Fat dogs are unhealthy dogs. No-one would dispute that fact.
Obesity is an even more serious health issue in dogs than it is in humans. Being overweight puts a tremendous strain on virtually every bodily organ.
Shorter lifespan
Overfeeding is one of the worst things anyone can do for their dog.
The fat dog has a much shorter life span than the slim dog. And the resulting problems are not just medical but social too, because the unfortunate animal’s enjoyment of life will be drastically curtailed.
Allowing him to laze around all day in the garden, or draped all over the furniture is not doing him any favours.
Too many treats
Giving pets too many goodies is no good either. Dogs devouring treats, snacks, biscuits, cakes and things that fall from the master’s table are guaranteed to make them put on weight. And they will keep putting it on until they end up not just fat but with a host of medical conditions like diabetes, cardio-vascular disease and osteo-arthritic pain.
What loving owner would willingly do that to their pet dog?
None, we are sure. It’s thoughtlessness rather than actual cruelty that does the damage.
Fat dogs, fat owners?
Quite often we find that the really fat dog is companion to a fat owner. Both are rather too fond of their food, it seems. The human’s love of snacking is transferred to his furry friend.
While it is important to keep careful watch on the dog’s weight, it is absolutely vital to do so when he is getting older. Fat old dogs are a real cause for concern. They do not eat as much as younger dogs and puppies, and they take less exercise. They are therefore more likely to put on weight unless watched very carefully. Dogs, like humans, slow down as they age. If they don’t take as much exercise, they don’t need as much food. Logical, when you think about it.
How can you tell?
How can you tell if your dog is too fat?
Admittedly, it is not always easy, particularly if he has a think coat and belongs to a particularly chunky breed.
Ideally, it should be possible to feel the ribcage, but if those bones are buried underneath a couple of heavy coats of fur, that makes the task rather more difficult.
Exercise
Of course, one of the ways to keep your dog’s weight down is to give him plenty of exercise. If you’re not able to take him out for lots of long walks yourself, but you have a garden, have you considered pet water fountains? Dogs can play under these for hours and work off a few calories!
Obesity is a serious health risk
The thing to do is arrange for health checks with the vet or nutritionist on a regular basis.
Maybe when the innoculations are due… or before, if a problem is suspected.
Obesity is a serious health risk. But it is one that can be avoided, so easily.
The time to seek help for potentially fat dogs is before trouble sets in. With this as with everything else, prevention is better than cure.
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