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The science behind MaxBowls

Why keeping track of what your pet eats and drinks matters — and the research behind it.

Most of us genuinely can't tell. In the UK, around half of dogs and 43% of cats are overweight, and every vet surveyed is concerned about the growing problem — yet roughly 77% of owners believe their pet is a healthy weight. If we were good at judging our pets' intake by eye, that gap simply wouldn't exist.

50% / 43%
of UK dogs / cats are overweight or obese
100%
of vets are concerned about pet obesity
~77%
of owners think their pet's weight is fine

Source: UK Pet Food Obesity Report (ukpetfood.org).

Why intake is worth watching

How much a pet eats and drinks is genuinely hard to hold in your head — across a busy week, a multi-pet home, or a water bowl you can't read by sight. And a change in it is one of the earliest, most recognised signs that something may be off:

What MaxBowls does with it

It weighs every meal and drink automatically, learns your pet's normal baseline, and shows you the trend — so a real change stands out early instead of surfacing weeks later. When something shifts, you have an objective record to show your vet, not a guess.

Honest about what it is: MaxBowls is an early-warning and record-keeping tool, not a diagnosis. It won't tell you what's wrong — it helps you spot changes worth raising with your vet, sooner.

The research behind this

The studies below were located, challenged and independently fact-checked; each link opens the real publication. They support two things: that a change in intake is a recognised early sign worth acting on, and that keeping a pet at a healthy weight by managing intake supports a longer, healthier life.

Kidney & urinary disease

Diabetes & thyroid

Appetite, food intake & clinical outcome

Water intake & hydration

Behaviour & automated/sensor monitoring

Weight, body condition & lifespan