National Pet Obesity Day falls on the second Wednesday of October annually and reminds pet owners that if their pets carry too much weight, it can be unhealthy for them. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, over half of adult dogs and cats in the United States are significantly overweight or obese.

Unfortunately, almost a quarter of dog owners and 15% of cat owners don’t realize their pets are obese and refer to them as normal weight. That’s why when this holiday shows up on the calendar, it’s time for all pet owners to honestly assess whether or not their pet is obese and take the necessary actions to correct their obesity or prevent them from becoming obese.

The History of National Pet Obesity Day

This holiday was first created by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) in 2007. This organization created this holiday to raise pet owners’ awareness about the epidemic of pet obesity that was sweeping the United States.

Approximately 53% of dogs and 55% of cats are obese, and those figures are getting worse every year. Hopefully, this holiday raises people’s awareness about this problem so they can make sure their pets get the proper diet and exercise to maintain a healthy weight.

Important Facts About Pet Obesity

Below are some important facts about pet obesity that we think everyone can learn something from. We’ve gathered the following facts from several sources and are now happy to share them with all of the people reading today.

• Cats who are 10-20% over their ideal weight are considered overweight. Cats over 20% of their ideal weight are considered obese.
• Obesity in pets can lead to arthritis, diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, and high blood pressure.
• Obesity in pets can also lead to respiratory diseases and other health problems.

Observing National Pet Obesity Day

For this holiday, we encourage all pet owners to work with their vets to ensure that their dogs are in good health and at a healthy weight. Pet owners need to make sure their pets are eating quality dog food that isn’t full of fillers and that they get plenty of daily exercise.

For obese pets, it may be necessary to put them on weight loss dog food, but that should be cleared by the family vet. People should also make sure to remind other pet owners of this holiday by using the hashtag #PetObesityDay on social media.