Chapter Six:

Recognizing Obesity and
Avoiding an Overweight Dog

We saw earlier that the APOP reports that more than 52 percent of dogs are either overweight or obese (http://petobesityprevention.org). The potential risks of being an overweight dog is similar to that of humans; this includes diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and respiratory disease, ligament injury, kidney disease, and a decrease in life expectancy. In order to keep your canine healthy and happy, it is best to keep them fit and at a healthy weight.

Let’s take a look at what causes obesity and how we can avoid it.

Contributing Factors to Obesity in Dogs

The causes of obesity in dogs can be more than just overeating. When energy intake exceeds the dog’s daily requirements, they begin to store food as fat. This means that a dog that does not get much exercise could still gain weight without the appearance of overeating. Even if you control how much your dog eats, if his exercise level significantly decreases, he can gain weight without increasing his food intake.

The key to avoiding an overweight or obese dog is two-fold: do not overfeed your dog and make sure your canine gets a lot of exercise. Here are some specific reasons could explain your dog’s weight gain.

High availability of food

While some dogs will eat only what they need, others will consume everything in their bowl and their friend’s bowl if given the opportunity. Overfeeding of treats and table scraps can also cause dogs to pack on the pounds.

Low activity levels

A dog that does not get outside to run and play often will burn less calories than his more active friends. If you think your dog is a bit heavy, a diet will help, but adding in playtime and opportunities for exercise will make a big difference.

Getting fixed

This procedure can lower your pet’s metabolic rate. Sex hormones will decrease which has an impact on general physical activity and appetite. Doctors Foster and Smith from the website http://peteducation.com report, “It is true that neutered and spayed animals burn fewer calories than intact pets, so we generally need to feed them less.”

Genetics

Some breeds are predisposed to becoming overweight and their owners must be more diligent in their feeding and/or activity levels than other breeds. These include Labrador Retrievers, Dachshunds, Beagles, Cairn Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties) and Basset Hounds (http://peteducation.com).

Age

According to Doctors Foster & Smith’s article, “Diseases & Conditions Contributing to Dog Obesity,” dogs tend to put on weight between ages two and twelve (particularly around age six). Therefore, this is an important age to make sure you monitor how much food your dog is in-taking compared to how much exercise she is getting. If you can maintain a healthy balance during this time, the chances of your dog becoming obese decreases as she becomes a “senior.”

On their website, the doctors recommend keeping an eye on weight when your dog is young because an overweight dog under the age of two is more likely to remain obese throughout his entire life. They argue that establishing healthy eating habits and controlling weight early can lead to healthy weight for a dog’s entire life (http://peteducation.com).

Medication

Some medicines can influence metabolism and appetite, including glucocorticoids, barbiturates and benzodiazepines. When medicines used to treat other ailments (such as epilepsy) negatively impact a dog’s metabolism, your pet is likely to add some pounds.

Illnesses

Various diseases can cause dogs to gain weight by impacting their adrenal gland, pancreas/insulin and pituitary glands. These include hypothyroidism, Cushing disease, insulinoma, diabetes and pituitary gland/brain diseases.

If you notice that your dog has any of these contributing factors, you should consult his veterinarian on how to adjust his diet and/or activity level to ensure obesity does not occur.

Recognizing if Your Dog is Overweight

Trying to visually assess whether or not your dog is overweight would be a lot like trying to guess a person’s weight just by looking at them. While it might be easy to spot a truly obese person, it would not be as easy to tell if a tall man or woman was carrying more weight than they should. In much the same way, a large dog could be overweight even though he doesn’t look it. You should consult your dog’s doctor on his proper weight for his age and frame.

