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Why Is Your Dog Overweight? (Causes Plus Treatments!)

Whether it’s for dogs or humans, being overweight is a common problem. In our society of overconsumption, it’s sometimes difficult to stay fit and healthy. Helping your dog losing weight is relatively simple, but it’s not easy at all. I know it because my Labrador was quite obese not too long ago. Furthermore, most of the time it’s not obvious why your dog is overweight!

Overweight Labrador Dog

Finding the cause(s) of your buddy’s obesity is the first step to consider getting him back in shape. Nonetheless, there are often several reasons why he’s overweight. To help my Labrador lose her extra pounds (or kg), I did a lot of research and tried many things. Let me share with you everything I’ve found about why is your dog overweight!

There are many reasons why your dog can be overweight. The two most common causes of weight gain in dogs concerns nutrition (too much or bad food) and exercise needs (not enough physical activity). After that, some diseases (like hypothyroidism), structural issues (like hip dysplasia), and many other things can also cause obesity in dogs!

Now, you probably want to know all the possible causes and some treatments for weight gain in dogs. Fortunately, I’ve found all this information during my experience and research. At the end of your reading, you will finally know why your dog is overweight. I will also share some tips and useful information to help him lose weight!

How To Know If Your Dog Is Overweight?

Before you change anything in your dog’s routine, you need to make sure he’s overweight. That’s crucial to avoid over-exercise (too much physical activity can be bad!) or undernutrition. There are many ways to know if your dog is obese or not. Let’s see how to assure you that he seriously has some weight issues!

Overweight Bulldog Tired
  • Look At His Shape!
  • Try To Feel Your Dog’s Ribs!
  • Check Him From The Side!
  • Analyze Your Dog’s Exercise Behavior!
  • Weigh Him On a Scale!
  • Go Visit Your Vet!

Here’s more information to confirm that your dog needs to lose weight on the AKC site! [Open In a New Tab]

False Alerts of Obesity!

Some of these ways to know if your dog is overweight can be misleading. You could think that he’s obese because of his abdomen distended. However, there are a few other reasons why your dog’s belly could be distended. Here are two false alerts of obesity!

Bloat!

This is simply the main symptom of gastric torsion (or dilatation) that occurs when the stomach fills with gas or twists on itself. It can be very dangerous or even deadly in extreme cases because it obstructs blood flow. That’s why it’s essential to see your vet if your dog’s suffering from bloat!

Pregnancy!

This could be an awesome piece of news for you. Who wouldn’t like to have plenty of puppies to play with? Pregnancy could be the cause of a distended abdomen for dogs. You should also see your vet in this case, but it’s not an emergency!

Why Is Your Dog Overweight?

Now, you’re ready to find the cause of your dog’s overweight. There are many reasons why he could have extra pounds (or kg) to lose. If you know him well and you pay attention to your dog, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find these reasons. Nonetheless, it’s not always easy to find them, but it’s crucial to provide your dog with adapted weight loss solutions!

To help your buddy to lose weight, you need to do some research first. Otherwise, you could either waste your time or harm him without bad intent. That’s why the analysis phase is as important as the practical one. In other words, don’t directly go out and exercise your dog for his well-being and weight loss efficiency!

Overweight Dog Lay Down

Don’t think that you’re the only dog owner that has an overweight companion. Many other pooches than yours have some extra pounds (or kg) to lose. According to APOP [Link Open In a New Tab], around 56% of dogs are overweight in the US. That’s one of the main reasons I started this blog. On the contrary to many owners, at least you care about your furry friend’s well-being!

Common Causes of Weight Gain In Dogs!

Let’s dive into the real question, what can cause your dog’s obesity. Many dog owners will think that their companions can only be fat because they eat too much or they aren’t active enough. However, that’s not true. There are many other possibilities that you probably don’t even think about. Let’s see all the reasons why your dog could be overweight with some possible treatments!

No Proper Nutrition! (or Too Much Food!)

