Dog Weight Loss Program
for Obesity in Dogs

Dog weight loss is essential if your dog is overweight. Canine obesity can cause a lot of health problems. This page looks at the causes of dog obesity, and how to design a weight loss program for obese dogs.

It has been estimated that up to 40% of dogs in the U.S. are overweight!

Canine obesity can cause a lot of health problems to dogs; it is therefore very important to control the weight of our dogs to keep them healthy.

Is Your Dog Overweight?

So how can you tell if your dog is obese? There are several ways to determine your dog's body condition - mainly by his appearance and the amount of fat distributed over the ribs.

The easiest way is to feel the dog's ribs. You should be able to feel the ribs as individual and distinct structures although there should be a slight amount of fat over them. If you can see the ribs clearly, your dog is too thin. If you cannot feel the ribs at all, your dog is overweight.

Also, look at your dog from above. You should see a well-defined narrowing or waist behind the ribs. If there is no waist, your dog is overweight.

Finally, look at your dog from the side. You should see an abdominal "tuck" - the area behind the ribs should be smaller in diameter than the chest. Deep-chested dogs will have a much more distinct abdominal tuck. However, if your dog has no tuck at all, your dog is grossly overweight.

If you feel your dog is overweight, do not start a dog weight loss program right away without consulting your veterinarian first - Sometimes canine obesity is caused by an underlying health problem. It is therefore important to have a thorough medical check-up to rule out any possible medical problems before starting any dog weight loss program.

Dog Weight Loss - Non-Medical Causes of Obesity in Dogs

Below are some possible factors that may cause obesity in dogs:

Overfeeding: Perhaps one of the most common causes of dog obesity is feeding the dog too much food. Some people tend to give their dogs a lot of snacks in between meals, and some owners feed their dogs table scraps on top of their regular dog food. Also, some dog parents are feeding the wrong type of food to their dogs. For example, an older dog who is more sedentary does not need high-energy dog foods that are designed for younger, more active outdoor dogs.
Lack of Exercise: Just like people, a dog who is a couch potato tends to become overweight. In addition, a dog who sits home all day is more likely to feel bored which in turn may make him eat more out of boredom or stress.
Genetics: Some breeds of dogs are more prone to obesity. For example, Basset Hounds, Beagles, Cairn Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Collies, Dachshunds, Labrador Retrievers, and Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties) have a higher tendency to become overweight. If your dog is one of the above breeds, be sure to watch his weight carefully.
Age: Interestingly, senior dogs are less likely to become overweight. As well, young growing puppies do not tend to be obese either because they are more active and need a lot of energy to grow. Dogs between the age of 2 and 12 years tend to become overweight.
Medications: Some medications can cause a dog to become overweight due to their effects on the dog's metabolism and appetite. Some such medications include corticosteroids (such as prednisone and dexamethasone), barbiturates (such as phenobarbital), and a class of drugs called benzodiazepines which includes valium.

[Top of Page]

Dog Weight Loss - Medical Causes of Obesity in Dogs

As mentioned above, some medical conditions can cause obesity in dogs. These include:

Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism in dogs results in a deficiency of the hormone thyroxine which causes a dog to have a lower metabolic rate. Thus, a normal dog will become overweight if he develops hypothyroidism and is fed the same amount of food he was fed when he was healthy. Treating hypothyroidism and starting a dog weight loss program can solve the overweight problem.
Cushing's Disease: Cushing's disease is a disease in which the adrenal gland produces too high a level of glucocorticoids, which can cause appetite gain and consequently weight gain. Treating the disease and starting a dog weight loss program are necessary if the dog is to successfully lose weight.
Other Possible Diseases: Other possible diseases that can bring about obesity in dogs include insulinoma, and pituitary gland and brain diseases.

