October 10th is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day. Keeping your dog at a healthy weight is paramount to their overall health and well-being. Obesity can lead to a number of health issues like heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, and more. Learn how to keep your dog at a healthy weight and avoid health concerns.
Ways To Keep Your Dog At A Healthy Weight
Proper Diet
When choosing food for your dog, take their age, size, and activity level into consideration. Likewise, measure their servings based on their weight and dietary needs. For example, a Husky will require much more food and different dietary needs than a Chihuahua. For dog treats and snacks, consider limited-ingredient recipes.
Exercise
Have a consistent exercise routine for your dog that you practice daily. This includes multiple walks a day and playtime. Like with feeding your dog, baes their activity level on their size and breed. Some breeds require a lot more daily exercise.
Avoid Table Scraps
As hard as it can be, don’t give in to those sweet puppy dog eyes and give your dog table scraps. This becomes a bad habit that contributes to weight gain in many dogs. Additionally, keep any human food out of your dog’s reach so they don’t nab it while you aren’t looking.
Regular Vet Visits
Your vet will weigh your dog at each visit, so regular checkups are a good way to stay on top of your dog’s weight. Your vet will also be able to notice if your dog’s weight gain is linked to a underlying health issue.
Health Issues That Cause Weight Gain/Loss
Cushing’s Disease
Causes constant hunger in dogs, leading to overeating. This disease is caused by the overproduction of steroid in a dog’s body.
Heart Disease
Fluid buildup in the heart can cause weight gain in dogs. However, if the disease has progressed to a worse stage it can cause lose of appetite and weight loss.
Arthritis
Arthritis can cause weight gain due to your dog’s inability to move as freely. Additionally, excess weight can exacerbate arthritis symptoms.
Diabetes
An unhealthy weight doesn’t just mean overweight. Being underweight is unhealthy for dogs too. Diabetes affects the metabolism, causing dogs to burn calories faster than they consume it.
Schedule a vet visit if your dog has gained a considerable amount of weight in a short amount of time.
Written by Vincent M.
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