Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Why pet obesity is not a disease but normal behavior
By Hargreaves, Robin·Published in The Veterinary record·2019·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: 'We shouldn't classify pet obesity as a disease'.
Plain-English summary
Some researchers believe that the weight gain that leads to obesity in pets is a normal part of how animals behave and function, rather than a disease. They argue that this perspective could change how we think about and manage pet obesity. Instead of treating it as a medical condition, they suggest we view it as a natural process. This viewpoint could influence how veterinarians and pet owners approach weight management for their pets.
Abstract
argues that the chronic weight gain that leads to obesity in pets is a normal animal behaviour and physiological mechanism, and so should not be regarded as a disease process.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31780515/