Pet Obesity and Pet Adoptions in Mexico, Speaking at CVDL Conference

As the pandemic hit Mexico, pet adoptions soared in many regions. This was a phenomenon much of the world experienced. Mexico appears to be following America with another big trend. According to PetFoodIndustry.com as well as veterinary professionals reached for this story, the number of overweight pets is on the rise. This is likely one explanation for pet food sales being on the rise in Mexico.

In America, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 56 percent of dogs and 60 percent of cats are overweight or obese. While Mexico doesn’t have specific data, there’s little doubt veterinarians there are seeing more overweight and obese pets – a negative drawback of the human animal bond.

According to a study by the market research company Triplethree International on pet ailments in Mexico, only 10 percent of dog owners reported their dogs being overweight or obese in 2020. In America, it’s much he same as most pet parents with overweight or obese pets don’t typically describe their dogs or cats as being overweight or obese. Royal Canin’s website for the Mexican market suggests at least 20 percent of dogs are obese (not counting the far higher number that are overweight).

Common thinking suggests that pet food manufacturers hope to see overweight or obese pets to boost sales. In truth, that’s untrue, particularly in markets such as Mexico or Latin America.  Overweight and obese pets are far more likely to carry a myriad of medical and/or behavioral issues, which may cost money to treat and/or impact the human animal bond. These pets may be relinquished or have a shortened lifespan, and neither of those realities support further pet food sales.

On September 2, I will address the issue of overweight and obese pets and explain how enriching the environment is a part of the solution as I speak at Congreso Veterinario de Leon CVDL 25 in Leon, Mexico.

Here are the topics which I will be speaking about:

• Brain Dead Fat Cats: Enriching Cat’s Lives (feline enrichment)                                    
• Decoding Cats – What Are Cats Saying?
• Grrrr…..Dogs are not Wolves                                                                                            
• Mining Millennials                                                                                                              
• How the Human Animal Bond with Cats Continues to Accelerate Welfare 101