Fat Dog? Pet Obesity and Your Pup’s Health

Having a fat dog can cause many issues for your pup, usually starting with the physical then spreading beyond that. How much added plump is healthy and when does it become unhealthy? If your furball’s a little round at the edges you may be concerned they’re heading towards obesity. But you might not need to make any radical changes (yet). 

Luckily, reversing out of obesity is usually something that can be managed at home with the right commitment and discipline. It’s not only on National Pet Obesity Day that we should be focusing on helping our fur kids stay healthy.

Fat dog statistics

First off, how do you know whether your dog is a healthy weight?

A good place to start is this Body Condition Score sheet, which will teach you what to look for in their proportions and body shape. You may also want to calculate what a healthy weight for them would be using this online article.

Discovered that Fido is on the plump side? You wouldn’t be alone. According to the Australian Veterinary Association, 41% of dogs (and 32% of cats) in Australia are overweight.

This ranges from mildly overweight to obese and is a figure that’s quite staggering. Also, and equally scarily, 90% of pet parents don’t realise their pet is overweight. So let’s spread the word and help our furry friends get back in shape! 

You may know that some breeds are prone to gaining weight, like German Shepherds and Labradors, but any dog can become overweight without adequate exercise and a healthy diet.

Problems associated with a fat dog

But why is it bad for your pup to be overweight? Extra weight on a dog’s body can affect them adversely in many different ways. The increased weight and pressure on their joints and bones can cause issues as they age, which can lead to doggy mental health problems as they become less mobile.

And that’s just a couple of reasons to get, and keep, your pooch healthy.

A fat dog is far more at risk of a lot of health problems that are closely related to their weight, health and lifestyle. These include:

• Osteoarthritis
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Increased susceptibility to infection
• Increased risk of some types of cancer

This is not nearly an exhaustive list, there’s so much that gets affected in a doggo’s life when they’re overweight. So how do you ensure your dog stays trim?

How to help your dog drop the chunk

We know it’s a struggle resisting those puppy eyes and not sharing your human food with your pup. And now and again it won’t do any harm (as long as it’s not one of these things that can poison your pet). But human food is packed with fats, salts and additives that are not good for your dog.

Start with their doggy diet

The best thing to keep your dog healthy is to feed them a high quality, nutritionally balanced dog food. With so many on the market, choosing the right brand can be overwhelming. A good place to start is your vet – they’ll know what works best for your pup’s breed and lifestyle and can point you in the right direction. 

Check out our article on eco-friendly dog food and its benefits as well as some information about raw dog food. Feeding your favourite furry friend a healthy diet will also help keep their dog gut health balanced.

Next up, it’s no surprise – exercise!

Most dogs have a tonne of energy to expend in a day. The good news is that exercise for dogs can be fun for everyone! It’s not your typical gym workout (phew). In fact, we prefer the term playtime. Play time for dogs and cats is so important – it not only keeps them in shape, it provides stimulation and bonding.

You might enjoy going for an afternoon walk with your furry friend, or maybe you’d rather turn it up a notch and make it a jog. And if that’s not your idea of fun, then here’s a bunch of other ways of exercising your dog without walking to keep them in shape.  

Different breeds have different exercise requirements, so it’s a good idea to check out their needs in planning a routine for them.

Dog insurance, a little cushion for a big boy

In a critical situation where emergency medication, surgery or vet care is needed, let dog insurance from PD Insurance cushion the blow and give you and your pooch a safer, softer landing. 

Get the peace of mind that in case of an emergency your furbaby will be taken care of and you won’t have to take the financial strain.