#1 Killer of
Pets
Do you know what the #1 killer of pets is?
Depending on whom you talk to, you will have completely
different answers.
Some people say its Shelters who kill about 3 to 4 million
pets a year, others say that it is cancer which kills about 1
million dogs a year.
The answer depends on what you understand the question to
be: The number one natural killer of dogs? Or the number one
killer of dogs across the board?
Here are some of the top candidates in this debate.
Candidate #1: Obesity
Obesity is a huge concern in today’s pet population. Just
like in humans, obese pets are more prone to certain diseases
and have shorter life spans. Check out these facts from the
AVMA Journal:
>Even a little extra weight, as little as 20% more can
put your pet at risk of developing diabetes, arthritis, and
heart disease.
>Obese cats are more than TWICE as likely as cats of
optimal weight to develop non-allergic skin conditions.
>Obese cats are FOUR times as likely to develop diabetes
mellitus.
>Obese cats are FIVE times as likely to develop lameness
requiring veterinary care.
>Diet restriction in dogs increased median life span and
delayed the onset of signs of chronic disease.
Candidate #2:
Pet Over Population
Check out some of these stats from The National Council on
Pet Population: Study and Policy
>The Humane Society of the United States estimates that
between 3 and 4 Million pets are euthanized in shelters every
year.
>30% of dogs and 5% of cats are reclaimed by their owners
at shelters
>25% of dogs in shelters are purebred.
Candidate #3: Cancer
>It is estimated that 1 in 4 dogs will die because of
cancer, which technically makes it the number one killer
(about 1 million a year). All dogs are susceptible, but Golden
retrievers are especially prone. 60% of them will develop
cancer at some point.
>Dogs have 35 times as much skin cancer as humans do.
>Dog have 4 times as many breast tumors.
>Dogs have 8 times as much bone cancer
>Dogs have twice the rate of leukemia.
>White cats are prone to skin carcinomas.
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