%) of U.S. households have canine companions. Despite this adoration, many pet owners seem unaware of the serious health risks associated with canine obesity, which is on the rise. Current estimates suggest that about one in three dogs and cats in the U.S. is overweight.
Although the study did not investigate the causes of obesity in dogs, feeding habits are suspected to play a significant role. A recent survey by Better Cities For Pets found that 54% of pet owners often feed their pets when they beg, and 22% occasionally overfeed their pets to keep them happy.
Study co-author Alex German, a Professor of Small Animal Medicine at the University of Liverpool, emphasized that many owners do not recognize when their dog is overweight or the health implications it may entail, including joint issues, respiratory problems, certain cancers, and a diminished quality of life, which collectively can shorten lifespan. He advised that managing feeding habits, particularly avoiding table scraps, can help maintain a pet's health and longevity.
Alarmingly, the study revealed that only 20% of pet owners measure the amount of food given to their dogs, while 87% typically estimate their pet’s portion sizes.
The research utilized data from BANFIELD Pet Hospitals, one of the largest veterinary practices globally, covering 50,787 dogs from twelve different breeds, comparing the lifespans of overweight and normally weighted dogs as reported by their owners.