Mary Allen
Obesity is common in dogs. Because our dogs are naturally inclined to fill their stomachs as soon as there is something to eat. Who knows when there will be something again? In addition, the dog owner loves to spoil his four-legged friend and sometimes to give him more than just a dog biscuit. This results in a fatal combination that can lead to obesity in the dog. In this article, we will explain the causes and the consequences for your health and make you diet suggestions if your dog is overweight and needs help.
When is a Dog Overweight?
The rule of thumb is that a dog is overweight when it is 10% over its ideal weight. This can be the case with small dogs with just one kilogram. The ideal weight is determined by looking at and palpating the dog. It is usually said that the last two pairs of ribs should be palpable without pressure. If you have to press a little to feel them, the dog is overweight.
How do I know if my dog is overweight?
The Body Condition Score (BCS) can be determined by a total of 4 points on the dog. On the one hand, you can check whether the base of the tail is thickened. Then you can look at the dog’s body shape from above and check whether the four-legged friend has a recognizable waist. The width of the back is also an indication of overweight, which in turn indicates that the ribs can be felt. Here are some tips on how to identify the disease in your four-legged friend:
- The ribs are difficult to feel under the fur, if not impossible
- Your dog’s waste is no longer visible
- The abdominal circumference is extremely enlarged
- Fat deposits are found in the loin and neck area, as well as on the limbs and tail
- Your dog will pant heavily at a normal pace and appear listless and sluggish
If these points apply to your four-legged friend, you should contact your veterinarian. This determines the exact cause of the disease and works out a controlled change of food for your dog.
What is Obesity?
Obesity is the technical term for obesity. A dog becomes obese when it is 15-20% over its ideal weight. Obesity is not just a blemish, it is a medical condition. The consequences should not be underestimated. For this reason, any owner who suspects that their dog is a bit overweight should consult a veterinarian for advice.
What is the best way to weigh my dog?
Small and medium-sized dogs can be easily weighed using a little trick. Take your bathroom scales and weigh yourself on the scales without your dog and then pick up your dog and stand on the scales again. The difference in weight from before to after corresponds to the weight of your four-legged friend.
If this option is not an option, you can buy a special dog scale and weigh your four-legged friend with it. You can let the dog sit on it or, if it stands still, just leaves it standing. However, if your dog is rather restless and excited, lure him onto the scales with his favourite treat. That’s also allowed.
Of course, under normal circumstances, dogs do not need to be weighed all the time. If you visit the vet regularly, they will also weigh the dog and document this so that the development of the weight over time can be understood. The veterinarian will then point out to the owner if the animal is at risk of being overweight.
Causes of Obesity in Dogs
Dogs are no different from humans. If dogs eat too much, they will gain weight, if dogs eat less than they need, they will lose weight. An active dog has a greater energy requirement than a dog that moves little. But there are many other factors that influence the weight of the dog. It is not easy to find out the actual cause of obesity, which is why a veterinarian should always be consulted. However, it is not uncommon for a dog’s appetite to be simply greater than its energy requirements.
This is especially the case with dogs, which have genetically very low energy requirements. It’s like these dogs need only look at their food bowl to gain weight.
Breeds most often affected by obesity:
- Labrador Retrievers
- Golden retriever
- Cocker spaniel
- dachshund
- beagle
Age
The dog’s age also determines its weight and future weight. Dogs that were fed richly as puppies are more likely to become overweight in old age because too large a base of fat cells is created in young dogs. However, the puppies don’t get fat as a result, they just grow faster, which is why overeating can be difficult to detect.
The number of fat cells then no longer changes with age, so a tendency to be overweight can arise. But even in old age, the metabolism changes again. The energy requirement decreases and, due to the physical conditions, also the activity level. Older dogs tend to be overweight and it is much more difficult to get rid of the excess kilos.
Hormones & castration
Another factor is castration. After neutering, dogs become calmer and eat more at the same time. A lower calorie food, smaller meals or dog sport can solve this problem. Of course, the same applies here: Every dog is different! Hormonal disorders can also promote weight gain. These include hypothyroidism, overactive adrenal glands and dysfunction of the sex glands.
Move
Joint disorders, such as the elbow or hip dysplasia, cardiovascular disease, or respiratory disease will cause a dog to move less. This reduces its energy requirements and the owner must ensure that the dog does not eat as much as a dog that is very active every day.
water retention
There are diseases that cause water retention, making it seem like the dog is overweight. It is not due to too much food, but to an illness that must be diagnosed and treated by the veterinarian.
Medication
Antispasmodic drugs, cortisone preparations and progesterone preparations can promote obesity in dogs. They reduce the energy requirement or increase the appetite of the four-legged friend so that it is not easy to maintain a normal weight. With chronic diseases and long-term administration of such a drug, the feed should be adjusted. A lower calorie dog food is a good way to give very gluttonous dogs the illusion that they are getting as much as usual.
