Diabetes in cats and dogs up by 900% over the past five years (via MailOnline)

Diabetes in cats and dogs up by 900% over the past five years: Owners giving pampered pets human food partly fuelling huge rise in cases

• Animal Friends study said cats most at risk from exploding diabetes rates
• Weight gain was one of the main reasons diabetes in pets is on the rise
• Symptoms of the illness can include pets often being hungry or thirsty

Photo: Gabriele Ruttloff-Bauer

MailOnline 17 May 2016: "Britain's pampered pets are struggling with the effects of obesity, as figures show a massive increase in the number of dogs and cats being diagnosed with diabetes. In the last five years there has been a 900 per cent increase in diagnosed cases of the life-threatening condition. According to a study of 9,000 pets by pet insurer Animal Friends, cats are most at risk from exploding rates of diabetes – with a 1,161 per cent increase in feline claims since 2011. The data also shows cases in dogs have also seen an increase of 850 per cent in the same time span. An expert from UK veterinary charity PDSA, said weight gain was one of the main reasons diabetes in pets is on the rise and this is fuelled, in part, by owners feeding their..." read on.