It’s hard to detect a gradual increase in your dog’s or cat’s weight. By controlling your dog’s weight, you are not only improving the quality of life of your pet, but you are extending the life of your dog. Common health problems associated with obesity include lameness, diabetes, heart disease, exercise intolerance, reduced lifespan.
When is a dog considered to be overweight?
There are several different methods to assess extra pounds on your dog. One method is to rate your pet on a scale of 1-9 or 1-5 with ‘1’ being too thin and anything over five, being considered extra pounds. If you feel the ribs on the side, without, pushing in, you would rate your pet a ‘5’. Please visit our hospital at any time to have your pet assessed and weighed. One or two pounds extra may not sound like a lot, but for a dog, those extra pounds may be the equivalent of 10 -20 extra pounds for a person.
Are some breeds prone to obesity?
All dogs are prone to obesity if they are inactive or eat too much. If a metabolic disorder such as hypothyroidism exists, this would have to be diagnosed and treated as this could cause your pet to gain weight.
Why should you have weight loss & management consultation at the clinic?
Weight loss is never easy – neither for our dogs or us. That is why our veterinary team is here to provide ongoing encouragement, suggestions, and ideas to help your dog achieve an ideal weight and maintain this weight after the excess fat is lost. During our weight consultation, a full exam is done and then we can precisely measure the excess fat, then make recommendations on the type of diet and quantity of food needed.
