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Dogs are one of the most loyal companions in our lives, and it is easy for novice pet owners to fall into the problem of overfeeding and causing dog obesity. Dog obesity not only affects appearance, but also brings some serious health consequences and may shorten lifespan.
Let’s pay attention to pet health, reduce dog obesity, and help pet owners correctly identify, prevent and manage their dog’s weight. Keep your dog healthy and energetic.
What is obesity?
Dog obesity refers to excessive body fat, which usually manifests as excessive weight. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) points out that more than 60% of pet dogs are at risk of being overweight or obese. In addition, the number of overweight dogs is increasing due to different breed trends, diets and poor lifestyles.
Obesity not only affects the appearance of dogs, but long-term obesity may also cause many serious health problems:
- Joint problems: Being overweight increases the burden on joints, leading to problems such as osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia.
- Diabetes: Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes in dogs.
- Cardiovascular disease: Being overweight increases the burden on the heart, leading to the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Difficulty breathing: Obese dogs may experience shortness of breath when active, which affects the quality of daily life.
- Shortened lifespan: Studies show that obese dogs have a shorter lifespan than dogs of normal weight.
Why do dogs become obese?
There are usually many reasons for dog obesity, and the two most common factors are eating too much and not exercising enough. How much food should I feed my dog? Why is my dog getting fat? Understanding the cause of dog obesity is the first step to solving the problem:
- Overfeeding: Providing more food than the dog actually needs.
- Unhealthy snacks: High-calorie snacks or human food add extra calories.
- Lack of exercise: Modern lifestyles lead to less exercise for dogs.
- Genetic factors: Certain breeds or individuals are more prone to obesity.
- Health problems: Diseases such as hypothyroidism can lead to weight gain.
- Psychological factors: Dogs can also have emotional problems, and unhealthy psychological states can also cause weight gain.
How to tell if a dog is obese?
Veterinarians use body condition scores (BCS) to measure obesity, considering factors such as rib visibility, face shape, waist circumference and overall body shape. A healthy dog should have ribs that are easily palpable, without excess fat covering them, with a distinct waist and slightly tucked-in abdomen when viewed from above.
Identify if a dog is overweight:
Touch test: Gently touch the dog’s ribs with your hand. If it is difficult to feel or requires force to feel, it may be a sign of overweight or obesity.
Body shape observation: Looking down from above, a healthy dog should have a distinct waistline; from the side, the abdomen should be contracted, not bulging. According to the BCS score index, the ideal score should be 4 or 5, indicating that the dog is moderately heavy and healthy.
Weight record: Weigh the dog regularly and pay attention to weight changes. Dogs of different breeds and ages have different ideal weight ranges.
How to help dogs lose weight?
Obesity is completely preventable and manageable. Do not let the dog’s obesity problem continue to develop. Pet owners can manage their dog’s weight loss from all angles, including diet management, increasing exercise, regularly monitoring weight and adjusting feeding and exercise plans, and obtaining professional weight loss plans through medical examinations.
Diet management
Reduce calorie intake: Adjust the amount of food according to the dog’s ideal weight and activity level.
Choose healthy dog food: Low-fat, high-protein dog food can help lose weight. At the same time, choose low-calorie, fiber-rich dog food, which can provide dogs with a long sense of fullness and avoid frequent eating.
Control snacks: Choose low-calorie snacks, or count them into the total daily calories. If you must reward them, you can choose low-calorie snacks or healthy fruits and vegetables such as carrot sticks.
Increase exercise
Daily walks: Maintain a certain amount of exercise every day, and gradually increase the time and frequency of walks.
Interactive toys: Use some high-intensity and highly interactive toys to fully mobilize the dog’s enthusiasm for exercise. Such as chasing balls, picking up toys, running, playing Frisbees, dragging ropes and other games.
High-intensity training: Climbing and ladder training once a week can help dogs build muscle and improve cardiopulmonary function.
Monitoring and adjustment
Weight tracking: Weigh the dog’s weight every week or every two weeks, monitor its weight changes, and adjust the diet and exercise plan in time. .
Regular evaluation: Adjust your dog’s diet and exercise plan from time to time based on your dog’s weight changes, food intake, and exercise.
Professional guidance
Veterinary consultation: If you find that your dog is gaining weight quickly or suspect that it has potential health problems, take it to the veterinarian in time. The veterinarian can develop a weight loss plan that is suitable for your dog and rule out health problems that may cause obesity.
Dokoo Large Dog Feeder: A booster for dogs on the road to weight loss
Dokoo Large Dog Feeder is an innovative feeding tool designed to automate timed and quantitative feeding to help you better manage your dog’s lifestyle and weight management. Dokoo Large Dog Feeder can hold 15L of kibble and can set 6 servings of food a day. The small and frequent meal system can help your dog lose weight quickly.
Dokoo Large Dog Feeder comes with vacuum freshness-locking technology, allowing pet dogs to enjoy fresh dog food every day. The large dog feeder sets the daily meal quantity and meal time, which can save pet owners time and make dogs eat more regularly.
Conclusion
Dog obesity is not inevitable. As pet owners, we can help them maintain an ideal weight and avoid the health risks of obesity through a reasonable diet, regular exercise and regular health checks.
Helping dogs lose weight is both an investment in their health and an improvement in their quality of life. Use the Dokoo Large Dog Feeder for scientific and reasonable feeding to bring your dog a healthier and happier life.
