The Dog Food Comparison Blog

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention nearly half the pets in the U.S. are overweight or obese. The association states that 43% of all dogs are overweight and that 13 percent are obese.  Not surprising since many dog owners are overweight themselves and many dogs do not get the exercise necessary to maintain good health.  Couple this with the poor quality of dog foods that are often purchased and you have a recipe for weight problems.

Veterinarians agree that the main contributors to making animals fat are “eating too much and lack of exercise — just like in humans.”  Overfeeding can occur with the dog’s regular food or with getting to many additional treats.  When giving treats to a dog, the dog’s regular diet should be cut back accordingly.

Health risks related to dog obesity include:

Arthritis, ligament injuries, spinal disc problems, hip dysplasia, heart failure, diabetes, kidney failure, blindness, liver disease, pancreatitis, cancer, respiratory difficulties and heat stroke.

Many dog owners don’t even realize their dog is overweight. If you can’t easily feel your dog’s ribs underneath a padding of fat and no waistline is showing, the dog probably needs to lose some weight.

Older dogs that move less don’t need as much food as active dogs and the feeding chart on the dog food package should be used only as a loose guideline.  If you dog needs to loose weight, cut back a little and help him or her to get more exercise.  If you give treats use treats that are low in calories, such as carrots, ice cubes or green beans.  If you do choose to use commercial dog treats, pay special attention to the ingredients to make sure that you are not making things worse.

Remember that your dog values your attention just as much as a treat, so spending time with you exercising will make him just as happy and much healthier.  An added benefit will usually be better behavior on your dog’s part and he or she will live longer, be healthier (which will save money on health care) and be a more enjoyable companion.

Additional Dog Health Resources

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