Analysis

January 21, 2021

Tech for tackling pet obesity

More than 50% of UK dogs are overweight — and 40% of cats. Can new gadgets like activity trackers and automated feeders help?


Serena Tarling

8 min read

Go out to any of the big city parks across Europe, and you will encounter dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes. On a walk recently near my home in West London, I watched an Italian greyhound gracefully bound across the heath, ducking and weaving his way around other dogs — sprinting effortlessly, far and fast. His sojourn was interrupted by a motley crew of other dogs, including a pug, a cockapoo, a chihuahua and a French Bulldog, all of whom struggled to keep pace. This outdoor encounter begged the question: how do you measure how much exercise a dog needs and how much food it requires when, even in this small sample, the proportions, stamina and physique vary to such a degree from one breed to another?

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Fat cat lying next to a cup of coffee
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