7 Fatal Risks Associated With Canine Obesity You Should Know About

Did you know that 54% of pups in the United States are heavier than their healthiest weight?

For dogs, being overweight and obese comes with a large amount of health risks, and the worst part is that this extra weight is preventable and doesn’t need to happen. Here are just a few of the conditions that can be brought on by obesity in dogs.

1. Osteoarthritis

This is the most common illness that is caused by obesity. This condition results in pain in the joints and cartilage due to excess pressure, and can even cause lameness.

2. Heart and respiratory disease

Much like in humans, obesity can result in the slowing down and changing of the heart. It can also cause tracheal collapse and obstruct thoracic movements, and it can even make asthma worse. There’s a long list of heart and respiratory conditions caused by obesity, and those were only a few of them.

3. Hypertension

Also known as high blood pressure, this condition exists in nearly half of all overweight or obese dogs. In turn, hypertension can be the cause for other illnesses down the line.

4. Type II diabetes

This variation is known as endocrine diabetes, although diabetes mellitus is also common in obese dogs. This is due to the increased levels of glucose in the blood, which causes insulin resistance.

5. Cancer

While obesity doesn’t cause cancer directly, it can increase the risks of getting it down the line. Overweight pups are more likely to get mammary tumors or bladder cancers.

6. General injuries

Dogs who are overweight can experience more injuries due to the tension placed on the joints. This is especially true for ligament damage, and it can lead to dysplasia later on.

7. Decreased quality of life

Being overweight can really put a damper on a pup’s lifestyle. Your pup will have less stamina, find it difficult to breathe during exercise, become tired more easily, and suffer from intolerance to heat. The extra weight can also cause undue pain and reduce mobility.

Concerned that this might be the case with your pup? Learn how to check if your pup is overweight here and here. You can also read more about the causes of dog obesity and how to maintain a healthy weight for your pups. Do like and share this information with other pup parents!