Obesity in Pet Dogs

Obesity in dogs is almost as common as obesity in humans. This may surprise you but it is in fact, true. Experts believe between 25% and 40% of all pet dogs are obese or in the early stages of becoming obese.

The health consequences of obesity in pet dogs should be a serious concern to every dog owner. Overweight dogs suffer from more stress placed on their hearts, lungs, livers, and kidneys. They also are at higher risk should they have an accident or develop a disease requiring surgery. Larger breeds are more prone to injury if they are obese or even if just overweight. Obese and overweight dogs don’t have the energy that they would normally have.

The causes of obesity in dogs generally can be traced to too much food and not enough exercise. Overeating for a dog is usually due to an owner feeding too large a portion at mealtimes. When you add snacks to a dog’s diet, it’s easy to see how a dog can gain extra weight quickly. Sometimes an owner mistakenly believes that their dog needs access to food 24 hours a day. It’s also a common misconception that dogs will only beg for more food when they’re hungry. This is definitely not true. Dogs are natural born food-beggars, just like my Golden Retriever. I am convinced that if he could open my refrigerator door with his paws, I’d come home to find the refrigerator and the freezer empty! And if your dog is anything like mine, he’s learned that looking at me in certain ways will always result in more food or snacks. A dog will ask for more food or snacks over and over, whether he’s hungry or not. If your dog is overeating even a little, he will slowly but steadily put on weight which leads to obesity in middle age.

Lack of exercise is also a significant contributor to obesity in a pet dog. As humans, we have the same problem. If you limit your dog’s play area to the indoors or your yard, he won’t get the exercise he needs and a dog is not going to exercise on his own. If you think an overweight or obese dog is not as lazy as we are when it comes to exercise, you’re wrong.

There are other reasons that a pet dog can gain weight. If your dog has been spayed or neutered, their metabolism will be lowered. It’s not that common for dogs to gain a lot of weight after having one of these procedures, but if the amount of food a dog eats and his exercise patterns don’t change, what was fine for an active puppy will lead to a noticeable weight gain in a spayed or neutered middle-aged dog.

Disorders such as an underactive thyroid gland or hyperthyroidism can also cause weight gain. It’s also possible that a dog’s adrenal glands may produce too much of the hormone Cortisol and create an ailment known as Cushing’s Disease. Dogs with Cushing’s Disease don’t actually gain weight, but any extra fat is deposited in their abdomen and they end up potbellied.

If your pet dog is overweight or obese, suffers from hip dysplasia or arthritis, and has mobility problems caused both by weight and disease, he needs Winston’s Joint System formula. an all-natural formula developed by a Naturopathic Doctor to heal his own beloved dog. For over 20 years, this long-proven formula has been giving relief from pain and stiffness to all breeds and ages of dogs. Owners report that their pets have a new-found vitality and alertness once they are free of pain.

There are easy ways to tell if your dog is overweight. First, check his ribs. You should be able to feel a little fat over his ribs, but if you can’t feel his ribs at all, he’s way too fat. Also check around his shoulders, hips and legs to see if he has too much padding. Look your dog over while standing above him. This is a good perspective for determining obesity. Does your dog look trim or does he lack any defining shape at all?

When the vet told me my dog was putting on too much weight I knew it was my fault for being too generous with the snacks. My dog loves his treats, and even though I’m careful to buy only the healthy ones and not those that are basically just corn or wheat filler, he still was gaining too much weight. He also developed a nasty little habit of aromatically bombing the house with his flatulence. I was happy when I found a good cure for both his obesity and his unpleasant aromas. Winston’s Digest All worked wonders when it came to stopping him from perfuming my house and it helped him lose weight in just a couple months. Winston’s Digest All helps with gas, bloating, flatulence, weight loss, and digestive problems. It’s a little product that does a big job

Since 1990, Winston’s Joint System and Winston’s Pain Formula have helped heal over twenty thousand dogs from all over the world. Our staff specializes in hip dysplasia, arthritis and all joint, pain and mobility issues.

There is an excellent chance we can help your dog, so please contact us at: www.dogshealth.com or call our toll free number at 888-901-5557.

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Obese Dog Health Problems

When a dog is obese it’s more susceptible to developing serious medical conditions because of an elevated glucose level and the extra amount of fat that puts additional pressure on its joints and also on its heart. If you have an overweight or obese dog, you should consider placing it on a slimming diet to prevent possible health problems from occurring.

Obese and overweight dogs are predisposed to getting diabetes because their blood glucose level will continue to increase. The dog’s body will naturally secrete insulin in higher amounts but at some point its body will not be able to cope with the increased amounts of insulin and diabetes will result.

A dog with extra weight is much more likely to develop arthritis at a younger age. Typically a dog will develop arthritis after the age of eight but an obese dog may have joint problems much earlier in life because the extra weight adds stress on the joints which in turn cause pain and swelling.

Extra weight can add pressure on the dog’s ligaments and tendons causing further soreness. The ligaments in the dog’s knees and feet may become injured, causing incapacitation. Weight loss is essential to reduce stress on the dog’s joints, tendons and ligaments. In severe cases the dog will require surgery.

