Pet Obesity Awareness Day

Divya Raghav
Dec 22, 2023 By Divya Raghav
Originally Published on Mar 18, 2022
Fact-checked by Pratiti Nath
Observe Pet Obesity Awareness Day on October 12 by reading these facts!.

Where is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day observed?

National Pet Overweight Awareness Day is observed worldwide, especially in the US, UK, and Australia.

Who is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day observed by?

Pet Obesity Awareness Day is observed by pet lovers all around the world.

When did National Pet Obesity Awareness Day first start?

Although the exact date is unclear, this awareness day started when the Guinness World Records discontinued giving prizes to the heaviest pets.

Who started Pet Obesity Awareness Day?

It is not known for certain who started Pet Obesity Awareness Day.

History And Timeline

Obesity is tough to accept because pet lovers believe that their fat dog or cat is of average weight. Unfortunately, over half of domestic dogs and cats are currently medically plump, which can result in major health problems for them. The great news is that pet obesity can be easily avoided by following a few simple guidelines.

Discontinuation Of Records

Guinness World Records discontinued giving records to the heaviest animal friends to prevent pet owners from overfeeding their pets.

1998

American Pets Obesity Project

The American Pets Obesity Project conducted its inaugural study, revealing that overweight pets are on the rise.

2007

The Pet Obesity Pandemic

Plumpness in pets was identified as one of the major health issues, with pets growing larger than ever in 2013.

2011

Healthy Weight Achieved

The world's fattest dog, a 77 lb (35 kg) Dachshund named Obie, dropped to an ideal weight of 50 lb (22.6 kg).

2013

Pet Nutrition

According to the different surveys, pet owners and veterinarians have alternative opinions on pet nutrition labels.

2016

Traditions And Customs

On this day, people come together and raise awareness about their pet's weight issues among each other in order to prevent surgical procedures and illnesses.

Ways To Observe Pet Obesity Awareness Day

There are a plethora of ways in which you can observe this awareness day. Firstly, you have to check whether your pet is overweight or not.

The next, and most significant, step is to take the national survey performed by the APOP. The survey is important because it will tell you the problems and solutions to tackle obesity. Then you can take your dog for its usual exercise, as exercise is important because it prevents illnesses and obesity.

Facts And Stats

On this day, become aware of how poor food habits lead to obesity in pets, which is a major health issue for pets like birds. Most birds have a constant supply of food all of the time. Thus, they don't have to work for their food.

Learn to check your pet's weight on this day. One should always be able to touch your pet's ribcage without pressing on them readily, and the stomach must be tucked in.

It's crucial that you know what weight loss means on this day. For a pet to lose weight is more difficult as compared to a human, as 1 lb (453 g) lost in a dog is equal to 5 lb (2.26 kg) lost in an adult human. Thus, the 1 lb (453 g) lost would be slow, but significant.

Why is pet obesity an issue?

Overweight pets can easily devlop major health problems such as arthritis, diabetes, shortened lifespans, cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, and high blood pressure.

What proportion of pets are obese?

In the United States of America, the majority of beloved pets, mainly cats and dogs, are obese or overweight, with approximately 55.8% of dogs and 59.5% of cats.

What causes weight gain in dogs?

Obesity in dogs is most usually caused by a mismatch between energy intake and expenditure. Obesity becomes more frequent as a dog ages because their exercise plan, food routine, and regular walks become less frequent.

When Is This Day Celebrated

  • Wednesday, October 14, 2020
  • Wednesday, October 13, 2021
  • Wednesday, October 12, 2022
  • Wednesday, October 11, 2023
  • Wednesday, October 09, 2024

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Written by Divya Raghav

Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Accounting and Finance, Master of Business Administration

Divya Raghav picture

Divya RaghavBachelor of Commerce specializing in Accounting and Finance, Master of Business Administration

With a diverse range of experience in finance, administration, and operations, Divya is a diligent worker known for her attention to detail. Born and raised in Bangalore, she completed her Bachelor's in Commerce from Christ University and is now pursuing an MBA at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Bangalore. Along with her professional pursuits, Divya has a passion for baking, dancing, and writing content. She is also an avid animal lover who dedicates her time to volunteering for animal welfare causes.

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Fact-checked by Pratiti Nath

Bachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology, Masters of Science specializing in Biotechnology

Pratiti Nath picture

Pratiti NathBachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology, Masters of Science specializing in Biotechnology

A Master's in Biotechnology from Presidency University and a Bachelor's in Microbiology from Calcutta University. Pratiti holds expertise in writing science and healthcare articles, and their inputs and feedback help writers create insightful content. They have interests in heritage, history, and climate change issues and have written articles for various websites across multiple subjects. Their experience also includes working with eco-friendly startups and climate-related NGOs.

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