Canine Obesity
By Sean Mclaughlin
Obesity is a growing problem for dogs and is caused by an accumulation of fat and statistics show 25-40% of dogs are obese or in danger of becoming obese.
Did you know That an extra calorific increase of just 1 % can lead to a 25-40% increase in body weight by middle age?
The main contributer of obesity is caused by over eating and lack of exercise and when regular caloric intake exceeds energy burned, the excess fat is stored.
The health effects- carrying excess weight can lead to your dog developing breathing or walking problems and maybe unable to tollerate excess heat and exercise, obesity can also contribute to other health problems including diabeties, heart disease and cancers as well as arthritis.
Prevention- follow manufactures feeding instructions, adjusting the amount to suit activity levels, if your pet is un active you can change the diet to a type that suits less active breeds with a lower caloric intake.
Or if your pet is older use a maturity food.
Also some treats contain high amounts of calories so the amount of food needs to be decreased when giving treats.
Neutered pets should also have the feeding amount reduced by ¼ per meal.
If your pet is overweight there could be underlying medical causes so take your dog to be examined by a vet and your vet can also advise on a good feeding plan. Obesity is caused from excess calorie's / under exercise.
Sean Mclaughlin
This article was posted by Sean Mclaughlin
