As obesity rises in America, obesity in our pets rises as well.  I have worked in dog daycares for the past several years, and time and time again I see dogs who are so overweight that I fear for their lives.  Although we couldn't make a huge dent in the dog's diet while they stayed with us, we often would feed the dog an appropriate amount for their breed and ideal size instead of the owners suggestions.  We felt we were doing the dog a favor at least while they were in our care, but I know the owners take the dogs home and feed them their "regular diet".  There are a few cases that stick out in my mind as severely overweight dogs.  To protect the identity of the owners, I will only mention details related to weight and weight management and omit names and situations.

Obese dogs can have a multitude of medical conditions including, but not limited to: Diabetes, damage to joints, heart disease, difficulty breathing, decreased stamina, heat intolerance, decreased liver function, reproductive problems, digestive disorders, decreased immune function, skin, hair, coat problems, increased surgical risk, anesthetic risk, increased risk of cancer, and decreased quality of life.  Click the link above for more details on how each of these categories related to health risks in obese dogs.

I fear the epidemic is caused by a mix of owner over-indulgence, lack of self control, lack of knowledge, and all around spoiling.  I also believe that not enough veterinarians mention the weight issue to their clients as well.  Animal Control is called when a dog (or other pet) is underweight, but never if the dog is overweight.  Both under and over weight are abuse, and both are deadly.

Owner over-indulgence: Over and over again, I see owners who leave food down all the time, or give huge treats as rewards.  I hear "my dog is really good at eating only what he needs." On the rare occasion that is true, however, most the time the dog is severely overweight. Dog's are known for being opportunistic, so if food is out, they will eat it, even if you don't see them eat that often, they are eating quite a bit.  There are other reasons why you shouldn't leave food out all the time, but that is not related to obesity.

Lack of owner self-control: As a dog trainer who uses a lot of treats, a major complaint I get is "all these treats are making my dog fat!"  In every class I remind students to replace part of the dog's dinner with the treats they've used for training so that the dogs do not get over-fed.  Many owners simply add to the daily ration and don't use the daily ration as treats.  When I train a new trick with my dogs, I will often take some of their dry food and use it as treats.  working on a trick at home which is a low distraction environment means my dogs will happily work for their kibble.  If I were to practice on a crowded sidewalk, I'd make sure to replace some of the kibble with more yummy treats such as chicken or soft dog treats.  another example of lack of self-control is giving very large treats.  When your dog is learning a new trick, or you feel like rewarding them, use very small bites, just enough for the dog to taste it.  Or use an alternative reward: play, time with a friend, a walk, etc.

Lack of knowledge: Many times the owner simply does not know they are over feeding their dog.  I have heard "I was following the directions of the food packaging".  The directions are based on weight, so if your dog weighs 10 pounds overweight, you are feeding a great deal more food, and adding to the weight control problem.  The best way to know if your dog is overweight is by sight and feel.  I have provided a picture guide above. There are "weight management" dog foods available.  Avoid those!! To properly maintain your dog's weight is to feed the correct amount of food and to make sure your dog gets an appropriate amount of exercise.  Dogs being fed the weight management foods are usually being fed the same amount of food as before, which in the end makes no difference.  Weight management foods are generally packed with fillers so less food is being absorbed into the dog's body.

Spoiling: Spoiled dogs have a whole slew of problems such as "dominant" behaviors, aloofness, and obesity.  The first two can be solved by changing your training attitude towards the dog, the last is strictly a change in diet and exercise.  When an owner gives their dog everything it could possibly want, it receives too many treats, too much food, and often foods that are unhealthy such as table scraps and deadly foods (see the list of foods that are bad for dogs).  I am not saying you should deny your dog foods that are safe for it to eat, however limit the amount they receive.  Remember as the dog's owner, you are in charge of what the dog has access to, and what foods it can eat.

Maintaining a dog's weight isn't all about food.  Also make sure your dog gets the proper amount of exercise.  not only will your dog stay healthy by maintaining mobility in their joints, keeping the weight down, but they'll be happier too.  After all, a tired dog is a good (and happy) dog.   A dog who gets a proper amount of exercise is more likely to listen, sleeps sounder, and is more physically sound.  Should your dog need an operation, if they have a history of staying healthy, they'll survive their surgery much faster.  If you don't have the time to exercise your dog, take them to a dog daycare where they'll get lots of exercise while you work. I have a whole list of different activities you can do with your dog that don't take a lot of time. Just ask me and I'll pass them along. (or I'll post another blog in the future with them).

*Refer to the guide in the pictures above* You should be able to feel your dog's ribs and the lower half of the spine, but not see them.  The dog should have a bit of a waist, and depending on breed that can vary.  If your dog resembles a sausage or a tube, most likely it is obese.  Your vet or dog professional (groomer, daycare assistant, etc) will most likely be able to help you.  Make sure they know you are serious about getting the right weight and not looking for assurances (many people will be too polite and not tell you your dog is overweight).

Off the topic a bit: a common reason why someone refuses to spay or neuter their dog is the concern that they will become fat.  Although the dog's metabolism changes a bit, the change is slight and food and exercise can easily counteract any weight gain related to the surgery.  The many many reasons why you should spay and neuter your pets far outweighs the reasons not to.  PS. I've met just as many fat in tact dogs as I have fat fixed dogs... it really doesn't make that big of a difference.