How to protect your dog from canine obesity?


Obese dogs are more and more numerous . This eating disorder, recognizable by excess body fat, especially affects animals that do not get enough exercise or that tend to get fat. Obesity can have serious health effects, one of them being the reduction of active life expectancy.

Obesity affects various parts of the body: bones, joints and organs, all of which are affected by excess fat. Dogs of all ages can be affected by this disease , although it is generally more likely to affect middle-aged individuals.

Why is your dog obese?

There are many signs that an animal  is obese.  The first, and also the most obvious, is weight gain and excess body fat. Another symptom is the inability, or rather, the abulia of the dog that seems almost as if it does not want to get up or go out for a walk. This behavior is also reflected in the dog’s refusal to play or answer your calls when it’s time to go out.

There are various causes that give rise to obesity. The most common is a disproportion between what is ingested and what is burned, or put it another way, your dog eats more than he expends energy.

Obesity is also a phenomenon that appears as the dog ages, in conjunction with the decrease in exercise. It is for this reason that adult dogs must be encouraged to do those exercises that are suitable for their age and do not require special skills.

Maybe a short, slow walk can be one of the activities to do with your dog.

Eating habits can also lead to obesity, especially if you eat high-calorie foods.  You must therefore check the calorie intake of your dog’s food.

A castrated animal tends to gain weight but there are also real pathologies that can justify weight gain, obesity, such as: hypothyroidism, insulinoma, hyperandrogenism. For this reason , routine checks by the vet are essential, it is the only way to identify the possible onset of these diseases in time. 

How to protect your dog from canine obesity?

Obesity can be diagnosed by frequent measurements of the dog’s body weight . The vet can assess the proportion of fat by touching the ribs, lower back, tail, and head. The results will then be compared with the standard values ​​of the breed. For example, an adult collie cannot weigh more than 10 pounds.

To cure obesity, you need to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight for a long time. To do this, you need to cut down on calorie foods and increase exercise.

It is very likely that once the vet diagnoses the disease, he will work out a diet to follow for a long time. They are usually diets high in protein and fiber and low in fat.

The owner must check how the dog feeds.  Overweight dogs cannot feed themselves. The owners are responsible for it, for example it is advisable to set meal times and not exceed two daily rations.

It is essential that you break the habit of giving leftovers to your dog. You must strictly follow the diet designed by the veterinarian and not give the dog any food that does not fall on the list.

To ensure a successful cure, your dog will need to exercise more.  Dogs are usually taken out twice a day and take no more than 15 minutes of walking each time. During these outings, you could have the dog play some kind of game.

If you cannot take the dog out, you can contact a dog sitter. Remember that it is also important to play at home. You can throw him a ball and order him to bring it back to you. Any extra activity is good.

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