Weight has always been associated in one way or another with health. Being overweight can cause health problems, just as being underweight can have serious consequences. This is true of all animals, so keeping this in mind for not only you, but also your dog is a very important issue.
Obesity in humans has reached unthinkable proportions, thus making it easy for the industry dedicated to weight loss programs to earn millions and millions of dollars. Is the same concern manifested in the animal world? I have not been aware of it, even if it can have the same undesirable results in our pets as it does in humans.
Animals in general, especially domestic pets that do not have to search for their food and have it available daily, love to eat. They love it even when they are full. Just feed them first and then start cooking for you as an example. I bet your dog will be sitting next to you in the kitchen waiting to see if you give him something extra. Sit down at the dinner table and see if he isn’t near or even next to you or any other family member just to ask for a crumb.
Food in the form of treats is also used when training dogs. It is simply the best positive reinforcement there is for them. It’s not just a basic need, but a tremendous pleasure, even if dogs aren’t necessarily as picky eaters as some people.
I just mentioned food as a basic need for survival. It just is, like water. When we have dogs, considering pleasing them with what they eat is a sign of love, but be careful, because this manifestation of love can harm our beloved pets.
Being attentive to maintaining the optimal weight in our dogs is of the utmost importance, but what is the optimal weight for your particular dog? That depends not only on the breed, but also on the height or size of the dog. Even within the same breed there are important variations to take into account, so there is no specific rule that applies to all dogs in that category.
One very remarkable thing is that dog owners are generally unaware of the fact that their dogs are overweight. Statistics show that approximately 25-40% of dogs are overweight and these dog owners are completely unaware of that fact. They don’t even know how to tell if there is a weight problem with their dog.
Being overweight will always have serious consequences on the dog’s health. It puts much more pressure on the bones, so the joints suffer and can develop conditions like arthritis and hip dysplasia. The muscles are also victims because they have to fight harder to help move the excess weight. Remember that the heart is a muscle, so it has to work much harder. This problem can even result in cardiovascular diseases that no one wants to face. Because of this, more accidents happen and there is more difficulty also if the dog needs to be operated on or suffers from some other illness.
We all know the importance of exercising our dogs. In the case at hand, having an overweight dog will make it difficult for us to exercise it, even though we should, because we have to take extreme precautions so as not to harm rather than benefit.
When considering the dog’s weight, being overweight seems to be the main focus of attention, but being underweight is equally undesirable and dangerous. There are causes for any dog to be underweight, of course, and they should also be watched carefully.
The first thing that comes to mind when you see a dog losing weight is the possibility of parasites. Thank goodness these, if identified, can be easily fixed.
The food given to the dog may not contain the necessary nutritional value and it may be necessary to change it to a premium and more suitable one.
Depending on the age of the dog, the number of shots, right? Well, maybe not. In the case that concerns us, it may be necessary to think that there is a need to give the dog more food than the one accused up to now. There are no exact rules about how much to feed and when. It all depends on the individual cases.
Underweight dogs may also be suffering from other diseases such as diabetes or may have problems with their teeth, so feeding them is not as easy for them.
As a general rule, it is said that the way a dog owner knows if their dog is the right weight is to feel their sides and see if they can feel the dog’s ribs without looking. If she can, then no problem. If, on the other hand, she can’t see or feel them, being overweight is the answer. All dogs should have a waistline and it is essential for dog owners to monitor it.
Whether your dog is overweight or underweight, there are many products in the food department that can help your dog manage his weight. It is recommended that the veterinarian recommend what he thinks would be the best option for your dog and how to administer that food to produce the best results. It should also advise you on what type and amount of exercise you should give your dog depending on his health conditions, so this should always be the first step in keeping your dog in the best possible shape.
