Obesity In Dogs

An estimated 40 percent of the dogs in the United States are either overweight or obese.  Forty percent.  There seem to be a lot of dog owners who are unable to tell that their dogs are overweight or who are in denial about the situation.  And, yet, canine obesity can be deadly.

Obesity in dogs can lead to numerous health problems which can shorten your dog’s life: 

• Heart disease
• Respiratory problems
• Heat and exercise intolerance
• Skin, hair and coat problems
• Immune system problems
• Arthritis
• Increased surgical and anesthetic risks
• Possible disk ruptures

With so many serious health consequences, why do we allow our dogs to be overweight?  What are the causes?

The primary cause of obesity in dogs is overfeeding.  Many of us are, quite simply, loving our dogs to death.  People are expressing their love for their dogs by feeding them more and more food without realizing that feeding them too much food is harmful.  For many people, when they see an overweight dog they think it’s a well-loved dog.  When they see a fit, lean dog they think, somehow, that the dog is loved less.  This is categorically untrue.  It takes just as much love to take the food bowl away from a dog as it does to pour in more food.

Many people are also switching foods to very high quality foods without realizing that there is a drastic change in the amount of calories in the food.  They may have been feeding two cups of their previous food and they assume it will take two cups of the new food.  The truth is that the new food may be twice as calorie-dense.  Suddenly the dog is eating twice the calories that he was previously eating.  Weight gain is inevitable.

In many cases dogs gain weight because owners follow the feeding directions on the label.  Feeding directions are only a guideline but many people follow them religiously.  Their dog may start to balloon out but they stick to the directions.  Instead, they should cut back on the dog’s food when they notice that he is gaining weight.

Dogs also gain weight because owners frequently supplement their dog’s food with table food and treats.  There’s nothing wrong with adding human food to your dog’s diet.  You can add up to 30 percent homemade food to your dog’s diet without disturbing the nutritional balance of the commercial food.  However, when you add things to the food you must make allowances for the calories you’re adding.  Otherwise your dog will gain weight.  The same is true of the treats you give your dog.  Giving your dog treats and cookies is great but you should add up the calories.  Treats and cookies are not calorie-free.  Often they’re quite rich in calories.  If you want to give your dog treats that won’t affect his weight too much you should give him things like popcorn and carrot pieces.

Finally, dogs also gain weight because they don’t get enough exercise.  Some people assume that if they have a backyard their dog will self-exercise.  No.  Most dogs will trot out and trot back to the house.  Dogs need real exercise.  The best way to make sure your overweight dog is getting proper exercise is to join with him.  Go for some walks with him, go hiking, take up jogging.  Do whatever the two of you might enjoy doing together, but do something, even if it’s only light exercise three times a week.  If you do the exercise regularly you can help your dog lose a little weight.

Dogs don’t have to be obese and it’s rarely their fault when they are.  It’s up to you, as their owner, to keep them healthy and fit.  Watch their portions, count their calories and make sure they’re getting some real exercise.  It’s not much different than weight control for people.

Click Here To Learn More On Obesity In Dogs