obesity in dogs

Obesity or Weight Problem in Dogs

Overweight and obesity are characterized by excessive fat accumulation in the body. It is a serious medical condition with major implications for your dog’s health. Excess weight can seriously affect your dog’s quality of life and give rise to all kinds of other diseases, such as joint disorders and heart disease. In addition, it shortens life expectancy: dogs at the ideal weight appear to live longer. Treatment consists of adjustments to the diet, behavioural therapy and, if necessary, treatment with medication.

Weight gain in pets is caused by an imbalance in energy (calorie) intake and use, usually caused by overeating combined with insufficient exercise. Behaviour and feeding habits can contribute to the development of obesity, for example, feeding when the animal asks for it, the number of meals, giving leftovers from the table, giving snacks when begging, extra food given by other family members, and giving cheap dog food.

Obesity is a serious problem in dogs just as much as it is in humans.

Other factors that contribute to the development of overweight or obesity:

  • Breed (genetic factors): Retrievers (Labrador or Golden), Beagles, Bassets, Cocker Spaniels, Dachshunds, Shelties, German Shepherds and Terriers are often overweight or obese.
  • Spay/neuter: Spayed or neutered pets are more at risk of obesity than intact dogs.
  • Age: Obesity is more common in dogs 4 years and older.
  • Underlying health conditions, such as hormonal disorders (hyperadrenocorticism, hypothyroidism) and conditions that limit physical activity (osteoarthritis, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases)
  • Drugs o medicines used

SYMPTOMS

Excessive amounts of fat can hinder the normal functioning of internal organs. Obesity and overweight have serious consequences for the health of the dog. Both life expectancy and quality of life of a dog are reduced as a result. Overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk of a number of serious medical conditions and can unnecessarily worsen existing conditions (such as joint disease or heart diseases).

For example, being overweight or obese increases the risk of osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease (difficulty breathing), diabetes (diabetes), complications during anaesthesia and surgery, infections (especially skin infections) and possibly cancer.

You can of course tell that your dog is overweight. Other symptoms you may observe are the clinical signs of obesity-related diseases. Think of this, for example, lameness in dogs with osteoarthritis, excessive drinking in dogs with diabetes or skin infections.

DIAGNOSIS

If you think your dog is overweight, please contact one of our vets in Dubai. The vet can examine your dog for any underlying illnesses and guide the appropriate approach to weight loss needed.

It is critical that body weight and fitness scores are routinely measured in all dogs entering the practice for routine examination or vaccination to ensure there is no abnormal weight gain. Dogs that may have overweight-related illnesses, such as osteoarthritis and heart/respiratory disorders, should of course also be checked regularly.

An objective assessment of obesity is essential in establishing severity, weight loss goals, and monitoring progress towards these goals. Obesity is defined as exceeding the ideal body weight by 20% or more. A dog is overweight, but not obese if its ideal weight is exceeded by 5% to 20%

Establishing a dog’s fitness score is probably the most commonly used method for objectively diagnosing obesity.

The fitness score is determined by visual assessment and palpation (feel) of the rib cage, waist and spine protrusions. Most commonly, systems based on a nine-point scale are used. On this scale, a score of 6 stands for overweight, 7 for heavy, 8 for obesity and 9 for morbid (very severe) obesity. Any dog ​​with a fitness score of 6-9 is a good candidate to participate in a controlled weight loss program. Other methods of measurement, such as DEXA (Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) do provide a much more precise evaluation of the dog’s fat mass, but this requires specialized equipment and the dog must be placed under anaesthesia. This is therefore mainly used for scientific research and not in ordinary veterinary practice.

THERAPY

Weight loss is an important part of the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system (osteoarthritis) and of the respiratory tract or heart. Any weight loss that brings the patient closer to his ideal body weight will have health benefits for the dog. Dogs with ideal body weights have been shown to live up to 1.5 years longer.

The traditional treatment of obesity consisted of a modified diet (specific low-fat diet, in appropriate amounts) and exercise. And such weight loss programs consist of the following steps:

  • Overall medical evaluation of the dog to determine the degree of overweight or obesity
  • Diagnosis and treatment of concurrent conditions (e.g. hormone disorder, osteoarthritis)
  • Preparing a weight loss program with an adapted diet and an exercise schedule.
  • It is not recommended to reduce just the amount of the current food. Instead, it is recommended to give special food that is formulated for animals that need to lose weight. This prevents your dog from not getting enough nutrients. We can help you to choose food that is right for your dog. And in January 2022 we have related promotions from Hill’s and Royal Canin weight management food range.

Unfortunately, weight loss programs based on diet and exercise have been shown to be tricky for owners. Owners are confronted with begging and fussy dogs, dogs that are fed by others, and dogs that have trouble moving. This can become frustrations that make you as an owner dissatisfied with the treatment and possibly even stop the diet.

Lifestyle changes are an important part of any weight loss program, also in combination with diet and medicines, and are indispensable to prevent a relapse. These are changes focused at increasing energy consumption. Think about the following:

  • more physical activity by introducing regular play sessions
  • increase the quality of your pet’s life through regular play
  • changing the diet by, for example, accurately measuring and recording daily food intake, avoiding uncontrolled feeding of extra food.

PREVENTION

As with most medical conditions, prevention is better than cure. It is therefore important to ensure that your dog is at a healthy weight. Obesity poses a number of health and well-being problems, in particular reduced quality and duration of life. Preventing your dog from becoming overweight is easier than treating obesity. So keep a close eye on your dog’s weight.

Together we can ensure a healthy weight of your dog, some tips:

  • The dog’s body weight and fitness score can be measured during each visit. This makes it possible to notice even small changes in an animal. A small loss of weight can be the first sign of a serious medical condition, while weight gain (which could indicate overfeeding or a medical condition) is quickly noticed.
  • The vet can inform you as early as possible about the importance of a healthy weight and repeat this important information regularly. During every visit your visit, advice will be given on healthy food and exercise.
  • Spaying/neutering an animal can result in an increase in weight. It is recommended to perform 2 to 3 weight checks in the first 6 to 12 months after spaying or neutering the animal.

This way, pets at risk of weight gain can be identified and corrected before it becomes a problem.

In January 2022, we offer free consult and weight measuring with our nurse on duty. Contact us to treat and recognize overweight problems in your pet.

And learn more from our previous blogs:

 

Written by: Dr. Metje Zegers, ABVC Senior Veterinarian

 

Google Rating
4.5
Based on 638 reviews