Final answer:
The leading cause of death for pets in the US is likely cancer, a noninfectious disease caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Noninfectious diseases are the main cause of death in developed countries, and managing lifestyle and environmental exposure can help control the risk.
Step-by-step explanation:
The leading cause of death for pets in the US, according to multiple studies, is most likely cancer. Cancer in pets involves abnormal cell growth with the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body and is noninfectious in nature, caused by a mix of genetic and environmental factors. Unlike infectious diseases which can be contagious, noninfectious diseases like cancer are attributed to behavioral and environmental causes. While infectious diseases continue to be a leading cause of death worldwide, in developed countries like the US, noninfectious diseases are the dominant cause of mortality.
In humans, for instance, lung cancer is the deadliest, with a high correlation between smoking tobacco and diagnosis. Although not as common in pets, exposure to secondhand smoke can also increase the cancer risks for animals. In high-income countries, cancer rates are high, and it's often the case that if an individual or pet avoids other common causes of death, they will eventually succumb to cancer. Regular health check-ups, weight control, proper diet, and avoiding exposure to harmful environmental factors can help manage the risk of cancer in pets.