Mary Allen
It is increasingly said that dogs’ physiques go in the same direction as humans. We’re getting fatter. We eat the wrong food and move too little.
Still, it turns out that only a few of all dog owners think their dog is too fat. But the country’s veterinarians do not agree, a survey among Sweden’s veterinarians gives a completely different picture – they experience that as many as 45 percent of the dogs suffer from obesity.
It does not agree at all with the dog owners’ image of it all. Only nine percent of dog owners think their dogs are overweight. It thus rhymes poorly with the reality that veterinarians encounter at the clinic or animal hospital. It shows two surveys that Agria Djurförsäkring had commissioned.
The dog owners understand that the big culprits in the fight against obesity are – unsurprisingly – too much food in combination with too little exercise. But also that the dogs eat the wrong type of food. An extra meatball or a slice of cheese seems to be common to bite the dog, with deteriorating quality of life and in the worst-case shortened lifespan as a result.
Why is it so difficult to lose weight with your dog?
It’s just about reducing the food, right?
-To get more healthy and happy dogs requires the right amount of food and exercise. It sounds simple, but it is important to break habitual habits and that everyone in the dog’s family is on the notes, says Agnes Fabricius, CEO of Agria Djurförsäkring.
15 percent of dog owners do not make any effort to help the dog lose weight. The group that, on the other hand, wants to do something about the problem is primarily trying to reduce the feed but also to increase exercise.
Does it matter if the dog is too fat?
But what does it matter if the dog is extra round on the stomach? Just as for us humans, being overweight can lead to several serious health problems. Sooner or later, the dog gets problems with reduced quality of life and diseases – diabetes, joint problems, heart problems, circulatory disorders, weakened immune system, and liver diseases. Heavy breeds are also at greater risk for torn cruciate ligaments and other traumatic injuries. Ill health causes not only discomfort and pain but also lifelong, costly treatments and, in the worst case, a shortened life.
How to keep track of the hole
- Dare to ask your veterinarian if the dog is fit in the hole
- You should be able to feel the dog’s ribs and it should have a clear waist
- Reward the dog with dog candy or a few pieces of the daily ration of dog food
- Measure the feed based on the recommended amount on the package
- Never give the dog sweets
Exercise regularly and do what suits your dog – cycling, running, walking. Try it out and have fun together!