Mary Allen
As a rule of thumb, a Pitbull is considered overweight if you can no longer feel its ribs when you stroke its chest. But also if the dog’s joy of movement decreases or the dog gets out of breath faster than usual, these are often the first signs of obesity.
Can Pitbulls be fat?
Pitties can get fat pretty easily, so it’s important to watch your dog’s weight. The following are 3 signs your Pittie is overweight. If you notice any of these, you should talk to your vet to rule out any medical causes and then get them on a diet and exercise program.
How much can a pit bull weigh?
It is about 45 to 55 centimeters tall and weighs between 17 and 27 kilograms, although there is no official standard from a breeding organization. It is suitable for various types of dog sports.
How do I know how heavy my Pitbull is getting?
| BCS 1 very lean |
BCS 2 underweight |
BCS 3 ideal weight |
BCS 4 overweight |
BCS 5 obese |
| Ribs, vertebrae and pelvic bones can be seen very well with short hair | Ribs, vertebrae and pelvic bones are visible | Well proportioned | Ribs and spine are difficult to feel | Ribs and spine can hardly be felt |
| Significant loss of muscle mass present | Clearly recognizable waist | Ribs and vertebrae are not visible but can be felt | Hard to see waist | Waist is not visible |
| No layer of fat can be felt on the chest | A very thin layer of fat can be felt on the chest | A thin layer of fat can be felt on the chest | A layer of fat can be felt on the thorax, backbone and base of the tail | There is a clear layer of fat on the thorax, backbone and base of the tail |
| Body weight up to 20% below ideal weight | Body weight up to 10% below ideal weight | Body weight corresponds to the ideal weight | Body weight up to 10% over ideal weight | Body weight up to 20% over ideal weight |
What can I feed my Pitbull to help him lose weight?
So that your dog can lose fat and build muscle, high-quality, low-calorie dog food is important. Proteins, vitamins and minerals, calcium, magnesium, taurine and phosphorus must be present in the right amounts. The crude fiber content should be as high as possible and the fat content as low as possible.
Why not feed the Pitbull after 5 p.m.?
Pitbulls should not be fed after 5 p.m. because it reduces the quality of sleep, leads to obesity, and makes it difficult to maintain a stable routine. It also ensures that the dog has to go out at night and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
How can my Pitbull lose weight without starving?
Replace food with contact: Play or pet your dog instead of giving him snacks. Get as much exercise as possible every day. Ask your veterinarian for an exercise program to complement the diet plan. Visit your veterinarian regularly to see your dog during therapy.
What keeps Pitbulls full for a long time?
For this, you can use so-called feed cellulose, which is a special raw fiber concentrate. Alternatively, you can simply add a boiled, mashed potato to the food. It stays longer in the dog’s stomach and intestines and ensures that it stays full longer!
Can Pitbulls get to 100 pounds?
That means pit bulls range in size. Breeds such as American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Cane Corso mixes weigh in the 30-40 lb. range, while mastiff mixes can weigh well over 100 lbs. As mentioned above, the average pit bull weighs in around 55-60 lbs.
CONSEQUENCES OF OVERWEIGHT
Obesity in dogs should not be dismissed as a simple blemish, but corresponds to a serious disease that can entail further health risks. The risk of developing diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, joint problems or tumors increases significantly in overweight dogs. Studies show that the life expectancy of overweight dogs can be reduced by up to 20%. If a dog is found to be overweight, weight reduction measures should be taken promptly to prevent long-term damage.
FIGHTING OBESITY THROUGH ACTIVITY
In addition to eating habits, a dog’s activity can also have a lasting effect on weight loss. With increased physical activity, the energy requirement increases, which promotes the reduction of body fat. It should be noted that only a longer-term increase in the level of activity leads to a sustained increase in the need for energy. If a dog is already suffering from other diseases due to its obesity, such as cardiovascular problems or disorders of the musculoskeletal system, it should not be put under such heavy strain. In this case, physiotherapeutic measures are more suitable to give the dog more exercise in a gentle way.
Well suited are brisk walks (better to start with several short laps a day than a forced march), swimming in clean water or special dog pools, and if you are in better shape, easy jogging on the bike. Activities that put a strain on the joints, such as the popular dog sports agility, flyball or dog frisbee, are less suitable.
THE HEALTHY PATH TO THE IDEAL WEIGHT
Through the food intake, the dog is supplied with energy and important nutrients such as proteins, vitamins and minerals. If you now reduce the amount of the previous food, the dog’s energy supply will drop, but there may be undersupply of other important nutrients. In order to reduce body weight in a healthy way, the use of an energy-reduced feed with a needs-based composition is suitable. Here, the energy density of the feed is significantly lower due to a limited fat content, while the proportion of important nutrients for a healthy diet is retained. In addition, energy-reduced feeds have a high crude fiber content due to ingredients such as oat bran and dried beet pulp. The individual energy and nutrient requirements of the individual dog in turn depend on other factors such as breed, activity level and age. The manufacturer’s feeding recommendations should be used as a first orientation.
DIETING AND MAINTAINING YOUR PITBULL’S IDEAL WEIGHT
Dog owners’ expectations of how long it takes to reach their ideal weight are often unrealistic. Therefore, it is helpful to create a diet plan that assumes a realistic weight loss of no more than 1-1.5% per week. The dog’s weight should be checked once a week so that progress can be recorded and the diet can be further adjusted if necessary.
Once the dog has reached its ideal weight after losing weight, it is switched to dog food with a normal energy requirement. Part of the daily ration can be given as a reward throughout the day. All other feed components offered must be taken into account when calculating the daily ration. Dog owners should continue to check their dog’s weight regularly in order to recognize and avoid renewed oversupply in good time.
PREVENT OBESITY IN PITBULLS
It is better than dieting of any kind not to let the dog become overweight in the first place. To prevent this development, we recommend a needs-based dog diet. Your choice of food and the amount fed should correspond to the age, body weight, and activity level of your dog so that there is never an under or oversupply. Regular activity will help your dog increase energy expenditure and maintain its ideal weight.