Obesity in Dog's - Vets for Pets

Obesity in Dog’s

What is overweight and obesity?

Obesity is a accumulation of excess body fat. Using ideal weight chart to measure your dogs weight as a guide, dogs are considered to be overweight when there weight goes beyond 15-20% above their ideal body weight. They are considered obese when their weight increase more than 20% of their ideal body weight.

Overweight and obese dogs have shorter life spam than the healthy dog of same age and breed. Obese dogs are less energetic and playful. Because they tend to lie around more. The effects of being overweight is not only physical but also sociological. This is found in the studies obese dogs are more prone to depression and anxiety which in turn reduce their life span. There is good evidence that dogs who have healthy weight live longer than dogs who are overweight.

Is being overweight and obese really a problem for dogs?

These days, obesity in pets is the most common disease. More than 50% of dogs are overweight or obese. Obesity’s harmful effects are far more severe or life-threatening than pet owners realise because it contributes to a variety of other diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and many others.

How can I say whether my dog is overweight or obese?

The most exact way to evaluate a dog’s body weight is with a hands-on examination. There are three vital points on the body to assess obesity:

METHOD 1

Just glide the flats of your fingers behind the shoulder blades. You should be able to feel individual ribs. Your dog must have a tucked up area in front of its hind legs or a waist. This method is also known as rib test.

METHOD 2

Look at your canine from the side and check if its abdomen is sagging. Then check your canine from the top it should look like an hourglass indentation in front of the hips. Your canine’s chest must be extended outwards and the waist tapering inwards making an hourglass.

Although the volume of fur and body shape of canines greatly vary, but these methods work for 95% breeds. If all of these criteria are met, it shows that your dog is in good physical condition. But if you are still not sure, then book an appointment with your veterinarian. and ask them for a pain assessment as well. If your dog is in pain, early detection can reduce the treatment time.
Timely assessment and maintaining proper health records not only reduce the risk of OA but also keep your dog healthy.

Why is my dog overweight?

This is the most important thing to analyse. may be due to overeating or in the absence of proper physical exercise that can lead towards obesity. Or they might be suffering from some kind of health issue that reduces their zeal to be active.
The ideal quantity of food for your dog’s daily diet depends on their standard breed size chart. Homemade food is always good, but you must have complete knowledge of a balanced diet for your specific dog breed. Always keep a close check on the quantity of treats and rewards. Their needs and requirements are different from humans, so human food is not at all recommended for them.

Health issues like osteoarthritis (OA) play an important role in increasing weight in dogs, regardless of their age. The risk of OA goes up with age as well as with increasing bone structure size, so the older and bigger the dog, are more prone to suffer from the inflammation and pain of OA. Unfortunately, overweight or obese dogs are traumatise their joints over a very long period before the pet owners actually realise that their pets need some kind of medical attention. It takes years of joint damage for changes from OA to show up on an X-ray. Constant pain reduces physical activity, which in turn increases weight in dogs.

What can I do to reduce my dog's weight?

Weight loss guidelines depend on certain factors such as dog breed, age, medical condition, etc. Consult your veterinarian for canine weight loss. They will recommend a specific food and portion per day and will provide guidance based on lifestyle, convenience, and your dog’s individual needs. Physical activity plays a crucial role to make your canine active again thus, regular exercising and playtime with your dog according to its necessities is important for the canine. If there is already evidence of OA, they will recommend treatment to reduce pain that will help to encourage your dog to become more active, which will help to speed up the weight loss.

What needs to be done when we reach our weight loss goal?

Maintaining body weight is the bigger challenge. Once an ideal body weight and condition has been achieved, visit your veterinary centre for regular check-ups. They will provide guidelines to keep a constant check and appropriate food and portion for weight maintenance.