Nearly A Quarter of Texas Dogs Are Obese

Burgeoning waistlines aren’t just a human problem anymore: Texas dogs are also fighting the battle of the bulge.

A new study conducted by Pfizer Animal Health found that nearly a 25 percent of Texas dogs are obese, compared to 21.4 percent of canines nationally, CBS-DFW reports. (But we’re still fatter than our hounds: 35.7 percent of adult Americans are obese and 31 percent of adult Texans, according to the CDC)

Dogs become overweight for the same reasons humans do, veterinarian Michael Wolley told CBS: because they eat more calories than they expend. A Beaumont Enterprise‘s Bayou blog post titled “Texas: We’re fat and so are our dogs, “credits the number of pudgy canines to a “lack of exercise and a pathological addiction to Taco Bell.” And the FDA has even approved a drug to slim down tubby pups (developed by Pfizer, who conducted the study.)

If your dog is overweight, the ASPCA reccommends consulting with a vet to determine a suitable diet and exercise regimen for your furry friend, as well as cutting back on treats and scraps they eat outside of mealtimes and providing non-food related affection.

Is your dog part of the 25 percent? Take Pfizer’s Body Assessment Rating for Canines to see if Spot needs to raise his game at the gym.