Why Are Some Pet Dogs Obese?

Obesity in dogs is as much a debilitating syndrome as in individuals where a dog carries excess weight that causes harm to its health and well-being; though a number of factors play a role in the development of obesity in dogs the most important is that the dog consumes more calories than its body needs. Obesity in dogs can only be overcome by committing to a weight loss program.

You could easily find out that a dog is obese by observing certain symptoms in the dog. Most dogs that are obese may be sedentary and they may be reluctant to exercise, may get easily tired and winded during play. It is also to be noticed that obese dogs have difficulty climbing, walking, running, and jumping. It is also characteristic to find that some obese dogs have strong appetites and would beg for food constantly as they are hungry, though this is not a universal trait.

Here are a few risk factors for obesity in dogs:

 
a) Diet and lifestyle play a very important role in the obesity of canines or dogs. Dogs that do very less exercise and do not go for walks stand a bigger risk of being obese than dogs that exercise or go for regular walks. It is also found that those dogs that eat a high calorie and tasty food are more likely to gain weight. The same is also true of dogs that receive treats, table scraps and constantly beg for food.

b) Obesity in canines could also be related to their genes, underlying health and metabolism. Older dogs are likely to be obese than younger ones. Also some dog breeds like Beagles, Labrador Retrievers, and Cocker Spaniels that have low metabolisms and strong appetite are more predisposed to obesity. Dogs with metabolic syndromes such as hypothyroidism or Cushing's disease are predisposed to obesity. The same is true of dogs that have been spayed or neutered, though experts believe that the health benefits of spaying and neutering outweigh this risk. Lastly medications like prednisone and phenobarbital can cause weight gain.

c) Pet dogs could be overfed in large households where everyone enjoys offering and feeding them, with elderly people and children also feeding dogs. Also dogs that are free-fed from large bowls may have a tendency to over-eat and be obese.

d) It is also found that pet dogs that routinely eat other animal’s food also gain weight. It is also seen that weight gain and obesity is seen in dogs in households where scavenging is possible; this is truer of dogs that spend meal times near the high chair of toddlers.    

e) Obesity in dogs is also possible in households where there are elderly or disabled dog owners who are physically unable to taking dogs for walks or exercising them.

These are some of the reasons that pet dogs turn obese, with the solution in most cases lying in exercise and walks in addition to feeding the pet low calorie foods and avoiding overfeeding.

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