Is your dog pretty "curvy", considered a pile of chub, high on the chonk scale, or in simpler terms fat? Obese at minimal? Then this guide is for you and how to deal with dog obesity.
Obesity is a disease that is defined by the existence of excessive body fat. Dogs that get too much to eat and receive little exercise can get overweight very rapidly. This happens most often when dogs get older and their metabolic rate slows down, but they still eat the same amount of food.
Obesity can cause a variety of different health issues such as reduction of lifespan and diabetes. This can even happen if your dog is only mildly overweight. Your dog can also have issues with his muscles bones joints and digestive organs if he were obese.
If you had to read this for mental guidance on helping your dogs obesity crisis, it is best to put down that bag of bacon treats for your dog and consider looking at their meals.
Think about how many times you feed your dog a day and how much is in those servings. As well think about the midday snacks given, plus human food scraps. That's a little much, especially if your dog isn't a large breed.
Constant overfeeding and large portions not fitted for the breed is a large cause of dog obesity. Consider having your dog eat 1-2 healthy meals a day with a portion size that's catered to THEIR breed. Snacks can be occasionally rewarded.
Sometimes cutting down the snacks for your dog won't be enough to break the fat. If your dog doesn't seem to be losing weight still even after meal reduction it is best advised to see the vet.
The vet then will prescribe your obese dog with a specific diet that has fewer calories than original dog food. This strategy is very effective.
Even though your dog might be expecting food commonly, don't give in to the puppy eyes as their adapted to overeating...instead its recommended to take exercise with them.
This is also another big contribution to why your dog may be gaining pounds so rapidly, and they cant come off. Many families that own obese dogs tend not to give them enough exercise as they need...daily. For example, leaving them constantly in the house, or forgetting to take them on walks.
This can develop a lazy attitude for your dog. Not giving them exercise enables them for burning calories and staying fit. Some examples of exercises to provide your dog could be more frequent walks, buying toys for them to play with, taking them swimming, or do specialized exercises with your dog. Don't forget FETCH!
Sometimes in some cases, it's not purely the food or lack of exercise that causes your dog to be obese. It could be underlying health issues such as hypothyroidism and insulinoma. It can also be known for dogs to have weight gain they can’t rid, due to being neutered or spayed too early.
If you're unsure about this, consult your vet first before considering any doing any of the steps.
If the weight gain was due to illness then your veterinarian will prescribe medicine that will help the original problem. As the illness or condition is controlled, you should see some of the weight come off
That's like asking is a 500-pound child happy. No.
Food is a short term pleasure, and the wrong food(or overconsumption) leads to detrimental long term effects. Your dog may look "happy" and "cute" being overweight but on the inside their suffering. With being such abnormal size, your dog is prone to illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes Osteoarthritis, especially in the hip High blood pressure Orthopedic problems, cranial cruciate ligament injuries Skin disease Heart and Respiratory Disease and Decreases life expectancy. Not so fun and cute anymore, is it?
