“The hardest part in managing weight loss for pets, for dogs specifically, is that they are typically very food motivated,” says Wilson. (Who wouldn’t want live-in meal prep, training support, and accountability?) But it may feel a little overwhelming to pet parents dealing with a hangry hound who’s completely over their low-calorie doggie diet. But your dog has an advantage many humans don’t: a built-in weight-loss coach… you! No one likes to hear that they need to drop excess weight, humans and dogs alike. “Yes, there are guidelines for certain breeds, however, we still need to treat them all as individuals,” Dr. Wilson suggests having your dog evaluated by a veterinarian to determine your dog’s health goals such as ideal weight. If you prefer to rely on cold, hard numbers, you can look for a weight chart specific to your dog’s breed and compare your dog’s weight to the ideal weight range for the breed. Overweight and obese dogs have sagging stomachs, thick waists, and a layer of fat covering their ribs. These qualitative scores take into account how much fat your dog is carrying on his frame.Īt an ideal body condition, your dog will have an “hourglass” figure with a visible tuck at their waist (behind the last rib) and an abdominal tuck on their underside (where the stomach arches toward the hips), with no noticeable fat covering his ribs. But your veterinarian is more likely to rely on your dog’s body condition score to determine if it is overweight or obese. The number on the scale can provide some clues - especially if it’s been ticking up. “Honing in on an exact weight is challenging because we have to look at a variety of factors - males are built differently than females younger dogs have a little bit more muscle mass than older dogs spayed and neutered dogs weigh more than intact dogs,” she says. For us humans, that’s pretty easy to determine (though decidedly harder to accept and even more difficult to achieve).īut for dogs, it’s complicated, according to Dr. When it comes to weight loss, the first step is figuring out where you are starting and how far you have to go. How to Know If Your Dog Needs to Lose Weight Thanks to scientific advances in veterinary science and nutrition, doing so is easier than ever. Here’s the good news: There are plenty of ways you can help your dog achieve a healthy weight. Pet owners of overweight dogs need to create and stick to a weight management plan. Obesity is not helping anyone’s quality of life. Most health issues can be better managed by keeping your dogs at a more ideal body weight.” “Carrying extra weight is going to severely impact your dog’s mobility, and that can lead to pain and discomfort and more wear and tear on the joints over time. “Dogs that are overweight can be predisposed to many different health problems,” explains Dr. No matter where your dog falls on the weight spectrum - whether they need to drop a few pounds or simply maintain their current weight - one thing is clear: Helping your dog reach or maintain an ideal weight is key to their health, happiness, and longevity. In an earlier study, APOP found that 95% of dog owners of overweight dogs incorrectly identified their pet as a normal weight. In the United States alone, an estimated 50 million dogs are overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP).Īnd even if you think your perfectly-fit pooch is in the clear, you may want to think again. Do you have a chunky Chihuahua? A rotund Rottweiler? A plump Pekinese? If you’re a pet parent in America today, there’s a pretty good chance the answer is yes.
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