Why is obesity such a big problem in dogs

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

7 Reasons Why Dog Obesity is Dangerous

Dr. Phil Zeltzman is a traveling, board-certified surgeon in Allentown, PA. His website is www.DrPhilZeltzman.com. He is the co-author of Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound (www.WalkaHound.com).

Kelly Serfas, a Certified Veterinary Technician in Bethlehem, PA, contributed to this article.Pet lovers often take overweight or obese dogs casually. Yet these dogs are at a greater risk for a number of serious consequences. Here are 7 examples of such consequences.1. ArthritisExtra weight puts extra pressure on a dogs joints. The cartilage in the joint deteriorates, which leads to arthritis. Sure, we can give pain medications, but weight loss helps significantly.2. ACLToo much weight is a well-known risk factor for tearing the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), an important ligament in the knee. A torn ACL must be repaired with surgery.3. Heart and breathing conditionsWeight gain can cause heart disease and high blood pressure. Its also linked to breathing problems. Overweight dogs are more prone to a collapsing trachea and laryngeal paralysis. Untreated, these airway conditions could lead to a respiratory crisis which could be fatal if not treated.4. Anesthesia riskThe heart and lungs of overweight and obese dogs have to work harder during anesthesia. The dog struggles to breathe because he has difficulty expanding his chest. Dogs often sleep too deeply or not deeply enough. In addition, overweight dogs may take a long time to wake up after anesthesia.5. TumorsObesity may increase the risk of certain tumors such as benign fatty tumors (lipomas), as well as breast and bladder cancer (transitional cell carcinoma).6. Skin diseasesOverweight dogs have extra skin folds, which can cause irritation and infection by bacteria. This can lead to scratching, body odor and skin redness. Overweight dogs often have an unhealthy looking coat because its harder, if not impossible, for them to groom effectively.7. Quantity and quality of lifeObesity can take up to 2 years off the life of your dog! Quality of life is also lower. Carrying extra pounds around takes a toll; overweight dogs are slow to get down and up, they get winded or tired quickly and are less likely to play.How can I keep my dog trim and healthy?Schedule an appointment with your family vet so you can tailor a weight-loss program to your dogs needs. There are no miracles to losing weight: eat less and exercise more. Eating less will involve sticking to a balanced weight-loss food. Its also reasonable to cut down on treats and people food. However, its not considered ideal to cut down on the amount of food unless your veterinarian suggests it. Starving a pet is just as bad as overfeeding. The other requirement for losing weight is more exercise. Fortunately, this is the good part! It involves more time having fun with your dog.Overweight or obese dogs arent beyond saving. The situation can be corrected. Your family vet can provide you with the tools and the knowledge to help your dog live a long and happy life. You simply need to have the awareness and the motivation to act. Hopefully, having a happy and healthy dog is enough motivation.

If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian -- they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.

Obesity

A common problem in dogs

Obesity, or excessive body fat resulting in an overweight condition, is sadly an extremely common and preventable problem affecting our pets, with more and more cases seen every year. In fact, canine obesity is the most common nutritional disorder seen in dogs. As with humans, it's caused by an imbalance of taking in more energy than giving out.

How to know if your dog is overweight

Signs your dog is overweight include:

owners struggling to see or feel their dog's ribs, spine or waistline
abdominal sagging
a bigger, rounder face
a reluctance to go for walks or lagging behind
excessive panting
tiredness
needing help getting in and out of cars
a refusal to move or play games

Problems associated with obesity

Vets see these problems all too often, with obese pets posing greater risks from anaesthetic and surgical complications, heat or exercise intolerance, complications from cardio-respiratory disorders, hormone problems, skin disease, cancer and urogenital disorders even early death. Canine obesity may even contribute to tracheal collapse and laryngeal paralysis too.

Common canine problems suffered as a result of obesity include:

Diabetes - where the pancreas fails to secrete enough insulin in order to regulate blood glucose levels
Heart disease - caused by high cholesterol levels
Arthritis - directly affecting mobility, making it even harder for your pet to lose weight

The dangers of fat

Until fairly recently, fatty tissue was thought to be just a relatively lifeless energy store and insulator; but we now know it secretes hormones affecting appetite, inflammation, insulin sensitivity and bodily function, as well as influencing water balance and blood pressure, leading to kidney disease and high blood pressure.

Factors contributing to canine obesity

Excess energy is stored primarily as fat but many other factors also contribute to canine obesity including age, sex, reproductive status, inactivity, owner's decisions on dog's food intake, diet and palatability, environment, lifestyle, and any underlying disease that impairs exercise and results in excessive weight gain. Some breeds appear to have a higher incidence of obesity, indicating that genetics may play a major part, with unneutered adult dogs often weighing less than neutered dogs of the same breed too.

Neutering

Neutering is usually carried out at a young age - the same time as a natural decrease in growth and energy needs. Oestrogen also slows down fat production, with predictably decreased levels post spaying, so owners who are unaware of this change and continue to feed their pets the same amount of food will usually see a weight gain in their dog.

Age

Like us, ageing dogs become less active, needing less daily energy too. So it's no surprise that if food intake is not decreased proportionately, they can easily pile on the pounds.

Table scraps

Feeding table scraps and other fatty treats may encourage many pets to overeat and gain excessive weight. In some adult dogs, up to half the calories they need are supplied as human food, particularly in toy breeds.

Not measuring out food

Surprisingly, some owners are still unsure about how much to feed their dog, failing to measure food accurately, and sometimes in denial about how much they feed. The size of cup used to measure dry food and the size of bowl used for feeding also affect the amount of food fed to a dog; with owners given a large cup and bowl often providing more food than when a small cup and bowl are used.

Eating with other dogs

The social setting of meals can also influence eating behaviour, with most dogs increasing their food intake when eating alongside other pets in what's known as 'social facilitation'. That said, being an 'only dog' has also been associated with the risk of obesity, which is probably due to being spoilt rotten by its owners.

Ways to prevent obesity

If your dog is overweight, then carefully start changing their feeding habits by:

increasing exercise (e.g. taking more frequent or longer walks, or taking up a canine activity such as agility or flyball)
looking at the type of food they eat, as well as their intake:
- create a feeding plan
- incorporate regular visits to your vet for weight loss advice and to have free weight checks
- record your success

Diet

Diets rich in protein and fibre but low in fat are typically recommended for weight loss, as it gives the dog the feeling of being full, but also provides them with more energy. Replacing traditional treats with carrot sticks is a great, healthy way to start. Ensure every family member is given their own pet feeding instructions and never leave any food lying around.

When to feed

Divide your dog's daily amount into several meals and try not to feed them too late, as they won't burn many calories when sleeping.

New foods

Remember, when introducing a new food, do it gradually over a seven-day period, mixing new food with the old, and always check the daily recommended amount.

Don't give scraps

Avoid feeding any leftovers or scraps from the table.Always check the daily recommended feeding guide on the packaging and weigh out the daily amount at the beginning of the day. You can then give 'treats' from this amount during the day, so you don't overfeed.

Speak to your vet

When your animal starts to lose weight, you will notice they are happier, more inclined to exercise, and have a lot more energy. So don't hesitate to book an appointment with your vet for advice and a healthy eating plan to help your dog battle the bulge.

Article author

This article was written byMarc Abraham, a vet based in Brighton who regularly appears on UK television.

Think your dog may be affected?

If you're worried about your dog's health, always contact your vetimmediately!

We are not a veterinary organisation and so we can't give veterinary advice, but if you're worried about any of the issues raised in this article, please contact your local vet practice for further information.