It might seem obvious, but your dog could need less food than you give him. Dog’s malnutrition (or overnutrition) isn’t very different from a human one. Nonetheless, these furry pets don’t control how much they eat. That’s why dog owners need to provide them with proper nutrition. You should also find quality food with a high level of protein and fewer carbohydrates to keep your buddy at a healthy weight!

Not Enough Exercise!

The lack of physical activity is probably one of the main reasons why more than half of the dogs in the US are overweight. In general, they will need around 30 to 60 minutes of daily exercise. Daily walks and some free playtime aren’t enough for many dogs. Moreover, they need both mental and physical stimulation to stay healthy, fit, and happy. Therefore letting your dog sniffing on walks, fun games and canine sports (not too intense) are ideal for overweight dogs!

His Breed Could Not Help!

Some dogs are more likely to gain weight than others. To take my example, I own a Labrador and Golden Retriever mix. These breeds simply love to eat and have limitless appetites. Therefore, I gave her too much food for the physical activity that she was doing. That’s why my Labrador was overweight. However, your dog’s breed isn’t a good excuse to let him stay fat. There are always some solutions to get him in better shape!

Here are some breeds that are more likely to get obese!

Overweight Bulldog On Chair
  • Labrador and Golden Retrievers.
  • Basset Hounds.
  • Dachshunds.
  • English Bulldogs.
  • Pugs.
  • Rottweilers.
  • Beagles.
  • German Shepherds.
  • Scottish Terriers.
  • Cocker Spaniels.
  • Etc.

Senior Dogs Are Prone To Get Overweight!

Like humans, dogs will become less active and more fragile as they age. Furthermore, their metabolism will get slower which could lead to muscle mass loss and weight gain. Normally, it’s OK for senior dogs to gain a few extra pounds because of their fragility and lack of energy. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t let your old companion become obese and inactive. Feeding him with food high in protein and providing him with adapted exercise is essential to control his weight!

Chronic Conditions That Cause Obesity!

Chronic illness like hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease) or hypothyroidism can be the reason why your dog is gaining weight. Let’s see a little bit more information about the correlation between these conditions and obesity!

Cushing’s disease occurs when your dog’s body produces too much of a hormone called cortisol. It normally helps control his weight, respond to stress, and other important tasks to keep him in good health. Symptoms of this chronic condition that concern your pooch’s susceptibility to getting obese are excessive hunger and weight gain!

Hypothyroidism disease is a common problem for dogs that could cause weakness, lethargy, excessive shedding and less tolerance to exercise. These symptoms can explain why an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) could cause weight gain in dogs. Breeds such as Golden Retrievers, Doberman Pinschers, Irish Setters, Dachshunds, Boxers, and Cocker Spaniels are more likely to suffer from this chronic condition!

Learn more information about other symptoms and the treatments of these diseases on the Pets Web MD site. (Cushing’s disease or Hypothyroidism) [Link Open In a New Tab]

Structural Issues!

Dogs that suffer from hip/elbow dysplasia, arthritis or any other structural issues are more prone to obesity. For example, osteoarthritis is probably the most common joint problem that could cause serious pain to your pooch especially if he’s elderly. Whether it’s arthritis or any other very structural or joint condition, it will restrict dogs to do many types of exercise. That’s why they are more likely to gain weight!

Overweight Dog Tired Lay Down

Take His Genetics Seriously!

Your dog’s genetics could explain why he’s overweight. Like humans, some dogs are more likely to gain weight. I already told you that your dog’s breed has an influence, but there are other elements to look at. Things like his exercise requirements that aren’t fulfilled, no motivation to spend his energy, being greedy like my Labrador or many other traits could have an impact on his weight. Therefore, it’s important to know your companion well to find specific solutions for his needs!

Are You Still Not Sure?

In case of hesitation, you can always visit your veterinarian to have more accurate answers. That’s always an excellent idea to ask professionals to have more information and personalized advice. Nonetheless, you could help your buddy to have a healthy weight by yourself. Now, let’s see what are the treatments and solutions to help your dog lose weight!

Treatments For Overweight Dogs!

