Is my dog too fat? What does this mean?

Obesity in dogs, as in humans, can cause a variety of problems and injuries. For example, an overweight dog has more difficulty moving, putting more strain on its joints. This can cause osteoarthritis, among other things. Such inflammation of the joints makes exercise and losing weight even more difficult. So is your dog overweight? We zoom in on the causes and consequences of obesity in dogs and the question “when is a dog too fat?” in this blog.

Causes overweight dogs

Like humans, the dog body stores fat as soon as more calories are consumed than are burned. This is caused by eating too much and/or by not exercising enough. Other factors that can trigger obesity include age, the breed of dog, spaying or neutering and disease.

Older dogs tend to be less active because exercise is more difficult. Furthermore, some breeds are known to be more susceptible to gaining weight more quickly. For example, labradors are often overweight. Spaying and neutering create the danger that a dog’s appetite will increase and the burning of calories will be slower than normal. A diet can indeed limit the degree of weight gain. Finally, a condition can be another cause of obesity. Consider a malfunctioning thyroid gland.

Effects of overweight dog

Obese dogs are more likely to have health problems consisting of several types of risks. Dogs that are overweight run the general risk of a shortened life expectancy. This is due to poorer fitness and sluggishness. Finally, excess fat presses on the airways and heart, making exercise more difficult. This in turn leads to an increased risk of heart and lung problems. Overweight dogs are also more likely to have bladder problems and diabetes. Fatty liver disease causes a dog’s liver to store more and more fat in the liver cells. This can result in increased fatigue and pain in the abdomen.

As already pointed out, overweight dogs also develop osteoarthritis over time. Bone and joint problems cause exercise to become harder but also painful. This results in dogs being unable or unwilling to move as much, which does not help obesity. Dogs with a lot of fat under the skin are also more difficult to operate on and therefore have a markedly increased risk with surgery and anesthesia. Finally, most overweight dogs develop skin and coat problems and are much more likely to overheat in hot weather. In short, overweight dogs face a whole host of risks.

When is a dog too fat?

By 2020, about 35 percent of dogs were overweight. According to experts, this percentage is increasing every year. This is not good news when you consider the aforementioned consequences. Many people are not aware of all the risks or of when obesity exists in the first place.

The ideal weight for a dog depends on its size, age, breed and level of activity. If you suspect that your dog is overweight, it is wise to visit your veterinarian. This is because your veterinarian can tell you what the ideal weight for your dog is and perform a weight check. If overweight is detected, a special diet, more exercise or regular check-ups may be recommended.

Conclusion

So it is important that your dog’s diet and activity are balanced and stay balanced. In this, an extra walk or workout can’t hurt anything. A dog treadmill offers your dog the opportunity to build fitness and lose weight in a responsible way, without overexerting muscles. With the help of a Dogmills treadmill, your overweight dog can walk in a straight line and control and/or increase distance and speed. Are you curious about how to help your dog lose weight? We will give you tips in the following blog.