Generational trends expert Daniel Levine told Newsweek that Baby Boomers, those born between 1946 and 1964, tend to be more traditional pet owners and not baby them as much as their younger counterparts.

"I think boomers are the best pet owners because they are most likely to treat pets as actual pets. They don't force their dogs to be vegetarian or mollycoddle their animals because they're transferring their own need for reassurance," Levine said.

"By contrast, younger millennials tend to dote on their pets as if they were children and are most likely to blur the line between humans and animals, treating pets as their fur babies.

"They throw parties for their pets, dress them up for special occasions and post about them on social media," he said.

Levine pointed out that younger generations, like Millennials, treat their pets like children and are more than happy to lavish them with gifts, treats and luxuries.

"As you can see, there is a definite trend," Levine said. "Millennials spend more on their pets than most others, and I'd also say that people are not just treating pets as if they were human but as if they were a reflection of how they want to be treated themselves. Dogs, especially, are mirrors of their owners."

"There is a lot of excessive humanisation going on, which I think makes them the worst owners. Spoiling their pets with treats or human food leads to obesity, and because they are given constant attention, too many pets suffer from separation anxiety when their owners are away," he said.

"Interestingly, Generation Z, the youngest pet owners, are redefining pet ownership by emphasising emotional support and mental health benefits."