How to Tell if Your Dog is Overweight (And the Dangers of Pet Obesity)

“Obesity is the main nutritional disease affecting our pets,” he says. David Rodriguez , veterinary doctor specializing in gastroenterology. “It is caused by a greater caloric intake than necessary, which begins to accumulate in the body in the form of adipocytes, which are fat cells,” explains the animal nutritionist. Although this can happen for several reasons, the most common are:

• Not being clear about our pet’s daily food rations
• Not knowing how many calories the foods we give provide
• Not having control over the calories of snacks or prizes
• No or little physical activity
• Lack of environments or spaces adapted to the dog’s behavior
• Humanize dogs, by feeding them like us
• Diseases that affect metabolism

“There are also other predisposing factors,” says Karen Valenzuela, coordinator of environmental links at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Las Américas. “Certain breeds have a genetic predisposition to being overweight”, such as dachshunds, beagles, labradors or brachycephals (pugs and bulldogs).

He also specifies that, due to a hormonal problem, this disease manifests itself more in women than in men, especially if they are sterilized. “Patients with hypothyroidism are also more likely to become obese,” he says.

Another group that can be affected by obesity are plegic dogs, that is, dogs with movement difficulties. “In themselves, by having less physical activity, they are also more predisposed,” adds Valenzuela.

The two concepts are related, but they are not the same. “Obesity is defined as a chronic inflammatory condition, in which individuals have excess body fat of more than 40%, while overweight is determined when there is up to 20% excess fat” , specifies Rodríguez. Valenzuela adds that we speak of overweight when a dog is between 5% and 20% heavier than ideal.

“Unfortunately, today in Chile there is no DEXA device (for measuring body fat) capable of accurately determining these percentages in dogs,” explains the veterinarian. To arrive at these percentages, we currently rely on a classification that includes body condition, breed, age, experience in clinical evaluation of the veterinarian and certain empirical formulas for calculating fat.

Just like in humans, obesity can also be fatal for dogs. “It is very dangerous, because fat triggers a series of inflammatory mechanisms,” explains Rodriguez, which is why it can impair the production of enzymes, cytokines and hormones.

Likewise, “they will generate inflammation in all the organs where they accumulate,” he warns, which usually occurs in the heart, kidneys, liver and joints, “generating that the functioning of these organs is impaired. is not correct. This significantly increases the likelihood of suffering from cardiorespiratory collapse, nephrourinary, orthopedic or digestive diseases,” he explains.

“An overweight dog also increases the risk of suffering from osteoarthritis, which can lead to degenerative diseases,” explains Valenzuela, in addition to other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, or very serious ones, such as cancer.

Obesity also complicates things if another health incident occurs. “If an obese dog fractures or presents any type of injury requiring intervention, the operation will be riskier than if it was at its ideal weight,” he emphasizes. The generalized inflammatory state can generate complications during anesthesia, which presents a fatal risk.

Another danger can appear at the respiratory level: there are dogs, Valenzuela emphasizes, who can accumulate a lot of fat in the thorax area, “and cannot completely expand their thoracic box. In the upper respiratory tract there may also be accumulations of fat, which frequently occurs in brachycephalic patients.

In the latter case, obesity can be fatal. “As their noses are already very narrow and they have problems with the trachea and palate, if we add obesity, it’s a time bomb,” he analyzes.

Although it may seem obvious at first glance, owners often don’t realize that their dogs are overweight or obese. Seeing and sharing with them on a daily basis, it is common for them to lose perspective and not notice changes in their pet’s physical condition. Additionally, it is not always easy to recognize and accept that your dog has a problem with his diet or lifestyle.

But there are things that don’t lie. Rodríguez highlights a few:

• The harness for going out for a walk is tight
• They get tired more and more quickly during walks
• Panting or breathing rapidly while resting
• Walk strangely, spreading your legs
• Can no longer easily climb onto beds or sofas

These are behavioral signs that are easy to identify. But there are also others that are more physical, like those listed by Valenzuela:

• You can’t feel the spine when you touch his back.
• The ribs are not visible (they should be slightly visible)
• Its size is not marked

“Having previous photos helps a lot, because you can compare how it was a year ago and whether there is really a change or not,” advises the veterinarian.

Other behaviors that may indicate overweight or obesity include a lack of effusiveness, lower tolerance for exercise and play, interrupted sleep and “even a bad mood,” Valenzuela says.

The most important thing about this problem, say specialists, is to be well informed and thus be able to prevent it. “I am very concerned about the anthropocentrism that exists among tutors,” Rodríguez says. “The characteristics of each species must be respected, whether canine or feline. “Many people, on the other hand, assume that what is healthy or normal for them will also be healthy for the animal, leaving aside essential physiological and biochemical considerations. Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it will be nutritious for our pet.

How to avoid it? Here are a few tips:

• Power control: Be strict with the dog’s portions and conditions. “It’s not the same if he is neutered or not, or if he is an adult or a senior,” explains the veterinarian. If it is an animal that requires special food prescribed by a veterinarian, there is no choice but to be consistent and hold on. “It is essential that the guardian commits to this change, because the dog will probably not like the food at first or will ask for more”, so it is necessary to be patient and firm. It’s very likely that the dog will ask for treats and snacks all day long, “and we know that’s a challenge because dogs can be very pushy.” But if the guardian commits to this formulated diet and follows the doctor’s instructions, which will be vital for recovery, he will soon see the reward,” he says.
• The importance of walking and physical activity: It is generally recommended that dogs go outside at least twice a day. In addition, it is an exercise not only in movement but also in cognitive stimulation through smell. “Taking a walk is a wonderful way to burn calories without generating major impacts,” explains Rodríguez. If you can’t do this, you need to compensate with games and movement activities. If the dog is already overweight, care must be taken not to push it too hard, as the risk of orthopedic injuries is higher. “For those who have the opportunity to swim, in lakes or lagoons for example, I recommend it as it is an excellent low impact exercise.” But the walk remains the easiest and most stimulating. “I hope the dog can walk about 30 minutes a day,” explains Valenzuela, because through this activity he can also regulate and relieve stress.
• Regular veterinary care: “If a person takes their pet to the veterinarian twice a year, the doctor should be able to detect and resolve the problem in time,” analyzes the UDLA academic. This is why these routine checks are so important. If it is diagnosed in time, it will be easier to reverse it.