Help, my dog is overweight!
Studies have shown that about 50% of dogs suffer from overweight. Overweight poses significant health risks for dogs. Therefore, it is important to prevent overweight in your dog as much as possible. If your dog is already overweight, make sure they return to a healthy weight as soon as possible.
If a dog is more than 20% heavier than its ideal body weight, it is considered overweight. Dogs with a healthy weight have ribs that you can feel well but not see. In overweight dogs, you cannot feel or see the ribs. Overweight is most common in older dogs or in dogs that have been neutered or spayed. It also frequently occurs in puppies.
Causes of overweight in dogs:
- Metabolic disorder
- Changes in hormone balance after neutering or spaying
- Too energy-rich food
- Too little exercise
Consequences of overweight in dogs:
- Skin problems
- Joint problems
- Reproductive problems
- Heart/lung problems
- Reduced liver function
- Less ability/willingness to move
- Increased risk during surgery/anesthesia
- High risk of tumors
- Diabetes
Treatment of overweight
If your dog is overweight, it is recommended to visit the vet, where you can create a treatment plan together. This plan often consists of feeding less or low-energy food combined with exercise. This diet food contains indigestible fillers that make your dog feel full but provide less energy from the food.
Make sure your dog gets enough exercise, but don’t forget to consider their health condition and age. To burn fat, the dog must exert itself for a prolonged period. A daily walk of an hour is therefore much more beneficial than 15 minutes of playing. Also, playing puts extra strain on multiple muscles and joints of the dog. You should try to avoid this since the dog is already suffering from overweight.
Furthermore, it is recommended to reduce the food amount and supplement it with green beans. These provide a feeling of fullness but are low in calories.
Measures to prevent overweight in my dog
- Have your dog weighed regularly at the vet or pet store: This way, you can agree on the right food for your dog together.
- Give your dog enough exercise: Walk your dog for at least 1 hour every day (you can split this into, for example, 3 times 20 minutes).
- Don’t give your dog too many treats: If you have given too many treats, reduce the amount of their regular food accordingly.
- Divide the food: feed your dog at least 2 meals per day to help maintain a feeling of fullness.
Attention!
You should not drastically reduce the amount of food immediately. Your dog will then not only get less energy but also fewer vitamins, minerals, and other important nutrients. This can lead to a deficiency in certain essential nutrients. Also, some substances are used up more due to the stress of losing weight.
