Fat Dogs are Not Healthy and
Have Shorter Life Spans
by Bev Storer

Obesity is one of the greatest health concerns facing our pets.  Overweight dogs may live shorter and less healthy lives and your enjoyment of their precious companionship my be shortened because of it. You can and should do something about it.

Carrying extra weight puts an extra burden on bones and joints, and can make arthritis problems worse. Overweight dogs can be uncomfortable and less able to play and exercise. Their bodies may be less able to resist infections, and they may be at greater risk for problems during surgery and anesthesia.

If your dog is carrying extra weight, she or he could be at risk for certain health problems:

• Joint or locomotion difficulties.  Extra pounds put added stress on joints, bones, ligaments and muscles. Conditions such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, spinal disc disease and ruptures of joint ligaments may be caused or aggravated by obesity.
   

• Heart and respiratory disease.  Heart and lungs have to work harder to provide adequate oxygen and circulation. Also, extra fat in the chest cavity and around the heart muscle can decrease the efficiency of the heart and lungs.
   

• Diabetes.  Just like people, diabetes is much more common in obese dogs and cats. 
   

• Liver Disease.  Obese animals are prone to liver disease. 
   

• Heat intolerance. Insulating properties of excessive fat make obese animals uncomfortable and unable to tolerate heat.
   

• Skin Problems.  Obese animals often have trouble grooming themselves. The rolls of skin built up by fat deposits can often harbor dirt, bacteria and other harmful organisms.
   

• Gastrointestinal disorders.  Pancreatitis is seen all too often in obese dogs. This condition is painful and life threatening.

How dogs become overweight?

Dogs nearly always become overweight from eating more food than they need, and then not getting enough exercise. Calories in the food they eat, which aren’t used for daily activities, are stored as fat.  Overeating may result from greediness, boredom, or overfeeding.

Feeding leftovers or giving frequent snacks or treats often contributes to the excess weight problem. 

Over-fed puppies tend to become overweight dogs, and also have a greater risk of developing orthopedic problems. If you feed your puppy correctly when he’s young, he’ll be less at risk of having weight problems later in his life.

Occasionally, metabolic disorders can make a dog overweight. But overfeeding and under exercising are much more common causes of excess weight.  If your veterinarian suspects that a metabolic disorder is causing your dog to gain weight, he or she will test for that disorder and treat it accordingly.

How can I tell if my dog is overweight?

A quick way to check if your dog is overweight is to feel his ribs with the flat of your hand. If you can only feel the ribs with difficulty, your dog probably needs to lose weight.

General Guidelines
Ideal Weight
Easy to feel ribs without excess fat covering. Viewed from the side, belly is tucked up. Viewed from above, a noticeable waist in front of the hips.
Overweight
Difficult to feel ribs with excess fat covering. Viewed from the side, belly has minimal or no tuck. Viewed from above, no waist in front of the hips.

Helping your dog lose weight

Weight loss for most dogs involves increased exercise, and eating food with fewer calories. It’s usually easier to feed normal amounts of a low-calorie diet than to feed much smaller amounts of a regular diet. Plus, your dog will not feel as hungry.

It will take effort and commitment, but this is well worth it in terms of the quality of life, health and companionship your dog and you will enjoy.

Dieting for dogs

Your vet will set a target weight for your dog, and will recommend how much food he should eat each day. A special low-calorie diet may also be prescribed. This diet is designed to satisfy your dog and give him all the vitamins and minerals he needs for a balanced diet, but it will still supply fewer calories than normal food does.

Your dog may need a gradual transition from the old to the new diet. So, you would feed him increasing amounts of the new diet and decreasing amounts of the previous diet each day over several days.

To help stop your dog from begging, feed him before your family eats, and keep him out of the room during your meal. Also, feed overweight dogs at the same time as other pets, to prevent them from stealing food from their slimmer companions. Always make sure your dog has clean fresh drinking water available.

Regular exercise, such as walks or runs, is good for most dogs, as it increases the number of calories they burn. If your dog is in poor health, or elderly, check with your vet before letting the dog have a sudden increase in exercise.

The length of time your dog stays on a reducing diet depends on how much weight he needs to lose. A dog may need 8 to 14 weeks to reach his target weight. After reaching this first target weight, he may have to go on a repeat program to lose more weight and arrive at his ultimate target weight. Then, after reaching his goal, he may need to go on a program of careful diet and exercise to maintain his new weight.


Feeding your dog

A dieting dog has special nutritional needs. His diet should be low in calories, so that he uses up his fat stores for energy. The diet should still provide a normal volume of food, to stop him from feeling too hungry. And, it should provide all the other nutrients in the proper amounts.

Interestingly, these special diets don’t need to include high levels of fiber--as often found in human diet foods. Fiber is not necessary for weight loss in pets, and in large amounts, it can have side effects such as increased feces and lack of interest in the food because of its poor taste.

Bev Storer is a writer and researcher in Portland, Oregon.  She writes frequently on pet health and related topics.  She is owner of several websites that market nutritional supplements for humans and healthy food and products for dogs and cats.  If you have questions please email her.

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