Wild Earth, creators of the world's first high-protein plant-based dog food, surveyed more than 1,000 U.S. dog owners to find out what resolutions they have for 2020 when it comes to not only their health but also their pet’s health.
It’s not shocking that the most popular resolution was to lose weight; however, the survey revealed that many dog owners are also setting that goal for Fido as well.
Nationwide, roughly 44% of U.S. dog owners said they plan on making a New Year's resolution related to improving their pet's health. And, as it turns out, pet parents in some states are more dedicated to their canine resolutions for 2020 than others according to the survey insights.
The top five states where dog owners said they want their pets to be healthier in 2020 are:
1. Massachusetts — 69%
2. Nebraska — 67%
3. Washington — 64%
4. Minnesota — 59%
5. New Mexico — 57%
“The top states where people plan to make New Year’s resolutions related to improving their pet’s health aren’t too surprising when you consider that recent research indicates those same states also have some of the highest rates of pet obesity in America,” says Dr. Ernie Ward, Chief Veterinary Officer of Wild Earth and founder of the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention.
Making sure our pets are as healthy as we want them to be is hard, especially for the average dog owner who has a busy life, full-time job, and health goals of their own. Although we love them, we don't really know that much about their needs. However, that doesn't mean we don't try our best.
The survey also revealed some interesting insights about U.S. dog owners’ New Year’s resolutions for 2020.
- Roughly 41% of U.S. pet parents say their top-dog New Year resolution is to take their pups for more walks. The second most popular resolution is to feed their dog higher-quality treats and food.
- Some 65% of U.S. dog owners do not think they walk their dog enough each week.
- Nearly 93% of dog owners think they know what it takes to keep their dog healthy, but only 50% of those know the ingredients in their dog's food and treats.
- Nationwide, 60% of dog owners said they did not know that dogs are omnivores and can thrive on a plant-based diet.
- About 20% of U.S. dog owners said they think their dog is at an unhealthy weight.
- Across the nation, 77% of all pet parents plan on including their dogs in their own fitness-related New Year's resolution activities.
"Pet owners have their pet's best interests at heart, but sometimes there's not enough information to understand what is in their pet's best interest," says Dr. Ward. "And with so much confusing and contradictory information out there about the right way to care for your pets, it's hard to know what exactly is fact and what’s fiction."
According to Dr. Ward, pet parents should feed their furry companions a diet that offers high protein, high fiber, and promotes a lean body mass for overall pet health. In 2020, Dr. Ward predicts that one of the biggest pet health trends we'll see will be plant-based and clean protein options for pet food.
I had a chance to interview Wild Earth Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Ernie Ward to learn more.
Why do many pet owners make resolutions for their pets?New Year’s resolutions aren’t just for humans anymore: Nearly half of pet owners have made a resolution for their dog or cat, according to Wild Earth’s research. The new study of 1,000 pet owners suggests that, as the ball dropped into 2020, approximately 44% of all dog owners made a resolution for their canine companion, compared to 27% of cat owners. Making sure our pets are as healthy as we want them to be is hard, especially for the average dog owner who has a busy life, full-time job, and health goals of their own. Because our pets are our closest companions, it makes sense that we want them to be healthy so they can live long, happy lives alongside us. A pet health resolution isn’t just beneficial for the pet, either. Of those owners who have put their pet on a weight loss diet or exercise plan (44%), 81% have dieted and exercised with them. More than half of pet parents surveyed said they’d be more likely to keep up with their own health plan if their pet was also on one.
Why the sudden focus on health, you may ask? Similarly to humans, many American pets spend the holidays overeating. In fact, the organization I founded in 2005, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (petobesityprevention.org) has evaluated holiday weight gain in pets and found our dogs and cats gain about a pound from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. Our research also finds that approximately 60% of U.S. cats and 56% of dogs are classified as overweight or have obesity, equaling nearly 100 million pets at risk for developing diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, kidney failure, and many forms of cancer. The proven way to reduce the risk of these diseases and extending longevity is maintaining healthy body composition.
What are some common pet owner resolutions?Some of the most common pet owner resolutions for their pups are to exercise and take them on walks more often, to try new activities, lose weight, feed their dogs healthier food and treats, wash and groom their dogs more often, and spend more time playing together. For cats, most pet parents promise to spend more quality couch time together, offer new foods (especially canned or wet), and a new toy (or three!).
How can pet owners stick to making resolutions work for them and their furry friends?Setting small, attainable goals throughout the year, instead of a singular, overwhelming goal on January 1 can help you reach whatever it is you strive for. Remember, it is not the extent of the change that matters, but rather the act of recognizing that lifestyle change is important and working toward it, one step at a time. Health and wellness is a journey that succeeds one small step at a time.
Another tip for pet owners to help stick to their resolutions is making ones that you think you can keep. If, for example, your aim is for you and your dog to exercise more frequently, schedule three or four days a week at the trail instead of seven. If you would like to eat healthier, try replacing your dessert with something else you enjoy, like fruit or yogurt, instead of seeing your diet as a form of deprivation or punishment. The same goes for your dog, try replacing table scraps you may be giving your dog (pizza crusts and licking ice cream bowls counts!) with high-protein dog treats like Wild Earth’s koji-based pet treats. If you’re concerned about climate change, consider feeding your dog a plant-based diet such as Wild Earth High-Protein Dog Food. You can start by sharing a “Meatless Monday” with your entire family.
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