[Top of Page]

Dog Weight Loss - Health Risks to Obese Dogs

Understandably, obesity in dogs poses a lot of health risks to the dog, and can greatly complicate many diseases, such as:

Diabetes Mellitus (Sugar Diabetes): One of the most common complications of obesity in dogs is the development of diabetes. Dogs with obesity have increased blood glucose level in their bodies. Therefore, an increase in insulin is needed. However, when the need for insulin exceeds the ability of the body to produce insulin, diabetes mellitus develops.
Prolonged over-demand of insulin secretion can cause "overwork" in the cells in the pancreas (which produce insulin), resulting in their inability to produce adequate amount of insulin. This again leads to diabetes.
Arthritis: Another common complication brought on by canine obesity is arthritis and other musculoskeletal problems such as joint pain and stiffness. It has been found that approximately 25% of overweight dogs develop serious joint complications.
In overweight dogs, because of the extra weight that the joints have to carry, problems can arise over time - Arthritis can develop and joint pain associated with hip dysplasia can become more severe.
Obese dogs can also suffer from ligament damage in the knee. Ligaments are strands of tissue that hold one bone in proximity to another bone in joints. Because of the extra tension on the joints due to the extra body weight, the ligaments in the knee may become torn or damaged, making the knee unstable. When this happens, surgery is needed to repair the torn ligament.
Heart Disease: Obese dogs tend to suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension). The heart has to work harder in order to pump additional blood to the increased quantity of body tissues. Over time, this can lead to congestive heart failure.
Liver Disease: Fat is stored in the liver. If a dog is overweight, an increased amount of fat builds up in the liver. This condition is called "hepatic lipidosis" and can result in decreased liver function and possibility of development of liver disease.
Breathing Difficulty: Overweight dogs need more oxygen because of the increased quantity of body tissue. However, the extra fat in overweight dogs can interfere with the proper functioning of the lungs. As a result, the lungs are stressed and overly burdened and over time lung problems can develop.
Decreased Quality of Life: Obesity in dogs can lead to a decreased life quality because overweight dogs are less likely to enjoy activities and games due to reasons such as heat intolerance, breathing difficulty, and generally a lack of stamina.

[Top of Page]

Dog Weight Loss Program

If your dog is overweight but otherwise healthy, you should consult with your vet to design an appropriate weight loss program for your dog. Generally speaking, a dog weight loss program includes the following components:

Dietary Management: There are two dietary approaches to weight reduction. One is to feed less of the current food - the amount of food fed daily is usually cut back by 20 to 40%. The other approach is to feed another food that is low in calories, such as a high fiber dog food. One disadvantage of feeding less of the current food is that it can lead to nutritional deficiency. Ask your vet if you need to feed your dog supplements should you decide to feed your dog less of his current food.
In addition, all snacks and table scraps should be eliminated. If you are training your dog and need to use treats as a reward, use his regular food and simply cut back on the portion to be given at mealtimes. If you cannot resist giving your dog some treats once in a while, give him some healthy treats that is low in fat, such as steamed vegetables (broccoli, green beans, etc.)
Exercise: Another important component of a dog weight loss program is regular exercise, which can help burn extra calories. In fact, regular and suitable exercise may be more important than feeding a diet food.
The amount and nature of exercise should of course depend on the age and physical conditions (muscles, joints, heart, and lungs) of the dog. It is important to start your exercise program slowly and increase the length and intensity of the exercise gradually so as not to overtax the dog. Rest if you notice signs of fatigue, like excessive panting.
Walking for 20 to 60 minutes a day, five days a week is an ideal way for dogs to exercise more. Swimming is another ideal activity for obese dogs, since it places less stress on the joints.
Weight Loss Nutraceutical: You may also want to consider using a natural product that may aid dog weight loss. One such product is PetAlive SlenderPet. This is an all-natural herbal product that consists of herbs that promote healthy digestion, efficient metabolism, and fat elimination.
Chart Weight Loss Progress: Chart your dog's weight loss progress so that you can better see the results. Weigh your dog at weekly intervals, using the same scale at the same time of the day. Remember that weight loss takes time - it is not healthy to achieve sudden weight loss in dogs. Your dog should lose no more than 2% of his body weight per week. Make appointments with your vet every month to make adjustments in the weight loss program if necessary.