Many of us spend a lot of time fretting about our weight, even going to drastic measures to prevent or tackle weight gain, but what about our beloved pets? They too can pile on the pounds and, when they do, there are a lot of health problems that come with it. In fact, it is estimated that 40% of dogs and 53% of cats are overweight or obese in the UK, and those worrying statistics are only going to worsen with pet obesity continuously on the rise.
Not only can obesity drastically impact your dog’s general health, but it also reduces their overall quality of life, often interfering with their enjoyment of daily activities like going for walks or playing fetch with their favourite human… you!
Unfortunately, there is such a thing as loving our pets a little too much; it can be difficult to avoid the temptation of giving your dog an extra treat when you get home from work, sliding leftovers into their food bowl (especially when they’re begging at your feet!) or skipping their daily walk. Plus, seeing the delight on their face when they’re given a treat or two puts a smile on our faces too, but doing this regularly can do more harm than good as these innocently intended acts of kindness and love can actually contribute to weight gain in dogs.
Pet Obesity Awareness Day occurs annually on 12th October and is dedicated to raising awareness of obesity within pets; we wanted to take this opportunity to share with you our top tips on how to spot the signs of weight gain in your canine companion, and how to help them lose weight and tackle obesity in order to maintain a healthy, balanced and happy life.
Canine Care: What causes weight gain in dogs?
An excessive amount of body fat in dogs will result in weight gain and sometimes even obesity – an extremely common (but preventable!) condition. As with humans, obesity in dogs is caused by an imbalance of taking in more energy than what they can burn off. A good way to see if your dog is overweight is to try and feel their ribs (if you struggle to feel them then it’s likely your dog is overweight). Here are a few other signs to look for if you think your dog is heavier than they should be:
- A reluctance to go for walks or lagging behind while out.
- Excessive panting and/or tiredness.
- Needing help getting in and out of the car.
- A refusal to move or play games.
Sadly, excessive weight gain in dogs causes an increased risk of various health conditions including arthritis (directly affecting mobility, making it even harder for your pet to lose weight), high blood pressure, diabetes (where the pancreas fails to secrete enough insulin in order to regulate blood glucose levels), heart disease (caused by high cholesterol levels), and cancer – it’s therefore not surprising that obesity can shorten a dog’s life. Obesity may also be an indicator of hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland) or Cushing’s disease (overactive adrenal glands).
If your beloved pooch is overweight, there are two simple things you can implement into their routine to aid weight loss.
- #RookesRecommends switching your dog’s diet to a ‘‘lite’’ food option in the form of dry food, otherwise known kibble – it’s a great diet option for dog’s who need to lose some excess weight. Specifically prepared lite foods from brands such as Seven Dog Food or Royal Canin offer healthier and leaner food options with a balanced nutritional intake. As a guide, a dog should be fed 2 – 3% of its bodyweight each day (your average sized medium dog at 12kg will need about 300g per day). Of course, this rule of thumb may alter slightly for dogs who are more or less active, have slower metabolisms after neutering or aging and those that need to lose weight. So, we recommend seeking advice from your Vet in the first instance. (Please also note, this percentage rule doesn’t apply for puppies who generally require a much larger percentage of their overall bodyweight in food each day whilst they grow and develop).
- But it’s not all about the food… along with a change in diet (the amount and type of food – two different elements to consider), dogs are more likely to lose weight if they are exercised too. Going for daily walks is a great way to get their hearts pumping and burn fat. And so is playtime at home – the majority of dogs love playing with fluffy, squeaky or bouncy toys, and they love it even more when their best buddy (you) plays with them too.
BUT… making sudden changes to your dog’s diet or exercise routine can cause more harm than good (stomach upset or breathing difficulties), so it’s important to introduce these big lifestyle changes gradually. For example, if your dog hasn’t been going for daily walks for a long period of time then begin by taking them out for two ten minute walks per day (once in the morning and again later that evening). Once your dog seems to be coping well with this (they’re eager to go out, not trailing behind and not excessively panting), gradually increase the duration of your daily walks). It is important that you take your dogs breed, size and age into account (an overweight, senior Jack Russell may struggle with a 40 minute walk each day whereas younger and bigger dogs will cope much better).
It is vital for dogs to continue receiving the nutrients they need from their food even while trying to lose weight – remember it’s weight they need to lose, not nutrients that support their overall wellbeing.
Just like us, our precious pooches need to amalgamate a balanced diet with exercise to ultimately lead a well-balanced life. #RookesRecommends that all responsible dog owners should seek advice from their Vet before making any significant changes to their pets’ diet and/or lifestyle – it’s for their benefit.
If your canine is overweight there are several activities (listed above) that you can try to help them shed a few pounds in order to avoid diseases and reach their ideal weight (if you’re not sure what their ideal weight is, speak to your Vet or use the Royal Canin Body Conditioning Score to determine if your pet is the right shape). Plus, we have over 7000 products in store for customers to browse, including an abundance of weight related products including lite food options by multiple brands, joint supplements, toys to encourage play and exercise, and so much more. Our friendly team are happy to help with any questions or concerns you might have so pop into our High Street store and feel free to bring your pet pooch along too… we’d love to meet them!