A recent article from LiveScience detailed the transformation of a Fort Worth, Texas, resident, Maribeth Ashley, and her two dogs as they journey to a healthier lifestyle, and it explored how some petfood companies are tapping into this trend.
Nulo, under the direction of founder and CEO Michael Landa, not only offers food, but weight-tracking and meal-planning tools and home delivery, similar to myriad human weight-loss plans on the market today.
Companies are also selling exercise equipment for dogs, including treadmills and wheels (like a larger version of a hamster wheel), according to the story. The amount of food owners feed their companion animals can be another contributor to pet obesity, as well as nutritional content of food.
"We've switched from feeding a high-protein diet 40, 50, 60 years ago to basically a high-carbohydrate diet," said Ernie Ward, a veterinarian from North Carolina.
2 top trends for 2021 according to the pet food industry
New shelter data casts doubt on whether the pet population and pet ownership are truly growing.
Shelter pet adoption numbers down in 2020, but high rate
While the pandemic caused unprecedented suffering worldwide in 2020, the disruptions to dogs, cats and other pets adoption numbers may normalize in 2021.