

Along with exercise, a low-fat and low-calorie food is essential in helping your dog lose weight and stay fit.

Eating too much dog food, snacks or people food will cause your dog to become overweight, and this increases the risk of conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and breathing problems.įood plays a very important role in treating an overweight dog. Balanced nutrition is an essential part of an active, healthy lifestyle. The food your dog eats plays an important role in his overall health and well-being.
#Pet weight management in truro how to#
Your veterinarian will be able to tell you what this is, and show you how to check that your dog is maintaining a healthy weight. Is my dog overweight?Īll dogs have an ideal weight for their size and breed. IMPORTANT: Even if your dog does not show any signs of being overweight, it is important to have regular weight checks at the veterinarian’s to make sure his ideal weight is maintained. Lack of exercise: Too much food and too little exercise produces a typical result: Obesity This improves taste, which means your dog will want to gorgeįeeding habits: Feeding table scraps and "people food" can lead to obesity

Overeating: Many commercial foods are loaded with salt and fat. Overfeeding: Dogs with unlimited access to food understandably eat more than they need Medical Problems: Very occasionally weight gain is associated with a medical disorder that may require specific treatment Neutered dogs actually require fewer calories. Neutering/ spaying: Clinical studies have shown that the basic metabolism of neutered dogs is lower. These include Labrador retrievers, and cocker and Cavalier King Charles spaniels. But there can be other contributing factors too.Īge: Older dogs are less active, have less energy, and require fewer calories.īreed: Some dog breeds are more likely to gain weight. This is usually caused by eating too much, especially when combined with lack of exercise. Weight gain is the result of an increase in body fat. For your dog, the excess weight and the resulting health problems can mean less play time and depression. Did you know that obesity affects more than 50 percent of America's dog population? If your pooch is overweight, he can develop all kinds of health problems, such as painful arthritis, heart disease, breathing difficulty, diabetes and even bladder cancer.
