Obesity and overweight are diseases that affect not only humans but also their four-legged friends. A few extra pounds of your pet can have serious health consequences and expose him or her not only to a poorer quality of life, reduced mobility or lack of energy to play, but results in the occurrence of diseases and a shortened lifespan. In this article, we’ll discuss the causes, signs and consequences of overweight and obesity, and give you advice on how you can help your pet cope with excess weight and recover.

Causes of obesity and overweight in dogs – where does your pet’s excess weight come from?

Some of the factors that contribute to overweight and obesity in dogs include:

Improper diet

The number of calories consumed and the quality of the food have a very large impact on your pet’s healthy body weight. Chronic positive energy balance promotes overweight and often leads to obesity. Dog food must contain the right amount of protein, fats and carbohydrates. If you choose a product that is primarily composed of sugar, fat and salt, you are harming your pet’s health. Therefore, always check the composition before buying food or compose a healthy diet yourself. Focus on products that contain primarily good quality meat, such as chicken, turkey, beef or lamb.

Low activity

Movement is crucial for burning calories absorbed from food. A lack of exercise leads to fat accumulation, so it’s important to provide your dog with regular walks and playtime in a safe environment. Remember that activity needs vary from breed to breed – it’s normal for some dogs to need more exercise during the day than others.

Diseases

Diseases often contribute to overweight and obesity. Very often we find that a dog is overweight due to a hormonal disorder, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease. Hypothyroidism causes too few thyroid hormones to be produced, resulting in sluggishness and decreased desire to exercise. Cushing’s disease, on the other hand, causes the adrenal glands to over-secrete cortisol, increasing appetite and making your pet lethargic. Overweight and obese dogs are also favored by diabetes, cardiovascular problems or joint aches, which significantly impede the animal’s activity. Therefore, it is important to regularly examine your pet to identify potential disease early.

Castration procedure

Castration, because of the hormonal changes that occur, can have the effect of lowering the metabolism. In addition, a castrated dog may tend to have an increased appetite. Often, castrates are also less willing to exercise, which leads to fat accumulation with the same amount of food fed. Therefore, you should keep an eye on your pet and, if necessary, reduce the daily portions of food he or she eats.

Signs of obesity in dogs

The first step to combating overweight or obesity in your dog is to recognize and be aware of the problem. The normal weight of pedigree dogs is specified in the breed standard. When the body weight is 5-20% higher than the normal weight, it is called overweight. Obesity is diagnosed when the dog weighs more than 20% more than indicated in the standard. In the case of mongrel dogs, it is often difficult to determine the normal weight, so an alternative is to try to feel your pet’s ribs. If they can be felt but not seen, the weight is correct. When you notice the following signs of obesity in your pet, act before they lead to serious health consequences:

• – faintly discernible ribs,
• – visible abdominal fold,
• – no waistline when viewed from above,
• – breathing difficulties,
• – constipation,
• – decreased libido.

What are the effects of overweight?

Overweight and obesity are diseases that lead to further health consequences, such as:

• – pancreatic diseases,
• – liver disease,
• – diabetes,
• – cardiovascular disease (heart failure, hypertension),
• – joint problems,
• – cancer,
• – decreased immunity,
• – thyroid and adrenal diseases,
• – breathing difficulties,
• – urinary tract diseases,
• – shorter life span.

All this proves that a balanced diet affects not only the quality of life, but also the lifespan of your pet.

How to slim down your dog?

The basic principle of weight loss is a caloric deficit combined with increased activity. Gradual reduction of calories by 10-20% will make you see differences in the silhouette and health of your pet. It’s important that the fat content of the diet is lower than in the food you’ve been feeding so far. You should also pay attention to the fiber content, which contributes to maintaining the feeling of satiety for longer. It should be at least 5%. If you have any doubts about the dosage, follow the food manufacturer’s recommendations or seek advice from a nutritionist. Try to provide your dog with as much exercise as possible.

What else can help with maintaining weight loss?

L-Carnitine

L-carnitine is a compound involved in the metabolism and use of fatty acids, which after oxidation become a source of energy. By enhancing the fat burning process, L-carnitine cleanses the body of toxins, inhibits the formation of fatty tissue and improves the body’s response to exercise.

CLA

CLA, or conjugated linoleic acid, regulates the metabolism of sugars and fatty acids in adipose tissue cells, increasing the development of muscle mass rather than fat tissue. In addition, CLA controls the activity of leptin, the satiety hormone, so it promotes weight control even after weight loss.

L-theanine

L-theanine is a free amino acid naturally found in green tea leaves. It primarily affects the nervous system, minimizing broader stress reactions, so it causes relaxation, and more effective rest. A diet, especially for the first few weeks, can cause stress in your pet, so it’s a good idea to give them supplements containing L-theanine.

How long does it take for a dog to lose weight?

Slimming down a dog is a long-term process that requires time and patience from the owner. It is estimated that a healthy weight loss should be between 0.4 and 0.8 kg per week. Attempting to rush weight loss can result in deficiencies and rapid weight gain when returning to the previous diet.

In summary, dogs, like humans, need to burn more calories than they take in to lose weight, so the solution is eating less and exercising more. Remember, maintaining a healthy weight is one of the most important health decisions you can make for your pet.