Pet owners, beware: Your bad habits are creating a nation of obese furry ones.

Nationwide Insurance tells us this in the release of its fifth annual "pet obesity" roundup.

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"Pet obesity is on the rise for the fifth straight year," the insurer said in a release. "In 2014, Nationwide members filed more than $54 million in pet insurance claims for conditions and diseases related to pet obesity, a 10 percent growth over the past two years."

The Top Five cat disorders identified by the insurer:

  1. Bladder/urinary tract disease

  2. Kidney disease

  3. Diabetes

  4. Liver disease

  5. Asthma

Photo: Getty

The Top Five for dogs  were:

  1. Arthritis

  2. Bladder/urinary tract disease

  3. Low thyroid hormone production

  4. Liver disease

  5. Tom Knee Ligaments

Nationwide says a few simply changes of habit will address most of the causes, including a "no table scraps" rule, regular pet exercise, limiting  treats and feeding pets a set amount.

"Excessive weight gain can create detrimental health problems in our pets," said Dr. Carol McConnell, DVM, MBA, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for Nationwide. "Pet owners need to be aware of the quality and amount of food or treats they give their furry family members. The New Year presents a perfect opportunity to create regular exercise routines for our pets and begin to effectively manage their eating habits to avoid obesity. Regular wellness visits to your veterinarian are the most effective way to monitor your pet's weight, along with being aware of signs of weight gain."

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Dan Cook

Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.