|
By: Angelica Bialek, DVM
 Is your dog overweight? Canine obesity is a growing problem in our country. Between 25 and 40% of all dogs are overweight. Many owners feel that a dog in the recommended normal range is to thin and a dog that is overweight is just right. This perception is incorrect. How to measure overweight? I frequently am asked if a dog weights too much. Like many I feel that using just your dog’s weight (the number) in not an ideal way to measure a dot’s body condition as there is great variation between breeds. A better method of measurement is touch and visual observation.
Feel and look at your dog’s rib and waist. What do the ribs fill like? And what does the waist look like? The best body condition of a dog is one where the individual ribs can be easily felt and the abdomen is slightly sucked in when looked at from and the side. Your veterinarian can assist you with this assessment. Cause. The primary reason for obesity in dogs is and excess of calories and lack of physical activity. There are couple endocrine problems that can also increase weight in dogs as: Diabetes Melitus, Hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease; but those problems are rare compared to obesity. Diagnosis. A physical examination with thorough history helps identify any events or patterns that led to weight gain. Routine blood work is frequently recommended to determine if any underlying disease exist in your dog. If any medical problems are identified, they are treated appropriately. If exam and blood work is normal and obesity is the problem, then a complete assessment of your dog’s current daily intake, including all good, treats and table food, as well as its daily activity schedule is discussed. Weight loss program. This will help in the development of successful weight loss program. A weight loss program is needed as increase weight can cause your dog arthritic problems, increase risk of Diabetes, and decrease your dog’s tolerance leading to further weight gain. Those are just a few problems that can occur.  Happy active pet! Stick to the plan. At times, just cutting out the table food and treats may work, but usually a strict regimen of a therapeutic veterinary diet with exercise id needed. Owners must be willing to stick to the plan and frequent rechecks for weight monitoring and diet adjustments are noted. Many dogs require 8-12 months to reach their target weight. Most dogs do reach their optimal weight when the owners commit to the diet plan ant to improving their dog’s health. Find more: Veterinary partner
VetNetwork
PetEducation.com
YouTube
|
