{"id":1446,"date":"2018-01-09T09:00:04","date_gmt":"2018-01-09T09:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.travall.com\/en-gb\/?p=1446"},"modified":"2020-03-04T16:15:22","modified_gmt":"2020-03-04T16:15:22","slug":"overweight-dogs-is-your-dogs-life-at-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.travall.com\/en-gb\/overweight-dogs-is-your-dogs-life-at-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"Overweight dogs: is your dog&#8217;s life at risk?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">After the excesses of Christmas many of us start thinking about a healthier diet and exercising. If this is true for you, why not think about whether your pet could benefit too? To kick off National Obesity Awareness Week we thought we&#8217;d take a look at obesity in animals. \u00a0Overweight dogs are becoming an ever-increasing problem in the UK.\u00a0According to the British Veterinary Association, over 60% of vets say that obesity is the biggest health concern for pets.<sup>1<\/sup> So the increasing size of the obesity problem in UK pets is not one that should be ignored. \u00a0Interestingly, it is the most common preventable disease in dogs and avoiding it could help prevent other conditions such as arthritis, liver disease, diabetes, kidney disease and heart failure. Overweight dogs are certainly a cause for concern. Is your dog&#8217;s life at risk?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Particular breeds (Labrador Retrievers, Pugs, Dachshunds, English Bulldogs, Cairn Terriers, Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers, Chihuahuas, Scottish Terriers, Pit Bulls, Boxers, St. Bernards, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Basset Hounds) are more prone to obesity than others. \u00a0If your dog is one of these breeds it\u2019s definitely something to keep in mind, even if your furry friend is not currently overweight.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Although obesity can occur at any time, the risk increases with age, with middle age dogs being particularly susceptible. \u00a0Gender can be a contributing factor, with females faring worse than males. Also, it is important to be aware that obesity can be a side effect of certain diseases such as hypothyroidism, insulinoma and Cushing\u2019s disease. If your pet gains weight suddenly or is overweight despite a small appetite and plenty of exercise, talk to your veterinarian.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is estimated that simply controlling weight can extend a dog\u2019s life by <strong>two<\/strong> years. What can we do to keep our best friend alongside for longer?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Determine whether your pet is overweight<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are 3 tips that you can use prior to getting out the scales:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You should be able to feel the outline of your pet\u2019s ribs without excess fat coverage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">You should be able to see and feel your pet\u2019s waist.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Your pet\u2019s belly should be tucked up when viewed from the side.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">When you do get the scales out, make sure you know what the ideal weight should be.\u00a0 There is plenty of advice online and The Kennel Club gives the breed standard for each dog breed, but if in doubt check with your vet.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Dietary changes to help overweight dogs lose weight<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">If your dog burns more calories than it consumes, it will lose weight. It may be a simple equation, but it can take a lot of discipline to achieve.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">It is always recommended that before embarking on a diet or exercise program to have your pet checked by a vet.\u00a0 If given the green light, some of these suggestions may be helpful to slim down your pooch.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Don\u2019t feed your pet table scraps<br \/>\n<\/strong>Human food doesn\u2019t always work well for dogs and some human foods are<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u00a0simply<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.travall.com\/en-gb\/the-20-worst-foods-for-your-dog-to-consume\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">toxic<\/a>. <span style=\"color: #000000;\">If possible, stick to dog food. A diet rich in dietary fibre and protein but low in fat is recommended. Protein will boost metabolism and give a feeling of fullness, while dietary fibre stimulates intestinal metabolism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Weigh out your pet food<br \/>\n<\/strong>Portion size affects weight gain. If your dogs eat however much they like, you are going to end up with overweight dogs. Weighing out each meal keeps portions to a sensible size. \u00a0If your dog is still hungry after mealtime, offer fresh water. \u00a0Families with several dogs, but not all are overweight, should try to feed the dogs separately. \u00a0Do not leave food <\/span>out,\u00a0<span style=\"color: #000000;\">as you need to know which dog has been eating the food.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Limit treats<br \/>\n<\/strong>Treats are typically high calorie and where possible should be limited. For example, a pig&#8217;s ear fed to <\/span>an 18kg<span style=\"color: #000000;\"> (40 lb) dog is the equivalent of a human drinking a 6-pack of fizzy drinks. Reward your dog in other ways such as offering a favourite toy. Make sure the whole household is involved, as it won&#8217;t work if Grandma keeps slipping your pooch sneaky snacks.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Exercise to help overweight dogs to lose weight<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Establish a regular exercise program<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Just as with humans, a regular exercise program is crucial for a dog\u2019s physical and mental wellbeing.\u00a0 If your pet is excessively\u00a0overweight, introduce exercise slowly, increasing gradually as fitness levels and stamina improve. Aim for at least 15 minutes of walking, twice a day. \u00a0Although there\u2019s nothing better than time spent sniffing a lamp post, a brisk walk, rather than a stroll, is desirable. \u00a0Gradually increase the frequency and duration of the walks, add in some play time with a ball or frisbee<\/span>,<span style=\"color: #000000;\"> or even progress to some jogging.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>How much weight loss should my dog achieve?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Aim for a weight loss of approximately 3-5% of body weight loss per month (or about o.4 kg\/1lb) in overweight dogs.\u00a0 Too much weight loss can be dangerous, so ensure that weight checks are done regularly and work closely with your vet to ensure that everything is safely on track.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Putting on the pounds always seems to be easier than taking them off, but sticking to some of these guidelines can be life changing. The problems associated with obesity can be reversible, so why not work with your dog so you can both achieve a happier, healthier new year and beyond?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #000000;\">References<\/span><\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"color: #000000;\">https:\/\/www.bva.co.uk\/news-campaigns-and-policy\/newsroom\/news-releases\/pet-obesity-epidemic-is-top-welfare-concern-for-vets\/<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><em>Information given in this article is not a substitute for advice from a qualified medical professional. \u00a0Please consult a vet for advice specific to your dog.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After the excesses of Christmas many of us start thinking about a healthier diet and exercising. If this is true for you, why not think about whether your pet could benefit too? To kick off National Obesity Awareness Week we thought we&#8217;d take a look at obesity in animals. \u00a0Overweight dogs are becoming an ever-increasing &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.travall.com\/en-gb\/overweight-dogs-is-your-dogs-life-at-risk\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Overweight dogs: is your dog&#8217;s life at risk?<\/span>Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":1451,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[47],"tags":[1018,1019,1020,1021,1022,1023,1024,1025],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v14.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Overweight dogs: how to tell if your dog&#039;s life could be at risk?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Obesity is a problem for many people and increasingly for pets too as the percentage of overweight dogs in the UK is on the rise. 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