The role of dog owners' behaviour in canine obesity

Abstract

Obesity is a multifactorial disease which prevalence is increasing around the world both in human and dog population. Factors like female dogs, older animals, Labrador retriever breed and neutering have been demonstrated on numerous occasions to be at risk of obesity. The overall aim of this study was to investigate an understated parameter: the role that owner plays in the obesity of dogs by evaluating how overweight and obese dog owners’ care for their animals on a daily basis compared to owners of normal weight dogs.