07/01/2022
A common problem in dogs yet avoidable with the right diet...
Obesity, or excessive body fat resulting in an overweight condition, is sadly an extremely common and preventable problem affecting our pets, with more and more cases seen every year. In fact, canine obesity is the most common nutritional disorder seen in dogs. As with humans, it's caused by an imbalance of taking in more energy than giving out.
How to know if your dog is overweight
Signs your dog is overweight include:
- owners struggling to see or feel their dog's ribs, spine or waistline
- abdominal sagging
- a bigger, rounder face
- a reluctance to go for walks or lagging behind
- excessive panting
- tiredness
- needing help getting in and out of cars
- a refusal to move or play games
Problems associated with obesity
Vets see these problems all too often, with obese pets posing greater risks from anaesthetic and surgical complications, heat or exercise intolerance, complications from cardio-respiratory disorders, hormone problems, skin disease, cancer and urogenital disorders – even early death. Canine obesity may even contribute to tracheal collapse and laryngeal paralysis too.
Common canine problems suffered as a result of obesity include:
Diabetes- where the pancreas fails to secrete enough insulin in order to regulate blood glucose levels
Heart disease - caused by high cholesterol levels
Arthritis - directly affecting mobility, making it even harder for your pet to lose weight
Such a big problem in our pets' lives and yet such an easy fix. As a rule of thumb choosing a quality pet food with a moderate high quality protein content and following the feeding guidelines provided can eradicate so many health issues for our pets.