How Can You Tell If Your Dog Is Overweight?

It’s a fact that dogs love to eat. Therefore, left unchecked and unregulated, your canine companion may put on weight very quickly, especially if it does not get an appropriate level of physical activity everyday. As a matter of fact, it is estimated that about 40% of pets in America are overweight. This is not a good, especially in dogs because gaining as few as 5 extra pounds may make an animal appear physically cuter, happier and more cuddly but on the inside, effects of the extra weight slowly lead to things such as difficulty to move around, diabetes, respiratory, heart and digestive diseases, osteoarthritis and joint problems, poorer resistance to bacterial and viral infections, high blood pressure and a shorter life span among other things.

 

But how can you tell if your pet is overweight? After all, a lot of bulk can go unnoticed on a dog when spread out over a big-bodied or exceptionally hairy animal. The key is to assess whether or not the ribs are plainly visible or submerged under a thick layer of fatty tissue. Here is what you do:

 

1. Feel your dog’s ribs 
2. Try pressing lightly on the skin
3. Can you feel the ribs without much effort? 

 

- If you have to press hard to feel the bones, you have a problem.

 

The other indicator that your pet may be overweight is its general body shape. If you can’t discern a waistline between the ribs and hindquarters or as we like to call it “an hour-glass figure”, it’s a cause for concern. 

 

Alternatively, you can turn to science. Using a series of measurements, a vet will be able to tell you what the ideal weight of your pet should be based on its body fat index. 

 

So your dog is overweight! What next?

 

If a dog is overweight, it’s probably due to a lack of exercise, overfeeding or a combination of both mirroring obesity in humans. It can also be due to a metabolic condition called hypothyroidism common in dogs and some other pets. To help your overweight pet:

 

 

1. Assess the animal’s food intake

 

If your dog has a weight problem, the first thing to consider is its diet. Take an objective look at how you are feeding your pet. For instance, measure the amount of food you place in the feeding bowl. You also need to avoid snacks from the dinner table and mind the treats because small bites add up. But don’t compromise on quality; your pet’s food needs to be complete and balanced. 

 

 

2. Protein & water

 

Every dog needs a good source of protein where meat is the primary ingredient and not by-products of corn and other similar raw materials.   If your pet needs to lose a lot of weight, consider an appropriate low fat diet. Water should be plentiful at all times and more importantly fresh and clean water.

 

 

3. Exercise

 

Last but not least, like in humans, weight loss in dogs will not happen without an appropriate level of regular physical activity be it leisure walks for 30 minutes or more everyday . To ease your pet into a more active lifestyle, start with a reasonable level of exercise and gradually increase it.  Remember that exercising your pet is not unpleasant for the animal. In fact, an inactive pet is more likely to become depressed and/or anxious due to altered levels of 3 brain chemicals namely norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. So be a responsible pet owner and keep your best pal fit, trim and healthy. To learn more visit, www.ccprotectiondogs.com