10 February 2023
Obesity in Dogs: What To Do If Your Dog Is Overweight
Your dog can gain and lose weight just like humans. According to a study by the Royal Veterinary College, 1 in 14 dogs in the UK are recorded as being obese in the UK, and seeing as there is not a fixed ‘healthy weight’ for all dogs, a lot of obese dogs will not get the veterinary help they need.
There is more to a dog's healthy body weight besides just their diet. If your dog is gaining weight, there could be a number of reasons we are going to cover, as well as what to do if your dog is overweight and how to find the best dog food to help.
Contents:
How to Know if Your Dog is Overweight
Knowing if your dog is overweight isn’t always easy to spot. As we’ve mentioned, there is no one-size-fits-all number for a healthy weight when it comes to dogs. Like with humans, other things contribute to what is a healthy weight, including age, genetics and your dog’s breed. A lot of the time you won’t be able to tell just by looking at your dog, especially if you have a particularly fluffy breed.
Still, there are a few key ways to test if your dog is obese, which include:
- Being unable to feel your dog’s ribs, spine or waistline.
- Abdominal sagging
- A bigger, rounder-looking face
- Reluctance to walk or play
- Excessive panting and tiredness
- Trouble getting in or out of cars, or onto sofas
If you notice any of these signs in your dog, it’s important to have them seen by a vet as it may also indicate other conditions rather than obesity. Another good way to tell if your dog is obese is to assess them using a dog body chart. Use our dog chart below to assess if your dog's a healthy weight
This body chart works on a numerical system from 1 to 9, with 1 being dangerously underweight and 9 being dangerously overweight.
The ideal body condition using this scale is between 4-6, so if your dog falls into one of those categories, then you have nothing to worry about. However, if your dog falls above or below this range, then it’s important to book a consultation with your vet to evaluate your dog’s condition.
Reasons Why Your Dog May Be Overweight
There are many things that can contribute to your dog being obese beyond just what they eat. However, the number of calories they consume and a lack of exercise are the most common factors. Other things that can contribute to your dog becoming obese include:
- Age
- Breed
- Neutering
- Psychological issues
- Lifestyle & family factors
- Hormone imbalances
- Illness
- Genetics
We’re going to be going into each of these in more detail so you can better understand your dog’s condition, how they got to be that way and, most importantly, what you can do to help.
Food & Diet
A huge part of your dog’s health and condition is related to their diet. This is where your dog will get all their energy, and it goes far beyond just what they have for their dinner. All dogs (depending on their breed, size or age) have an optimum amount of calories they should consume daily, including treats and any other food they are given. This is why it’s essential to choose the optimum food for your dog and ensure you follow the feeding guides supplied.
As Pet Drugs Online are a specialised service you can trust, we only supply vet-recommended food for your furry friend. This will ensure your dog gets the right amount of food without overfeeding.
Lack of Exercise
Another common contributor to your dog's body condition is the amount of exercise they get compared to the amount of food they eat. Like humans, dogs derive their energy from their diet, and if those calories are not used through movement and exercise, they are stored as body fat.
To help maintain a healthy weight, your dog must get the optimum amount of exercise daily through walking or active play. Browse our range of dog toys available, from rope dog toys to chew toys, and give your furry friend free rein to enjoy exercising.
How much exercise your dog needs will vary depending on its breed, size, age, and lifestyle. The absolute minimum amount of exercise a dog should have daily is 30-40 minutes. However, the longer, the better, especially with more active or excitable dogs. If you find that your dog is still full of energy after its daily exercise, you should look into any behaviours that indicate boredom or frustration and ensure they have the toys to help.
Age
As your dog ages, it will likely become less active as its energy levels drop. It may also develop conditions like canine arthritis, making moving more difficult and even painful.
While this drop in activity is standard in most dogs, many owners do not make the appropriate accommodations regarding their dog’s diet, which can quickly lead to their dog becoming overweight. As dogs develop at different stages of life, it is essential to make sure you give your dog the correct age-specific dog food.
Lifestyle & Family Factors
Your dog’s lifestyle and home environment can directly affect your dog’s weight as they influence your dog’s diet, accessibility to food, and exercise. For example, if you have a multiple-dog household, your dog may have access to more food than it needs, especially if your dogs are different breeds, sizes, or have different appetites. If one or more of your dogs is overweight, you should consider feeding them separately.
If your dog is becoming overweight, looking at your home environment could be a good place to find healthy changes. Stop feeding scraps and switch to a healthier treat option to better manage your dog’s weight and ensure they get the right amount of exercise each day through walks, active play and toys.
Neutering
Many dog owners aren’t aware of the effect that having their dog spayed or neutered can have on their dog’s weight. Neutering typically occurs when dogs are still young (6-9 months old), when their natural energy and growth needs decrease. If your dog has been neutered and is still fed the same amount of food as before the procedure, your dog may start gaining weight.
Many brands offer a specific diet for dogs who have undergone the neutering procedure and have adapted the formula to meet nutritional needs and maintain a healthy weight, like the Royal Canin Neutered Veterinary Health Nutrition Junior Dog Food.
