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What
do you mean my dog is overweight?
How
did my dog get to be so overweight? First there are
those treats for training - good dog - and another treat
goes in. The morning and evening bowls of food plus
a few nibblies that landed on the floor during dinner.
Probably all ok if you are talking about a large dog
that has the run of several acres to burn off all those
calories but what about our small to mid-sized friends
who snooze the day away and enjoy primetime television
with the family? That morning and afternoon walk isn't
enough. It may not be obvious but your dog could easily
be carrying around excess weight hidden under all that
fur. Obesity is a bigger problems for dogs than we realize.
Studies suggest that approximately 25 - 40 percent of
dogs the in the US are overweight. And that can lead
to a lot more problems in the future,anything from joint
disorders to diabetes to cardiovascular disease. Not
a pretty picture.
Is
your dog gaining weight or starting to look a little
chunky?
If he is more than 20 percent of his ideal body weight
(see the list of approximate weights per breed) then
the he is considered obese. This happens slowly, usually
because the dog is overeating and not getting enough
exercise. This list gives you an idea of where your
dog should be.
AVERAGE
WEIGHT (IN POUNDS)
VERY SMALL BREEDS
Chihuahua 4
Pekingese 9
Miniature Schnauzer 15
SMALL BREEDS
Boston Terrier 19
Cocker Spaniel 25
MEDIUM BREEDS
Beagle 30
Brittany Spaniel 35
Siberian Husky 50
LARGE BREEDS
Airedale Terrier 50
Standard Poodle 55
Pointer 65
Golden Retriever 70
VERY LARGE BREEDS
Old English Sheepdog 95
Great Pyrenees 115
Great Dane 130
Newfoundland 140
St. Bernard 165
If
your dog is not represented in this chart, check with
your vet to find out his or her ideal weight.
Common
causes of dog obesity
The
most common cause of pet obesity - overfeeding combined
with too little activity. And yes, too many of us give
in to sneaking our pets a snack here or there.
Some breeds just have a genetic disposition towards
obesity. If this is the case, it is very important to
follow the correct diet - and definitely, no snacking.
If you are being very careful with your dog's food intake
and they still continue to gain weight, you may want
to investigate the possibility of a hormonal disorder.
Again, check with your vet.
A
few simple guidelines to follow
1.
Make sure you serve your pet the correct-sized portion
depending on the breed.
2. If you train with treats, reduce portion sizes accordingly
or choose low calorie treats
3. Make sure your dog is getting enough daily exercise.
If you are too busy during the week, hire a dog walker
to help out.
4. Choose a specialized dog food for puppies, small
dogs or seniors.
5. And most important, consult with your vet before
putting your dog on any weight loss programs
For
more information visit our 'dog
care' or 'natural
dog food' page
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