I think we've accepted that Wisconsin is home to many well-fed folks (hey, more of us to love!), but a new study says our dogs are some of the country's portliest, too.

At the end of 2021, One Vet conducted a survey of 2,430 pet owners across 42 U.S. states. The survey asked respondents in each state to list the breed and current weight of their dog(s) and then compared that number to the AKC-recommended weight chart according to each dog’s specific breed.

Wisconsin ranked first for having the most overweight male dogs. According to the survey, our male dogs weigh 20.5 pounds over the average. 

Wisconsin tied for second for having the chunkiest canines overall. Pennsylvania came in first with their pooches weighing over 54 percent above the national average. Wisconsin, Virginia and Georgia tied for the runner-up spots, all with an average of over 16 pounds overweight. 

The bulkiest breeds were all small to medium-sized, with Chihuahuas topping the list.

Obesity in dogs has been linked to arthritis, chronic kidney disease, bladder/urinary tract disease, liver disease, low thyroid hormone production, diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure and cancer. 

Many vets recommend withholding human food from dogs' diets to keep their weight in the healthy zone. It's just so dang hard not to toss a Tater Tot at Fido when he flashes those big browns.