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This was associated with a delay in the development of orthopaedic diseases, which is a common age-related issue in the breed studied. Body weight was also lower in the diet ‘restricted’ group; however, this difference did not appear to be due to differences in physical size, but as a result of increased adiposity in the ‘over-fed’ group, suggesting that being overweight may be a negative risk factor for lifespan. Energy restriction is unlikely to be a practical solution for most pets, or humans, and in reality, the consequences of excess energy intake, i.e. obesity, have far greater potential relevance to lifespan. In humans, the relationship between obesity and lifespan is well established, and in countries where obesity is now at ‘epidemic’ levels, such as the USA, there is the worrying phenomenon that the trend of increased lifespan over past decades will plateau and potentially reverse. In dogs and cats, the impact of obesity is also known to be associated with various diseases, and there is also evidence that obesity shortens lifespan in dogs. Dogs and cats have had a long association with humans, and today they are the most popular companion animal. The nature of this association has changed from one where they have been a beast of burden, or even source of food, to a position where they are referred to as a ‘companion animal’, better reflecting the role they fulfil as ‘family’ members. As cherished family members, owners desire long and healthy lives for their pets. The development of interventions to extend health and well-being in pets and humans beyond their current limits will be dependent on gaining fundamental knowledge and understanding of the biological process that influence ageing. However, there are some specific challenges in companion animals that potentially limit progress in this field. Currently there is limited data on lifespan in pet populations, and this restricts our ability to track changes over time, or identify associations with any changes in lifestyle. In addition, ‘cause of death’ is often recorded as ‘euthanasia’ rather than the underlying medical condition. Addressing these data gaps may help identify specific issues that impact on lifespan in the companion animal.
References
1. Mathers JC (2013) Nutrition and ageing: knowledge, gaps and research priorities. Proc Nutr Soc 72, 246 – 250.
2. Guinness World Records (2010) Bantam, Reprint edition 2010, p. 320, Guinness World Records Limited.
3. Taylor EJ, Adams C & Neville R (1995) Some nutritional aspects of ageing in dogs and cats. Proc Nutr Soc 54, 645 – 656.
4. Banfield Pet Hospital (2013) State of pet health 2013 report. http://www.stateofpethealth.com/Content/pdf/Banfield-State-of-Pet-Health-Report_2013.pdf
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