Obesity in Pets: One in Four Show Dogs is Overweight

Is your dog overweight? Most likely, he is. Scientists have found that one in four dogs that compete in the world's largest canine show, called Crusts, is overweight even though they're supposed to represent ideal specimens of their breed.

Obesity in dogs is now recognized as a common disorder. Just like in people, obesity in dogs has been linked to orthopedic problems, diabetes, respiratory disease and certain types of cancer. It also impacts both the quality and length of a dog's life.

In this latest study, the researchers examined 1,120 online images of dogs from 28 breeds. Half of these breeds are prone to obesity, and all had appeared at Crufts, which is UK's national dog show and the largest of its kind in the world.

The images were coded and then anonymized. In the end, 960 were suitable for assessment. One of the researchers graded the body conditions of each dog in one sitting usually a previously validated method.

So what did they find? A total of 74 percent of the dogs were in ideal conditions. However, that left 26 percent of the dogs overweight. Pugs, basset hounds and Labrador retrievers in particular were the breeds most likely to be assessed as being overweight. In contrast, standard poodles, border terriers, Rhodesian ridgebacks, Hungarian vizlas and Dobermanns were the least likely breeds to be overweight.

"These dogs showcase the ideal characteristics of the pedigree breed, and there is a danger that widespread media exposure might adversely influence owner perception of optimal body shape," write the researchers in a news release

In fact, the scientists warn that obesity in show dogs could actually spread obesity as pet owners begin to believe that the body size is "okay" for their pooches.

With that said, the Kennel Club has recently introduced changes in policy for judging criteria in order to emphasize characteristics that promote good health in dogs.

The findings are published in the journal Veterinary Record.

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