Obesity is not a difficulty exclusive to humans. According to recent surveys, overweight problems in pets are at large. Maintaining a healthy weight is important for the well-being and longevity of your dogs. As a pet owner, you must be able to tell whether your dog is a little bulkier than usual or is suffering from overweight. It would be best if you can find a vet in Sharjah who can diagnose overweight trouble in your pet.
New dog owners find it hard to recognize obesity in their dogs. In this article let us discuss some important tips to tell if your dog is struggling with obesity. Let us also look at the reasons for obesity and ways to prevent it.
OBESITY IN DOGS
Obesity in dogs is becoming a common occurrence. There may be several reasons for this. Improper diet and junk food is some of the top reasons why your dog should lose some pounds. Lack of exercise also leads to gaining weight at an early age. It is important to walk your dog or make sure he is receiving enough exposure to the outside world. Pets that mostly stay indoors and do not have sufficient opportunities to work outfalls prey to a number of lifestyle ailments. They can experience a loss of immunity leading to plenty of diseases and early demise. Vet clinics can conduct blood tests for pets in Sharjah and detect common ailments. To avoid this, pet parents must pay enough attention on the weight of their pet animals.
THE PROBLEMS OF OVERWEIGHT IN DOGS
Overweight can lead to a large number of health hazards in dogs. Obesity reduces the lifespan of pets. Heavy dogs tend to lead a shorter life by 6 or 7 months compared to lean dogs. Overweight dogs tend to live much shorter than that and this is the harsh reality. Obesity also leads to diseases like cancer, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and urinary infections. It weakens the bones, muscles, and tissues. Over time, your dog may experience severe joint and muscle pain. Obesity can also be an indicator of other diseases like thyroid. You should consult a good vet in Sharjah to find out if your dog is suffering from any other diseases.
Carrying extra weight can also lead to heart, skin, joint, kidney and liver issues. It can also cause high blood pressure and stress in dogs. Larger dog breeds might even develop back problems.
HOW TO TELL IF YOUR DOG IS OVERWEIGHT
Acknowledging the problem is the very first step in helping your dog find his way back to health. There are very fewer sources on the internet that teach you how to accurately check your dog’s healthy weight. It would be best if you can consult an experienced veterinarian who can give you precise readings on whether your dog is overweight. But there are few methods of weight-check even an inexperienced pet owner can try.
1.Checking the body shape
Monitor and record your dog’s body shape. The shape can be an indicator of the fat amount in a dog’s body. If your dog has a seemingly visible and protruding belly, chances are either it is pregnant or developing some unwanted body weight. If it has a defined waist and shapely rear area, you most certainly do not have to worry about an overweight problem.
2.Feel for the ribs
Are the ribs visible? Or can you feel them when you touch that area? Feeling the ribs is an excellent way of knowing whether your dog is gaining weight. If the ribs are extremely prominent then your dog is probably suffering from malnutrition and it is in need of healthy food. If you cannot feel the ribs at all, then it is probably overweight. In that case your dog needs to be taken to a vet and you need some introspection on their lifestyle choices.
3.Look from the sides
If you notice any sagging skin or hanging stomach, your dog may have an obesity problem. A dog’s abdomen is often oval-shaped and tucked up properly. Hanging the abdomen can be a sign of unwanted fat.
4.Pat your dog
Pat your dog’s body and look for any fat sacks. If you find any muscle or fat bags at places where it doesn’t have to be, you need to be concerned. You can also quickly notice these fat sacks when they are walking or moving. These fat sacks have more probability to appear around the hips.
5.Check the mood
Does your dog like to take part in activities? Or has he become lazybooze? If your dog likes to lie around and take a rest most of the day, he must have an overweight problem. It can also mean that he is suffering from some other diseases. Either way, if you find any variation in the behavioral pattern of your dog or if they appear unnaturally inert most of the time, it would be best to take him to a doctor.
6.Trouble in breathing
Trouble in breathing is a clear indicator of overweight. The excessivefats in body hinder the dog from breathing properly. This, along with an unwillingness to move around may signal obesity.
7.Weigh your dog
This is one of the best ways to check your dog’s healthy weight. A good weight can be different to different breeds. So it is important to come to a conclusion only after consulting a vet or using some reliable comparison chart. You can take your dog to a vet clinic where the body weight is taken and measured against a scale of body condition score chart. This is a chart used to compare body shapes with weights. A score of 1 denotes malnutrition and underweight while a score of nine or ten is considered obesity. An average body condition score is desirable.
8.Consult a vet
Certified veterinarians can conduct pet x-ray in Sharjah and see if your dog is distressed from weight-related illnesses. The best vet vaccination centers in Sharjah will give you proper guidance on the diet and lifestyle changes that need to be undertaken.
TIPS TO PREVENT OBESITY
Obesity is a significant issue that can happen with your pet dogs and it can become a reason for many other problematic health conditions. If your dog is already got into a stage of obesity and struggling to be active, there are methods to be done to reverse this situation.
- The first tip to prevent obesity from happening is the food you serve for your beloved pet. A healthy diet must be followed alongside some cheat days once in a while for a small celebration. Besides, the age and the breed of the dog influence the level of nutrition they needed. So, it is better if you ask for the right diet level for your dog from a veterinarian. Above all, the nutrition level needed for a dog that has any kind of other health conditions will be different from a big healthy dog and a puppy.
- Giving the right amount of food at a time is also important to keep your pet away from obesity. Most dog food brands put some extra numbers on the packets just for marketing success. But the right amount of food must be recommended by a vet after considering the weight and daily activities done by your dog.
- Make a constant timetable for feeding and stay consistent with it. Training your drog in this way can make a big change in their need for food. And they will get an idea about the times in which the food is available.
- Daily exercises and training activities will do more for your dog than any other tricks. This will keep a balance in the calory level on their body. Moreover, taking your dog for a walk or jogging will make both you and your dog healthier. This time spends on exercises together can be the happy hours you have together.
- You have to do some checkups on the different minerals on the dog’s body with the help of a veterinary healthcare team. That will give you some ideas about the health condition of your dog.
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