Canine overweight and obesity are diseases that are on the rise, which is very dangerous since excess weight can act as a trigger for other diseases, such as diabetes or joint problems.
Do you usually spoil your dog with food? If you do it regularly, you may have noticed changes in both its structure and its behavior, since an overweight or obese dog, far from being cute, is an animal that cannot achieve a complete quality of life.
Have you ever wondered, How do I know if my dog is fat? Surely if you have this question, it may be that your dog is not be at an ideal weight. In this article on our site we show you how to find out.
Assess overweight in dogs
Overweight is the state prior to obesity, therefore, its early detection is essential to prevent obesity and help our dog recover its ideal weight more easily.
The physical signs of being overweight:
- The base of the tail is thickened and there is a moderate amount of tissue between the skin and the bone
- The ribs are difficult to palpate and are covered by a moderate layer of adipose or fatty tissue
- Although the bony structures are still palpable, the bony ends are also covered by a moderate layer of fat
- Back is slightly flared when viewed from above
- Waist shape is poor or absent when the dog is viewed from the side
Assess obesity in dogs
Obesity in dogs is a truly serious disease and if a dog is obese it is very easy to see how his attitude has changed, he hardly tolerates physical exercise and remains tired for the whole day.
The physical signs of obesity:
- The ribs cannot be seen with the naked eye and are also very difficult to feel because they are covered by a very thick layer of adipose tissue
- The bony ends are covered by a thick layer of adipose tissue
- The tail remains thickened and there is an important layer of fat under the skin
- The dog has no waist when viewed from the side and you can also see a very bulky belly and a very broad back when viewed from above
How do I get my dog to have an ideal weight?
Adequate nutrition and daily physical exercise are essential for your dog to maintain a good weight, thus contributing to a better quality of life.
Obviously, to assess the suitability of your dog's weight you must always take into account its constitution, since the constitution of a greyhound it will never be equal to the constitution of a Labrador, much more robust.
The signs that indicate that your dog has an optimal weight are the following:
- The ribs can be easily felt and are covered with a layer of light fat
- The bones and bone ends can be easily palpated and the overlying fat is slight on the bones and minimal on the prominences
- A well-proportioned lower back can easily be seen when the dog is viewed from above
- The base of the tail has a smooth outline
If you have doubts about your dog's nutritional requirements, the physical exercise it needs or its state of he alth we recommend that you go to the vetso that I can offer you complete professional advice.
