Learning The Causes Of Obesity In Dogs

It’s not uncommon to hear discussions about obesity and weight floating around. Unfortunately, this problem isn’t only affecting humans – pups can also carry too much weight, and sometimes, it can be harmful to them.

As such, a pup Mommy or Daddy needs to be aware of their pup’s state of health and what it could mean. So what causes obesity in pups? While there may be medical reasons for a pup’s heavier mass, many of these fur balls simply don’t burn off enough calories in comparison to what they eat.

According to a 2010 survey, Victorian veterinarians found that only 3% of obese fur balls are overweight due to health conditions, such as Cushing’s Disease and hypothyroidism. For all other pups, obesity is a result of too much food or a lack of exercise. Before we move on, let’s clear up a myth! Desexing might alter a pup’s metabolism so that he doesn’t need to consume as many calories as before, but it doesn’t actually make a fur ball fat. Alright, now that’s sorted, we can carry on.

There are several health risks linked to being overweight, and it can make life more difficult for a pup. One of these conditions is arthritis, which is, essentially, the inflammation of the joints. If a pup’s joints need to hold more weight than they are able, the cartilage between them becomes more vulnerable to wear and tear.

Obesity can also lead to breathing difficulties due to fat that surrounds the chest area of a fur ball. In addition, if your pup suffers from diabetes or heart-related conditions, being overweight will make the diseases harder to manage, even with medication. In general, a pup who stays at a healthy weight will live longer than those who are obese.

Did you find this info helpful? If so, keep an eye out for our next installment, where you’ll find out how to tell if your pup is obese and what you can do about it. Till then, do like and share!

Feature Image Source: Pixabay