Obesity is a common problem among domestic canines, and it’s a serious one. A dog with excess weight can experience various health problems if the issue is left unchecked.

In this article, we discuss how you can determine if your dog is overweight and how to help them shed those excess pounds.

The 6 Things You Can Do to Help Your Dog Lose Weight

The first step in addressing your dog’s weight issue is to take them to the vet. Your veterinarian can rule out any potential underlying health conditions and provide support for the next steps on your dog’s weight loss journey.

1. Change Their Diet

If your dog needs to lose weight, your vet may suggest changing their diet. They might recommend a specific type of food that can help your dog lose the extra pounds. You’ll need to measure your dog’s food to provide them with the appropriate calories, which your vet will advise you about.

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2. Ease the Transition

Your veterinarian can help you transition your dog to their new food. It usually takes about a week for your dog to switch from their old diet to their new one. Here’s a recommended schedule for the transition process:

Also, you can’t expect your dog to go on marathon walks and runs right away. You’ll need to ease them into long walks and slowly move up to more strenuous activities.

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3. Watch the Treats

Dog treats can be incredibly calorie rich if you’re not careful—a little goes a long way! Therefore, on days that you provide your dog with treats, you should adjust their regular meals accordingly to avoid overfeeding. Treats should only make up roughly 10% of your dog’s diet.

It’s also essential to ensure that no one in the family is giving your dog additional treats or table scraps. The latter can be particularly harmful to your dog’s health, especially if unhealthy or toxic foods are involved.

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4. Have Your Dog Get More Exercise

To help your dog lose weight, follow a regular exercise routine. Your vet can advise you on how often and how long your walks and other activities should be. In addition to walking, playing fetch and doing other activities with your dog is a great way to keep them active while also strengthening your bond.

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5. Keep Track of Their Food and Activities

You’ll need to stay organized and keep things on track. To achieve this, you may find it helpful to create a schedule. This could include specific times for meals, exercise, and play sessions. You should also be vigilant about measuring your dog’s meals and ensuring that your entire family follows the same routine. For example, if your dog is accidentally being fed breakfast twice, having a schedule that everyone sticks to can help with that.

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6. Be Consistent and Stick With It

Losing weight is a challenge, but it’s even harder to keep the weight off in the long term. This is true not only for humans but also for dogs. If your pup has successfully lost weight, that doesn’t mean you can go back to the same old diet and routines.

To maintain your dog’s healthy weight, stick with the weight-loss diet and exercise plan that was effective in the first place for a while. Speak to your vet about what your future steps should be.

How Can You Tell If Your Dog Is Overweight?

Determining whether a dog is overweight can be tricky. A dog can have a thick coat, or their weight can creep up on them slowly, making it more challenging to take notice. One sign of an overweight dog is when they start to slow down and find it more challenging to perform strenuous activities. They may pant more often, appear winded, and become tired after taking a walk.

However, the best way to judge if a dog is overweight is to use the body condition score (BCS), which is comparable to the body mass index used for humans.

Body Condition Score (BCS)

The BCS is used by veterinarians to determine whether a dog is overweight, but it can also be used by pet owners. The following checks will help you determine if your dog has weight issues.

The 6 Reasons Dogs Gain Weight

The factors that can cause a dog to gain weight can range from their diet and exercise routine to certain health conditions.

1. Too Many Calories

The most common reason that dogs gain weight is the intake of more calories than they burn. Every dog is different, and more active dogs will need more calories than more sedentary dogs. Excess calories isn’t necessarily a result of overfeeding your dog during mealtime, since calories can also come from treats and table scraps. It’s also possible that the dog food that you’re using is too high in calories for your dog.

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2. Not Enough Exercise

If your dog consumes an excessive amount of carbohydrates and calories and isn’t getting enough exercise, it will result in weight gain. The most common cause of obesity is too many calories and not enough of these ingested calories being burned through exercise.

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3. Aging

When dogs become seniors, they can become less active and lose muscle mass. Unfortunately, this can lead to weight gain. Also, senior dogs don’t get the same amount and intensity of exercise that they did when they were younger, which is why it’s common for older dogs to gain weight. Diseases like arthritis are common in old age, which leads to mobility issues and reduced activity levels. Fortunately there are treatments available to suit any budget, so this is something you should discuss at the vet.

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4. Hypothyroidism

Dogs with hypothyroidism typically start to show signs of the disease when they are in middle age, including weight gain.

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5. Cushing’s Disease

Cushing’s disease occurs when the dog’s adrenal glands produce an excess amount of the hormone cortisol. One of the side effects is weight gain.

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6. Joint Issues

Dogs that suffer from joint issues like osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia often gain weight because they find it hard to move around without experiencing pain. This can lead to a vicious cycle because the more weight the dog gains, the more pressure is placed on their joints, which in turn, causes more pain when they move and can further impede their ability to exercise. As a result, the dog may continue to put on weight due to lack of physical activity.

Conclusion

If your dog is overweight, it can cause a host of health issues and may shorten their lifespan. Therefore, it is essential to help them lose weight safely. Consult with your vet to determine the best course of action for your dog’s specific needs and health concerns.

By staying vigilant and proactive, you can help your dog enjoy a happy, healthy life at their optimal weight.