Psyche & Behavior
Like their ancestors, the wolves, dogs tend to fill their stomachs when there is food. After all, you can never be sure when the hunt will be successful again. Social behaviour and rank in the pack are also related to eating behaviour. Mistakes in dog feeding can not only lead to obesity, but also to behavioural problems. Behavioural disorders such as depression, anxiety, a disturbing feeling of satiety and pathological eating behaviour can also be the cause of being overweight or underweight in dogs.
Even then it is important to contact a veterinarian and dog trainer and to seek help as soon as possible in order to spare the dog psychological suffering. Aggressive or very excited dogs also often get less exercise because their owners are overwhelmed. As an owner, you have to work on the partnership with your dog. Until then, however, the feeding must also be adjusted.
Lifestyle
The dog owner is responsible for the health of his dog. If the owner only sees it as a small blemish that his dog is obese, the dog will hardly have a chance of reaching his ideal weight. Some dog owners are very sporty and take their dogs with them on every hike, while others are less active and the dog has less exercise. So the environment is a big factor in terms of the weight and behaviour of the dog.
As already mentioned, regular feeding and snacks in between are common sources of mistakes in dog ownership. It is not forbidden to give the dog snacks, but it must be done deliberately and the calories involved must be kept in mind. After all, a dog that constantly begs for treats is no fun either.
Dog Food
Dogs prefer to eat what makes them fat. If we keep giving the dog different food, at some point it will of course only eat what it likes best and that is exactly what will probably have more calories. Again, the dogs are no different from the people. It is not for nothing that pizza, burgers and cakes are so popular, but definitely not food for every day – because they damage your health in the long run.
As a dog owner, you have to be aware of this and rather invest a little more in healthy dog food and find out exactly how to correct feeding actually works. This also always depends very significantly on the breed.
Consequences of Obesity in Dogs & What You Can Do About It
Obesity shortens the life of your dog! It limits the quality of life, increases the risk of surgery and promotes various diseases. If dogs are overweight, they can suffer considerable damage to their health. Fat cells can form in different places in the body.
Fat cells that develop in the connective tissue of the internal organs are particularly dangerous. They can impair the function of the organs and fundamentally affect the metabolism and hormone balance. This can lead to diabetes in dogs and the fat cells also multiply inflammatory substances, so the development of arthrosis is promoted.
Other sequelae:
- joint wear
- Incontinence in castrated bitches
- constipation
- skin diseases
- cardiovascular diseases
- respiratory diseases
Obesity in Dogs: How Can My Dog Lose Weight?
Just cut the lining drastically? Not a good idea. Dogs can also suffer from the so-called “yo-yo” effect. So if your dog loses weight too quickly, it can regain it just as quickly. Therefore, a slow and controlled therapy is recommended, in the form of a diet that is documented. You should gradually offer your dog smaller feed portions with a lower fat content over a longer period of time. However, it is important that your dog is still supplied with sufficient nutrients.
So that the successes can also be seen in the longer term, we have put together some diet tips for you:
- Resist begging! Love goes through the stomach, but your dog is not always hungry when he throws googly eyes at you as soon as you take a sizzling bag out of your pocket
- Rewards don’t always have to be treated. A loving stroke and verbal praise have the same effect
- Keep a food diary of all the calories your dog eats
- Exercise and sport – tip: Swimming is easy on the joints and burns a lot of fat
What does that mean specifically for you and your dog? Healthy nutrition is the be-all and end-all. Delicacies such as chewing bones made from cowhide or dried pig’s ears should be removed from the menu for the time being. Nutritious, healthy food and exercise are the keys to success. Shared hours in nature and a varied program also strengthen the bond between you and your furry friend.
Better nutrition
Diet is the key factor when it comes to the success of a diet. You should consult with your veterinarian beforehand and obtain information on the correct feeding of your dog. With a good base of information, you can ask good questions at the veterinarian. The more you know about feeding, the better you can adjust to your dog.
More movement
In addition to feeding, exercise is also an important part of the diet plan. Especially dogs that don’t like to move should be encouraged to play. Of course, you shouldn’t overtax your dog, because people don’t go running five km immediately if they haven’t done any sport before. This would damage joints. The muscles and cardiovascular system would also be overwhelmed. A slow build-up with lots of cuddles for motivation is the right way. Find out what you and your dog enjoy. This way you can successfully complete the diet and have more fun together.
Dog diet: The optimal feeding
We cannot specify the optimal feeding for your dog here. Nutrition is a very complex and individual topic. Pre-existing conditions, breed, lifestyle and other factors must be taken into account. In the following, however, we want to show you the difference between light and diet food.
There is “Light” dog food and diet dog food. “Light” is just a marketing designation. Usually, the lowest calorie food of a brand is simply referred to as light. However, it can still have as many calories as regular dog food from another brand. Diet food, on the other hand, is a protected term. There are extra EU directives for such feeds that prescribe labelling and information on the product.
The calorie content is usually 15 – 25% below that of normal dog food. The dog is also less hungry because it still gets a large portion to eat. In addition, special attention is paid to the composition of the feed-in terms of nutrients and vitamins, so that there is no nutrient deficiency.