Canine obesity: learn how to take better care of your pet

In today’s post we will explain what obesity is and its most common causes. In addition, you will know how to identify if your pet is obese, how to prevent this problem and the most suitable treatments. Know more!

What is canine obesity?

Canine obesity is characterized by excess body fat in the dog ‘s body , more specifically when the pet’s weight is 15% above the ideal for its breed and age group.

What are the most common causes?

The main cause of obesity in Danes is poor diet and/or overeating. Other factors that lead to this condition are:

• lack of physical activity ;
• castration ;
• hormonal problems;
• certain medications;
• stress , loneliness and anxiety — situations that can lead pets to eat more;
• depression — in addition to causing the dog to overfeed, it makes him sedentary.

How to identify if the dog is obese?

The dog is considered obese when it is not possible to see or feel his ribs by touching them. When looking at it in profile, the belly appears larger than the pectoral region. In addition, obese dogs lose waist marking, presenting a more rounded shape when viewed from above.

It is also common for them to get tired more easily when getting up, running and walking, as well as having difficulty breathing and being sedentary.

How to prevent canine obesity?

If you want to keep your pet healthy, follow these tips on how to avoid canine obesity:

Take the dog to the vet

An excellent way to keep your animal healthy is to periodically take it to the veterinarian . Thus, it will be possible to identify any problem quickly and act to prevent it from getting worse. As periodic visits depend on your friend’s age, breed and health conditions, let the vet set the appointment dates.

Pay attention to the type of feed

There are several types of feed available on the market for different breeds, age groups and specific conditions, such as:

• neutered dogs;
• obesity;
• diabetes;
• heart diseases;
• food allergy or intolerance;
• gastrointestinal , renal, hepatic and even neurological disorders, the latter being generally recommended for elderly dogs.

Talk to the vet and offer the pet the type of food recommended by the professional, as each is balanced to meet certain dietary needs. If your dog is of a breed that tends to gain weight or is close to being overweight, he will certainly recommend providing light food .

Don’t let the dog become sedentary

A great way to keep your dog in shape is to not let him become sedentary. Therefore, invest in toys and accessories that encourage the practice of physical activities , play with him, take him for a walk and have fun with other animals.

Avoid out-of-hours snacks

The last tip, but not least, is not to offer snacks out of hours unnecessarily. If you’re training your pet, it’s ok, as long as the treat isn’t high in calories. Another point that deserves to be highlighted is to avoid filling the feeder with feed, even if you spend the day outside. In these cases, it is recommended to use an automatic feeder and drinker .

What are the best treatments for obese dogs?

Typically, treatment consists of a personalized diet, light physical exercise, and, in certain cases, physical therapy. Who will specify the treatment is the veterinarian. Therefore, if you suspect that your four-legged friend is obese or close to reaching this condition, take him to consult a reference Veterinary Hospital.

As you can see, canine obesity is a serious comorbidity that can be caused by different factors and also trigger other diseases. However, with some basic care, it is possible to prevent your pet from becoming overweight.