Even if you only see your dog’s veterinarian for annual visits, he should still be able to provide you with some insight on your dog’s weight and what the goal weight should be. Though imperfect (because weight goals change with age and gender), a weight guideline by breed is listed below (courtesy of http://petobesityprevention.org):

Ideal Weights of Dog Breeds

Afghan Hounds	58 to 65 pounds
Airedale Terriers	40 to 65 pounds
Akitas	75 to 115 pounds
Alaskan Malamutes	70 to 95 pounds
American Staffordshire Terriers	55 to 65 pounds
Australian Cattle Dogs	30 to 35 pounds
Australian Shepherds	40 to 65 pounds
Basenjis	20 to 25 pounds
Basset Hounds	45 to 65 pounds
Beagles	18 to 30 pounds
Belgian Malinois	55 to 75 pounds
Bernese Mountain Dogs	85 to 110 pounds
Bichon Frises	7 to 12 pounds
Bloodhounds	80 to 110 pounds
Border Collies	27 to 45 pounds
Border Terriers	11 to 15 pounds
Borzois	60 to 100 pounds
Boston Terriers	10 to 25 pounds
Bouviers des Flandres	95 to 120 pounds
Boxers	50 to 75 pounds
Brittany Spaniels	30 to 40 pounds
Brussels Griffons	6 to 12 pounds
Bull Terriers	Miniature: 24 to 32 pounds Standard: 45 to 80 pounds
Bulldogs	40 to 50 pounds
Bullmastiffs	100 to 300 pounds
Cairn Terriers	13 to 18 pounds
Cardigan Welsh Corgis	25 to 30 pounds
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels	10 to 18 pounds
Chesepeake Bay Retrivers	55 to 80 pounds
Chihuahuas	4 to 6 pounds
Chinese Crested	Less than 10 pounds
Chinese Shar-Pei	45 to 60 pounds
Chow Chow	45 to 70 pounds
Cocker Spaniels	23 to 28 pounds
Collies	50 to 70 pounds
Dachshunds	Mini: 8 to 10 pounds Standard: 10 to 12 pounds
Dalmatians	50 to 55 pounds
Doberman Pinschers	65 to 90 pounds
English Cocker Spaniels	26 to 34 pounds
English Setters	45 to 80 pounds
English Springer Spaniels	40 to 50 pounds
Flat-Coated Retrievers	60 to 70 pounds
French Bulldogs	19 to 28 pounds
German Shepherds	75 to 95 pounds
German Shorthaired Pointers	45 to 70 pounds
German Wirehaired Pointers	60 to 70 pounds
Giant Schnauzers	55 to 80 pounds
Golden Retrievers	65 to 75 pounds
Gordon Setters	45 to 80 pounds
Great Danes	110 to 180 pounds
Great Pyrenees	85 to 100 pounds
Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs	130 to 135 pounds
Greyhounds	6 to 10 pounds
Havanese	7 to 12 pounds
Irish Setters	55 to 75 pounds
Irish Wolfhounds	90 to 150 pounds
Japanese Chin	4 to 15 pounds
Jack Russell Terriers	14 to 18 pounds
Keeshond	35 to 45 pounds; 55 to 65 pounds
Labrador Retrievers	65 to 80 pounds
Lhasa Apsos	13 to 15 pounds
Maltese	4 to 6 pounds
Mastiffs	150 to 160 pounds
Miniature Pinschers	8 to 10 pounds
Miniature Schnauzers	12 to 15 pounds
Newfoundlands	100 to 150 pounds
Norwegian Elkhounds	40 to 60 pounds
Norwich Terriers	10 to 12 pounds
Nova Scotia Duck Trolling Retrievers	37 to 50 pounds
Old English Sheepdogs	60 to 100 pounds
Papillons	7 to 10 pounds
Pekingese	Mini: 6 to 8 pounds Standard 8 to 10 pounds
Pembroke Welsh Corgi	23 to 27 pounds
Pomeranians	4 to 7 pounds
Poodles	Mini: 11 to 17 pounds Standard: 45 to 65 pounds
Portuguese Water Dog	35 to 55 pounds
Pugs	13 to 18 pounds
Rhodesian Ridgebacks	65 to 90 pounds
Rottweiler	70 to 135 pounds
Saint Bernard	110 to 200 pounds
Samoyeds	35 to 65 pounds
Schipperkes	12 to 18 pounds
Scottish Terriers	18 to 21 pounds
Shetland Sheepdogs	18 to 20 pounds
Shiba Inu	15 to 25 pounds
Shih Tzu	8 to 16 pounds
Siberian Husky	35 to 60 pounds
Silky Terriers	8 to 11 pounds
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers	30 to 45 pounds
Staffordshire Bull Terriers	23 to 38 pounds
Standard Schnauzers	30 to 45 pounds
Tibetan Terriers	18 to 30 pounds
Toy Fox Terriers	4 to 7 pounds
Vizla	45 to 60 pounds
Weimaraners	50 to 70 pounds
Welch Terriers	20 to 21 pounds
West Highland White Terrier	13 to 21 pounds
Whippets	25 to 45 pounds
Wirehaired Fox Terrier	13 to 20 pounds
Yorkshire Terriers	6 to 7 pounds

