Animals across pets, livestock, wildlife and aquaculture are increasingly affected by chronic illnesses long associated with people. A Risk Analysis paper led by the Agricultural University of Athens outlines an integrated model to monitor and manage these conditions across species.
A paper published online November 10, 2025 in Risk Analysis reports that non‑communicable diseases (NCDs)—including cancers, obesity, diabetes and degenerative joint disease—are rising in animals and often share drivers with human disease. The mini‑review, by animal scientist Antonia Mataragka of the Agricultural University of Athens, proposes an evidence‑based risk assessment framework to strengthen surveillance and mitigation. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
The study synthesizes data showing widespread overweight in companion animals and associated metabolic disease. Recent surveys place 50–60% of cats and dogs in the overweight/obesity range, and feline diabetes has risen from about 0.4% in 2005 to 1.6% in 2020—an average increase of roughly 0.8 percentage points per year. U.S. survey data from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention reported 59% of dogs and 61% of cats overweight in 2022, reinforcing the review’s assessment. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Genetic predisposition is highlighted as a key risk factor in selectively bred animals. For example, Burmese cats show an elevated risk of diabetes compared with other breeds, while Cavalier King Charles spaniels are well known for myxomatous mitral valve disease; targeted breeding programs have reduced prevalence but the predisposition remains a major concern. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Environmental and management factors compound these risks. The paper cites high rates of subclinical ketosis in dairy cows during the transition period (about 30–40% of cows) and estimates osteoarthritis in roughly 20% of intensively reared pigs. Because such livestock figures come from the Risk Analysis review rather than a single primary dataset, the article attributes them to Mataragka’s synthesis. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Case examples span ecosystems. Beluga whales in the St. Lawrence Estuary have documented gastrointestinal cancers linked to historical contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Farmed Atlantic salmon are affected by cardiomyopathy syndrome, a viral heart disease that causes losses in grow‑out fish and is widely reported by national veterinary authorities. The review also notes liver tumor rates up to about 15–25% in fish and marine mammals living in polluted estuaries. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Human‑driven environmental change amplifies exposure. Research links poorer indoor air quality (notably elevated PM2.5) with respiratory disease in pet cats, underscoring that animals can act as sentinels of shared risks. In marine systems, warmer waters and related ecological shifts are associated with higher prevalence of fibropapillomatosis—a tumor disease—in green sea turtles; by contrast, tumor clusters in fishes are more consistently tied to chemical pollution than temperature alone. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
“As environmental changes accelerate disease emergence, the absence of early diagnostic systems further delays the detection of NCDs in animals,” Mataragka said. She also notes that, unlike the World Health Organization’s detailed human NCD statistics, similarly comprehensive animal health data remain scarce—a gap the paper argues should be closed through better surveillance. (sciencedaily.com)
The proposed framework integrates One Health and Ecohealth approaches, linking genetic susceptibility with environmental and socio‑ecological pressures. It outlines mitigation at four levels—individual, population (herd), ecosystem and policy—with priorities that include climate adaptation, reducing pollution, improving diets and husbandry, and strengthening monitoring to enable earlier interventions across species. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
