Is your dog overweight? Look for these signs.
Is your dog overweight? More than 50% of the nation’s cats and dogs are overweight, according to the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention. Therefore, if you’ve noticed that your canine companion has put on a few pounds, this isn’t uncommon. Regular exercise, a sensible diet, and consistent wellness exams positively impact people and pets. Pets run the same risks as people if there isn’t a weight management plan in place. Extra weight can cause health problems for dogs, such as diabetes, heart problems, and debilitating arthritis. If you’re unaware that your dog is overweight, here are some telltale signs.
Look at Your Dog’s Shape
If you look at your dog from above and notice that your precious pup is rounder or heavier, it’s most likely that your doggo has gained some weight. On the contrary, if your dog seems to have a defined waist, then your furry friend is most likely at a healthy weight.
Feel Your Dog’s Ribs
The feel and prominence of your dog’s ribs indicate if they are severe weight problems. If your dog’s ribs aren’t extremely prominent and you can feel them without applying a lot of pressure, your dog is most likely fit. However, in the case of an overweight dog, it will be more difficult to feel their ribs due to excess fat.
Examine Your Dog from the Side
An overweight dog will have a swinging stomach or a sagging waist. When you view your dog from a side angle, check to see if they have a slightly raised waist or if it’s hanging down or oval-shaped.
Search for Fat Sacks
Another part of the body to pay attention to is your dog’s legs. Some dogs will have fat sacks between their legs that waddle as they walk. You should also examine your canine companion’s hips to see if fat pads are sitting above them.
Behavior is Also an Indicator
If your ordinarily energetic dog has become a couch potato, this is a sign that they might be overweight or obese. The problem could be that your dog might have trouble walking or breathing due to being overweight. One surefire way to help your dog lose weight is to feed them at fixed times every day and control their portion sizes.
Bring Your Precious Pup to AAH for a Weigh-In!
A wellness exam helps spot problems before they become serious health issues. Our experts can tell if your dog is overweight based on its size and breed and use a body condition score chart that can rank your dog’s body type by shape. The #1 way to see if your pup has put on a few pounds is by bringing them into a veterinarian’s office.
The main takeaway is that weight management is one of many ways to ensure that your doggo has a long-lasting, high-quality life.
We Would Love the Opportunity to Care for Your Furry Friends!
Alexander Animal Hospital is a full-service animal hospital located in Severna Park, Maryland, serving the Severna Park, Pasadena, and Arnold Areas. Our goal is educating clients on the needs of their pets and understanding the importance of individualized veterinary care in order to strengthen the human-animal bond between owners and their pets.
We understand you have a choice when deciding on the care for your pets, and we strive to provide you with unparalleled services including wellness exams, vaccines, lost pet microchip ID, dental care, surgical services, digital radiography, and in-hospital laboratory services and diagnostics. Other highlights of Alexander Animal Hospital are the separate cat and dog waiting and exam rooms, as well as after-hours on-call emergency services.
Please take a look around our website and then give us a call at 410-777-8678 to set up an appointment.
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