 

In addition to the guide above, you can also assess your dog visibly. According to “The Everything Dog Health Book” by Kim Campbell Thornton and Debra Eldredge, DVM, when you look at your dog, you should be able to see a defined waistline behind his ribs. If you see a solid chunk of flesh, your dog could be overweight. If your dog huffs and puffs at the slightest level of exertion, they advise that you put him on a diet and exercise plan (Thornton 2005).

NOTE: If your dog actually falls below the standard weight for his breed or size, you should consult your veterinarian for potential causes. While we hope the solution is simply to increase his caloric intake, low weight in dogs can point to other health issues or concerns. If your dog is significantly underweight or has lost significant weight in a short period of time, additional testing might be necessary to determine cause and a treatment approach.

Addressing Weight Loss for Your Dog

Achieving a healthy weight for your dog is much like achieving one for yourself. If you need to lose weight, you should consume fewer calories than you burn each day; whereas if you need to gain weight, you should take in more calories than you burn. As you work with your dog to achieve a healthier energy output versus caloric intake, the first thing you should do is consult your veterinarian to determine a plan that is ideal for your pet.

If you believe your dog is a little too heavy and want to take some small measures yourself, you can start with feeding your dog a little less on one of the feeding strategies mentioned in the previous chapter. The solution might be as simple as measuring an exact amount of food at designated feeding times instead of leaving a bowl of food out all day.

Alternatively, you can switch to a lower-calorie dog food, but dog food labeled “lite” can mean several different things. It is important to carefully read the calorie guide on your dog food and talk to your veterinarian about how many calories your pet needs given his age, activity level, physical condition, and overall heath (Thornton 2005).

Why Weight Matters

I understand how tempting it is to look at your overweight dog and think that they look fine and do not need to change their eating habits. You might even think that a dog with some extra meat on his bones is a happy dog. After all, is that not what is meant by the phrase “a dog’s life?” The problem comes from the fact a spoiled, pampered life is not necessarily the healthiest life for a dog.

 

In truth, low levels of activity are not any healthier for your dog than it is for you. People who live more of a sedentary lifestyle tend to gain weight — weight that eventually puts too much strain on their joints and causes a wide-range of health issues. That is why people who do not get much physical activity in their work life will spend time in the gym to stay fit.

Since obesity in your beloved canine friend will cause the same kind of health concerns you face if he enjoys a little too much of “a dog’s life,” you should strive to get him the kind of physical activity you would get by going to the gym. I am not saying you need to engage your dog in “hard labor,” but you should make sure the amount of energy he expends each day is equal to or lower than his caloric intake.

Remember that on top of all the other health issues obesity causes in dogs, a decrease in life expectancy is paramount among them. In general, smaller dogs live longer than larger breeds, but all dogs owners can expect their pet to live between eight years (for large breeds) and 11 years (for petite breeds) (Coates 2015). In the grand scheme of things, that really is not all that long. You owe it to yourself and your pet to ensure weight issues do not shorten his life needlessly.