WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE DOG´S OVERWEIGHT?

Many dogs are treated as a legitimate member of the family in households, so out of love we often give them something good to improve. If it's once in a while and the "enhanced" isn't in the form of leftovers from the table, then that's fine. But it often happens that, with good intentions, we give a dog food that his digestion may not be enthusiastic about, and we give it so often that we cause health complications.

Obesity is not only a big problem for humans, but also for dogs. Basically it's simple math, if a dog's income is greater than expenditure, it's a road to hell that you'll regret sooner or later. Obese pets have a much shorter life span and are more likely to develop certain diseases .

Obese dogs have an increased risk of:

• - many types of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension,

• - arthrosis and faster degeneration of joints,

• - stones in the bladder,

• - skin problems, inflammations.

On the other hand, obesity can be an indicator of, for example, thyroid disease.

HOW TO KNOW IF YOUR DOG IS OBESE?

The very first step in dealing with overweight or obesity in a dog is to admit that your dog has a problem and that it is most likely your fault. If someone has been carrying extra pounds for a long time, it may seem normal to you and you won't notice anything. But there are several indicators that will tell you what condition your fur is in.

A dog should always have palpable ribs, noticeable waist and belly should not be bulging in profile . If the ribs stick out and you feel them too easily, the dog is malnourished, if you don't feel them, it is overweight. Each breed has a different body structure, so if you suspect, but are not sure, contact your veterinarian, who will then advise you on how to get rid of extra pounds.

WHAT ABOUT AN OVERWEIGHT DOG?

Before you jump into shedding pounds, visit the vet , who will check the dog and find out if obesity has done any damage. Then you will recommend reducing the feed dose (intake), increasing movement (output) and also focusing on the treats you are used to rewarding your dog with. Avoid them completely for a while, when you're on the right track with weight loss, you can include treats that are healthy and won't put your dog back on the pounds. But everything in moderation, including the aforementioned movement. Keep in mind that an obese dog has overloaded joints and may have difficulty moving. As the weight decreases, you can increase the movement.