Obesity is not hard to recognise, but lots of us fail to notice it because like us humans dogs can put weight on gradually over a period of time.
It is important to keep an eye on your dog’s weight to ensure that they are able to lead a happy, healthy and active life. The benefits of helping your dog to maintain a healthy weight are obvious. A healthier dog is a happier dog and is sure to be more active and playful.
- Look at your dog’s body from above. Can you see a waist?
- Look at your dog’s body from sideways on. Can you see the definition of their ‘tuck up’? (this is the area between the end of the rib cage and the hind legs)
- Can you feel your dogs ribs EASILY? Ideally, ribs should be felt easily and have a thin layer of fat.
If you have answered no to any of the above then it is likely that your dog is overweight and it is advisable to make some dietary and lifestyle changes for your dog. Remember, the benefits of helping your dog to lose weight are pretty obvious: a healthier dog will be a happier dog and is sure to be more active and playful!
How to help:
- Avoid over-feeding your dog. Please see our feeding guide.
- Try to cut back on treats and tit bits. Remember that some treats can be very rich in calories!
- Try to exercise your dog more often. Maybe you could walk your dog earlier in the day – this way you will be more inclined to getting around to it!
- Re-think your dog’s diet.
The majority of commercial dog foods are made up mainly from starchy cereals which often means a high level of carbohydrates. If you are feeding you dog a diet that is high in cereals the carbohydrates from the cereals will give your dog lots of energy. This is good if you have a relatively active dog who will use this energy and burn off the calories, but not if you have a less active or overweight dog because the energy will not be used and the excess in carbohydrates is sure to lead to weight gain. Therefore look for a diet that is made from fewer cereals.
Look for a food that is higher in fibre as this is a very important ingredient, and yet most commercial dog foods actually contain very little. Increasing the level of fibre in your dog’s diet will help them to achieve a feeling of fullness (from the extra ‘bulk’), and they will also maintain this feeling of fullness for longer because fibre is digested more slowly in comparison to other ingredients, such as the starchy cereals that have been mentioned previously.
‘High Fibre foods are more filling so bear this in mind when purchasing your dog’s food’
Source- Pet Arthritis Resource Centre, on reducing the risks of obesity, 2007.
‘Try replacing some of your dog’s food with bran or grated carrot to bulk and fill him up”
Source- Major Animal Welfare Website’s advice to owners of overweight dogs, 2007.