Arthritis is not a treatable condition, but may be managed with supplements like Winston’s Joint System, a totally-natural whole food supplement developed by a Naturopathic Doctor for his own dog. There are no side-effects with Winston’s because it’s just good whole food and there are no dosage problems because the body uses only what it needs.

An overweight dog is also susceptible to heart problems and cardiovascular disease. Obesity and excess weight causes the heart to pump more blood to the fat tissues, creating an additional workload on the heart. Over a period of time the heart will become weakened and the walls of the heart chambers may be damaged or the blood vessels may dilate and cause heart problems.

Obese and overweight dogs will usually develop breathing problems also. The lungs may be pressured by fatty tissues surrounding the lungs, preventing the dog from breathing normally. The lungs then become overworked because they are having to provide more oxygen to the fatty tissues.

Obese and overweight dogs can also develop liver disease, because the liver is the first place the body deposits the fat. Excess fat in a dog’s liver causes hepatic lipidosis leading to liver failure.

The health problems of obese and overweight dogs are not limited only to these diseases and ailments. There are many other serious medical conditions that can be avoided if a dog maintains a normal weight through a reduction of calorie intake and daily exercise. A healthy and fit dog will live a longer and happier life.

Best Diet For an Overweight Dog

The best diet for an overweight dog is obviously one that causes it to lose unhealthy fat while retaining muscle.

An overweight dog needs a weight loss program just as much as an overweight human does. Besides being fed too much food, the major reason a dog becomes overweight is that it doesn’t get enough exercise for its age and breed. For example, 10 minutes of walking every day isn’t even close to the amount of exercise needed by an active working dog like a Border Collie whose tradition is herding sheep or cattle. In contrast, a smaller dog like a Yorkie or toy poodle requires a lot less exercise.

If your dog is really out of shape it will need to increase its energy level by running or playing games that provide aerobic exercise. Start slowly with any new exercise plan to give your dog time to build its muscles and get used to a more active lifestyle.

An overweight dog is usually the result of feeding it too much food. This is the number one reason why a dog gets fat. To start a program of weight loss for your dog, begin by cutting back at least 25% on the amount of food you feed it each day. Keep track of not only how much food your dog is consuming daily, but also how fast the food is disappearing from its bowl. You do need to be aware that cutting back on the amount of food means you’re also cutting back on nutrients. Supplementing the dog’s diet with a good quality vitamin will ensure that your dog is still getting the nutrients it needs.

The best diet plan for an overweight dog is to feed it fewer treats and table scraps. Too much of either of these can contribute to a dog’s weight gain, so stop giving your dog table scraps or extra treats. Reward it instead with healthy foods like green beans, a banana, carrots or specialty dog biscuits from a store that features wholesome snacks.

Substitute giving your overweight dog treats by spending time playing fetch or Frisbee which will engage your pet and offer less motivation to beg for treats. When your dog does play games with you, reward it with love and attention rather than treats. Helping your dog lose weight won’t instantly make your dog slim and fit, but continued adherence to a plan of daily exercise, cutting out extra treats, and feeding it a high-quality dog food in moderate amounts will help your dog live a healthier, longer life.

Diet for Fat Dogs

A diet for a fat dog seems like a no-brainer. If a dog is overweight, its owner is simply feeding the dog too much food or too many treats.

It’s important to feed your dog the correct serving amount whether it’s overweight or not. Dog food companies are notorious for putting serving sizes that are too large on their bags of dry dog food. To determine the correct portion to serve your pet, you may want to ask your veterinarian how much and how often your dog should be fed.

Dog food manufacturers are no different than the companies that make human products. Consider shampoos: almost every shampoo has on its label “shampoo, rinse, and shampoo again.” How many people ever bother to shampoo their hair twice when showering or taking a bath? Dog food manufacturers use the same tactic to get you to feed more dog food than your dog needs at mealtime. The end result is exactly what they want you to do – buy more dog food.

If you have a fat dog and it really needs to lose weight, you’ll have to put it on a diet. First, keep track of everything you feed it each day, including treats and snacks.

You don’t have to completely eliminate treats when putting your dog on a diet. Instead choose healthy alternatives like raw vegetables or rice cakes. At the beginning of each day decide how many treats you will give your dog that day and stick to it no matter how much begging it does.

To be successful in establishing a diet for fat dogs requires a reduction of the amount of daily portions you feed your dog. Begin by cutting back the amount of food by 15% to 20%. In approximately six to eight weeks you’ll start seeing results. You can also check with your veterinarian on how to calculate the exact amount of calories your pet needs per day in order to lose weight. The vet will consider your dog’s size, ideal body weight, energy level, and general health.

It’s possible that your overweight dog will whine or cry for more food while on a diet but you need to be firm and not give in by feeding it more than the correct amount. Dogs are very adept at whining if they know the end result is more food or treats.

For assured weight loss in your overweight dog, make Winston’s Digest All the cornerstone of its weight loss program. Overweight dogs usually lose an average of five pounds within the first two to three months when put on a daily regimen of Digest All.

And finally, don’t forget the importance of exercise as a part of a diet for fat dogs. Daily exercise is important in losing weight. 10-15 minutes of activity several times per day will help your dog burn calories and lose that fat.