After reading this article, pet parents will gain insights into the definition of dog obesity and methods to help their dogs achieve a healthy weight, potentially improving and extending their furry friends’ lifespans. This 2000-word article takes approximately 3 minutes to read.
Dogs, like children, are often considered cute when they are chubby. However, excessive weight in dogs can lead to health issues such as kidney disease, fatty liver, and arthritis, which should not be overlooked. In addition to veterinary diagnosis, pet parents should pay attention to their dogs’ weight information and standards to maintain an appropriate weight.
How to Calculate a Dog’s Lifespan? This article will inform pet parents about the standards for dog obesity, how to detect it, common causes of obesity, diseases and risks associated with obesity, and a 7-step plan to help dogs lose weight.
Correctly Detecting Dog Obesity: Veterinarians often use a 1-5 scale (with 3 being normal) or a 1-9 scale (with 5 being normal) for Body Condition Score (BCS) to visually assess a dog’s body condition. Using the 9-point method, we can help pet parents check if their dogs are overweight: 1-3 points indicate underweight, 4-5 points indicate ideal weight, and 6-9 points indicate overweight to obesity.
Ideal Body Condition Calculation: Humans have the golden body ratio, and so do dogs. To determine a dog’s ideal body condition, due to breed differences, a professional veterinarian should assess the normal weight range. However, we can help pet parents preliminarily judge if their dog has health issues. Visually, from above, a dog’s back should show a wasp-waist shape, and from the side, the lower abdomen should have a slightly inward curve.
Common Causes of Dog Obesity: The main reason for dog obesity is the intake of more calories than are expended. Besides overeating and lack of exercise, there are other reasons that can lead to obesity, which pet parents should be aware of. These include age growth, breed, neutering, endocrine-related diseases, overfeeding or eating human food, and lack of exercise.
Risks and Diseases Associated with Dog Obesity: Obesity in dogs can lead to endocrine diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease. It can also cause the body to be in a state of chronic inflammation, which is very unhealthy and can even affect a dog’s life.
5 Steps to Help Dogs Create a Weight Loss Plan: If a dog is overweight, pet parents might worry about how to help their dogs lose weight. Don’t worry; we have 5 steps to follow and create a weight loss plan. Of course, consulting a veterinarian is the best option! Before starting a weight loss plan, discuss with a veterinarian. Step 1: Set a goal for the weight loss plan by determining the daily calorie intake. Generally, it is recommended to reduce the meal size by about 10% each day until the dog’s intake returns to a normal calorie range.
Step 2: Control Diet – High-protein, low-carbohydrate food is recommended. Home-cooked food with low fat and low calories, such as chicken breast, is also a good choice. Avoid too many seasonings and consider buying canned food with added water for more satiety.
Step 3: Increase Exercise Time – Exercise is the most effective way to lose weight. It not only burns excess calories but also promotes metabolism.
Step 4: Check Progress – Regularly check the dog’s weight loss progress.
Step 5: Maintain Consistency – Keep up with the weight loss plan consistently.
Feeding dogs with treat balls or puzzle feeders can slow down their eating speed and help them feel more full. Use interactive toys to play with pets. Through diverse games, let dogs be more active and increase their exercise time. This not only burns excess calories but also gives dogs a better mood.
Step 4: Check the dog’s weight loss progress. After making a plan, check regularly to see if the dog has successfully lost weight due to the weight loss plan, how the weight loss is going, and weigh the dog regularly. Adjust the weight loss plan.
Step 5: Be persistent. The last and most important point is that no matter what difficulties are encountered on the way, pet parents must be persistent and implement the weight loss plan. If there are really obstacles, it is recommended that pet parents consult professional veterinarians. If it is non-pathological obesity, usually after six to eight months, dogs will successfully return to a normal body shape. If it is pathological obesity, see a veterinarian regularly and exercise more. With the patient company of pet parents, dogs can also feel the love of pet parents and work together to become healthy.
In conclusion, dogs don’t gain weight overnight, and of course it’s very difficult for them to return to normal weight overnight. The fatter the dog, the more time and energy pet parents need to spend paying attention to their weight loss plans and health conditions. Cultivating good habits is very important and can also prevent dogs from gaining weight again in the future. That is to say, it is very important to integrate healthy living habits between pet parents and dogs. If you try for a period of time and find that you still can’t help overweight dogs lose weight, then a professional veterinarian will be the best consulting partner! Hope all furry kids can have a healthy body and accompany pet parents to live a happy life.
Principal Mao said: Dogs that are too fat will affect their health and cause negative states such as being prone to illness and injury. Therefore, overweight dogs need to immediately make a weight loss plan. If possible, cooperating with professional veterinarians will be the best choice. Let furry kids have a healthy body and happily accompany the lives of pet parents.
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