Hormone Disorders & Disease
Your dog’s health condition may also impact their weight, as underlying health problems and diseases can directly affect your dog’s energy levels and appetite. For example, dogs with musculoskeletal disorders, such as osteoarthritis, experience more strain and even pain in their joints, which impacts their mobility and ability to exercise. This makes it much easier for your dog to gain weight as they are not losing energy from their food.
Other conditions that can make your dog gain weight include:
- Hypothyroidism
- Cushing's disease (hyperadrenocorticism)
- Hip dysplasia
- Insulinoma
If you think your dog’s current weight may be caused by a condition rather than any other factors, book a consultation with your vet for further advice, diagnosis and treatment.
Breed Deposition
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. It’s why we love them and why they are one of the most popular pets in the world! However, these differences go beyond just appearance. Some breeds of dogs can be more prone to health conditions than others, including obesity. While the activity and energy levels vary with each dog, some breeds are known to have difficulties with their weight, including:
- Pugs
- Beagles
- Golden Retrievers
- English Springer Spaniels
- Border Terriers
- Labrador Retrievers
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
It’s important to know what breeds of dogs are more prone to what conditions before you consider buying or adopting. If you have a breed that is more prone to obesity, this should be considered when choosing the right food. This is why introducing a breed-specific dog food can be a good idea to ensure all of your dog’s nutritional needs are being met without risking overfeeding and obesity.
Problems Associated with Dog Obesity
While your dog may seem perfectly happy being overweight, there are a number of issues that the extra weight can cause as it begins to put pressure on their joints and organs. In turn, this can lead to a number of conditions and diseases that can be harmful to your dog and even result in death.
Dogs who are overweight are at a much higher risk of a number of health issues, including:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Arthritis
- Breathing difficulties and respiratory diseases
- Cancer
- High blood pressure
- Joint injuries
Unfortunately, dogs who are overweight also tend to have a shorter lifespan due to the conditions the extra weight can cause. Ensuring your dog is a healthy weight is essential and we’re going to cover how you can help your dog if they are overweight.
Unfortunately, dogs who are overweight also tend to have a shorter lifespan due to the conditions the extra weight can cause. Ensuring your dog is a healthy weight is essential, and we’ll cover how you can help your dog if they're overweight.
How to help an Overweight dog lose weight
Having an overweight dog can cause a lot of stress, especially if you blame yourself for their condition. But it doesn’t have to be this way. By making some changes to your dog’s eating habits and lifestyle, you can help them lose weight and maintain an optimum body weight to live a healthier and happier life!
Best Food for Overweight Dogs
As we’ve mentioned, your dog’s diet plays a huge part in its daily care and maintenance of a healthy weight. By choosing appropriate food for your dog, you can help manage its weight and health conditions, helping it feel fuller for longer and preventing scavenging or begging.
Many market-leading brands, including Royal Canin and Dechra, offer a range of dog food options and treats to help your dog lose weight. Our Dechra SPECIFIC CRD-1 Weight Reduction Dry Dog Food contains Omega-3 for a healthy coat, skin, and joints, and our Royal Canin Satiety Weight Loss Management Dog Food contains high protein, which helps support healthy weight loss while maintaining muscle mass.
How to Stop Dogs from Begging
Unfortunately, dogs don’t understand the ramifications of eating too much food. While modifying their diet is good for them, it won’t stop them from trying to scrounge food from bins or begging. However, there are some things you can do to try to stop your dog from begging, including:
- Using toys as treats—This can help your dog disassociate food from its reward and hopefully keep them entertained while you eat!
- Breaking up meal times—By offering your dog 2-3 meals daily, you can spread their daily calories to keep them satisfied throughout the day.
- Keeping them out while you eat—the smells of your dinner might be too enticing for your dog to resist. By shutting them out, you can help deter your dog from begging at the table and time your dog’s meals with your own to keep them occupied.
- Feeding some wet food—wet dog food contains water, which helps fill them up quickly and keep them satisfied.
Read our article on whether wet or dry dog food is better for your furry friend for more information.
Regular Exercise
Making exercise a regular part of your dog's routine is good for their health and a great way to help keep their weight under control. Some great ways to exercise your dog include:
- Walking every day—the walks can be short to start, and get longer the more weight they lose. Try going to a park or somewhere your dog can be let off the leash for a bit of play to keep them engaged and mobile.
- Active play—if your dog is having fun while moving, it’s more likely to keep doing it! Try toys that require your dog to move and don’t involve treats, like playing fetch or tug-of-war.
- Put your dog’s bowl upstairs—Food is a great way to entice your dog to do anything. By moving their food upstairs or even to another room, you can encourage movement and reward them for it with food.
A few lifestyle changes can also help your dog lose weight, such as:
- Swapping to healthier treat options
- Tracking your dog's calories and exercise daily
- Get family on board!
Obesity is a real problem for your dog, but it’s not irreversible or unpreventable. With time and persistence, you can get your dog to a happy and healthy weight so they can live a fulfilled life full of love and joy!
If you are concerned about your dog’s weight, book a consultation with your vet who can give you tailored advice and recommendations on weight management dog foods. Or, you can browse our full range of dog foods below to find the perfect pick for your pet.
This post is an opinion and should only be used as a guide. You should discuss any change to your pet’s care or lifestyle thoroughly with your vet before starting any program or treatment.
