If you're like most people, you can probably think of a handful of beloved dogs in your life who are overweight or obese. Perhaps your own dog is starting to gain excess weight. While dogs of all shapes and sizes are adorable and easy to love, part of caring for your pet is protecting their well-being to the best of your ability. And unfortunately, overweight and obese dogs are at higher risk of health issues and decreased quality of life.
Defining Dog Obesity
Obesity is the result of excess energy, otherwise known as calories, stored as fat. Unsure what qualifies a dog as obese versus overweight? The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention defines obesity in dogs as 30% over ideal body weight. Obesity is considered a chronic inflammatory condition that can lead to several related health conditions and shortened lifespan.
If your dog is over their ideal weight, you're not alone. A pet survey evaluating the prevalence of this health issue found that approximately 60% of dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese.
Causes of Canine Obesity
Dogs of any sex, age or breed can become obese. However, certain factors put your dog at higher risk. Risk factors for obesity include:
Breed: E.g., Labrador retrievers, dachshunds, cocker spaniels, pugs and basset hounds
Age: Older dogs are at higher risk
Reproductive status: Neutered or spayed pets
Nutrition: Free feeding, homemade foods and overfeeding
Certain health conditions can also result in obesity, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease.
Dog Obesity-Related Illness and Disease
Obesity in dogs is linked to systemic illness and disease and decreased quality of life. Associated conditions include:
Cardiac disease
Joint disease
Ligament rupture
Diabetes
Poor circulation
Poor healing from common illness and/or injury
Pancreatic disease
Cancer
Skin disease
Immune system disease
Increased susceptibility to heat stroke
Increased risk for adverse anesthetic risk
Reproductive challenges
High blood pressure
High fat levels in blood (hyperlipidemia)
Respiratory disease
Tasty Tips
Is My Dog Overweight? Know the Signs of Obesity
The first step to reducing your dog's risk of these illnesses is understanding their ideal body condition and how your pup compares. Because dogs vary in size, even within the same breed, it's ill-advised (and even dangerous) to follow a blind weight range based on breed or sex. Body condition scoring is the preferred and safer way to gauge whether your dog is an appropriate weight.
Body Condition Scoring
Body condition scoring is a quantitative tool veterinarians use to assess body fat. While you don't need advanced training in this scale, recognizing the signs of an overweight dog isn't as simple as eyeballing it. Instead, you'll need to carefully examine a few parts of your dog's body.
1. Ribs and Spine
You should be able to easily feel your dog's ribs when lightly running your fingers along their side and their spine when passing your hands over the top of their back. While a thin layer of fat is healthy, you shouldn't have to press hard to feel them.
If you can't feel your dog's ribs or spine due to increased fat, they're likely overweight or obese.
2. Hips
Your dog's hip bones should be easy to feel and see (provided their fur doesn't block your view).
If your dog's hips aren't visible or you can't feel them when lightly touching the area, your pup may be overweight or obese.
3. Abdomen/Waist
Standing over your dog and looking at them from above, you should see a slight tuck behind the ribs (their waist). From the side view, you should see an upward slope from the bottom of their abdomen to the groin.
From above, an absent or rounded waist indicates obesity. From the side view, a sagging abdomen indicates excess abdominal fat consistent with obesity.
Other Signs of Obesity in Dogs
Obesity in dogs can lead to certain behaviors along with physical signs, including:
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty or reluctance to move, such as up the stairs
Exercise intolerance
Fecal and urinary incontinence
Lethargy
Increased sleep
Pet Parent Bias
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it turns out, this adage holds true with our beloved canine companions. Pet parents frequently normalize their dog's body condition, which means they often underestimate their overweight dog's shape and downplay harmful extra pounds.
This bias highlights how critical regular veterinary visits are in ensuring an accurate picture of your dog's weight and health goals. Sometimes, you can be too close to the problem to see it clearly.
Preventing Obesity in Dogs
Every dog is unique, and there's no one-size-fits-all nutrition and exercise plan to prevent obesity in your dog. To support a healthy life, work with your vet from puppyhood through the senior years to determine what a complete and balanced food, ideal weight and activity level look like for your dog. Remember that, like nutrition, your dog's activity requirements may change depending on life stage. Go easy on the treats, too: Your dog's daily treat intake should comprise no more than 10% low-calorie treats.
Regularly monitoring your dog's weight and body condition score at home can pay off. Should you suspect your dog is overweight or obese, your veterinarian can customize a weight loss plan and rule out any underlying disease that could contribute to weight gain. Losing weight at a slow, steady pace is critical for your dog's health and longevity.
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Our low calorie formula helps you control your dog's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.