Regarding obesity in dogs, a French study on the weight of dogs showed that 30% of them were overweight. Unfortunately, this situation can be found in all western countries. In these countries, being overweight is more due to overeating than to being nutrient-dense. The life expectancy of obese dogs is then greatly reduced. That’s why it’s important to check your dog’s weight regularly with a weigh-in.
How do I know if my dog is overweight?
Dogs should not exceed 10 to 15 percent of their ideal body weight. However, it’s not enough just to visualize your dog’s silhouette to know if he’s the right weight. This is unreliable because the eye cannot notice slight weight gain. In addition to weighing your dog on a scale, we can also check his weight by feeling his bones. Simply feel the dog’s ribs, hips and shoulders. Make sure the bones are neither too prominent nor too absent. On the other hand, an abdominal mass shouldn’t be too important. When in doubt, you can consult your veterinarian.
Obesity in Dogs: How to Get Your Dog to Lose Weight?
To address the problem of overweight dogs, it is best to avoid dieting or starving the dog by drastically reducing the daily ratio. The resulting frustration will only increase the dog’s search for food. Then he’s probably more likely to rummage through the trash, steal food and look for all the trash on walks. We also avoid dietary kibble that is primarily used for marketing. In fact, these kibbles aren’t very effective at helping your dog lose weight. Here are some tips to help your dog lose weight.
favored method
- Increase physical activity: Take your dog on longer walks. Sign up for sports events like can-cross or agility. He needs regular exercise to be beneficial.
- Choose a good diet: To treat your dog’s obesity, it is recommended to reduce or even eliminate carbohydrates from his food. Reduce caloric intake by reducing the number of rations. To do this, replace them with green vegetables (green beans, broccoli, zucchini, etc.). Coarse grains can also be rehydrated, which increases the volume of the diet. Therefore, the dog will feel fuller faster.
- Enriching the environment: Hide your dog’s food and let him find it for himself, and let him eat slowly. Dogs who eat slowly will feel full more quickly. There are digging mats and food dispensers. These pads help even the greediest of dogs eat more slowly.
- Provide chewing in the ration: Chewing is an important need for dogs. It will be deducted from the ration and the dog is allowed to have treats during the day. This will prevent him from craving food.
final suggestion
Spaying is the single biggest cause of obesity in dogs. Before considering neutering or neutering, it is recommended that the dog has reached an ideal weight. If not, it is best to lose weight before surgery and check the dog’s weight after neutering.