Normally, there are always adapted solutions to help your dog get in better shape. The perfect thing to do will depend a lot on why your pooch is overweight. A general weight loss plan for dogs could be a good start, but you will need to personalize it for your companion’s needs. Most dogs will simply need more appropriate exercise and nutrition with simple healthy habits!

Nevertheless, couch potatoes with hip dysplasia won’t have the same exercise needs that active furry athletes that eat too much. That’s why it’s so important to provide every dog with an adapted weight loss solution. By fulfilling your dog’s exercise needs, giving him a good quantity of quality food, and helping him to develop healthy habits, every dog should be able to be healthy and happy!

Some dogs with a serious disease or structural issues will need help from professionals. If their life is in danger or the risks are extremely high, you should visit your vet. Furthermore, it’s always recommended to have some help from professionals when it’s possible. It’s safer, and you will have better results with their assistance. Now, let’s recap what you need to know before to help your dog to lose weight!

  • Why Is Your Dog Overweight?
  • Your Dog’s Exercise Needs!
  • What Food Is Better For Him?
  • Your Dog’s Condition and Limits!

What Are The Risks For Overweight Dogs?

It’s interesting to know why your dog should lose weight. Chubby puppies can be kind of cute sometimes. However, overweight companions are prone to several health issues. That’s why it’s so essential to keep your dog in good shape. Knowing the risks could motivate you to take care of his well-being. Here are several health conditions related to obesity for dogs!

Cute Overweight Dog
  • Diabetes.
  • Heart Problems or Diseases.
  • Joint Problems.
  • Mobility Issues.
  • Back Problems.
  • Kidney Diseases.
  • Canine Arthritis.
  • Liver Problems.
  • Skin Problems.
  • Breathing Problems.
  • High Blood Pressures.
  • Certain Cancers.
  • Respiratory Issues.
  • Etc.

How To Help Your Dog Lose Weight?

As you can see, that’s crucial to control your dog’s weight. Being overweight isn’t only bad for humans. Every animal will suffer from it. Unfortunately, there’s not only one way to lose weight that applies to every dog. (It would be seriously more simple!) What’s sure, is that if your buddy has extra pounds to burn, you need to change his bad habits!

Obese Bulldog On The Ground

There are 3 pillars to help your dog when you know why he’s overweight. You probably already have understood these three factors that make your dog healthy. However, I just want to make sure that everybody gets it!

So the first element is simply to adapt their diet to lose weight. You shouldn’t give too much or poor quality food. The second thing to help your dog regulate his weight is by doing more exercise. You should start increasing the intensity of his activities very carefully to not hurt him. Simple things like daily walks, swimming or underwater treadmills could be a very interesting exercise for most overweight dogs. (Sports like running or biking are too intense and better for healthy furballs!) The last pillar is to simply change his lifestyle to keep him in good shape. It could be to try new activities or sports, spending more time with him or simply give him more mental stimulation!

Weight Loss Tips For Dogs!

Before letting you go play with your furry friend, I’ve something for you. Whether it’s for humans or dogs, losing weight isn’t easy at all. Therefore, it will take time, effort, and a lot of work before seeing satisfying results. Finding the reason(s) why your dog is overweight is only the first step. After that, you still need to make an efficient weight loss program and to follow this game plan to succeed. Therefore, I’ve some tips to help you with this adventure for a better lifestyle!

Healthy Golden Retriever
  • Visit Your Vet To Have Some Help!
  • Start With Small Changes! (Good Habits!)
  • Don’t Neglect Daily Walks!
  • Know Your Dog Well!
  • Have Good Motivation With Goals!
  • Feed Your Dog With High-Protein and Low-Carb Food!
  • Keep Your Pooch Fully Hydrated!
  • Reward Him The Right Way! (With Fun Instead of Treats!)
  • Find Fun Canine Activities or Sports To Enjoy!
  • Take Your Time! (Be Patient!)

Last Thoughts About Why Your Dog Is Overweight!

In conclusion, there are many things to know before to help your overweight dog. Something essential to keep in mind is that his health is your responsibility. Owning a furry pet comes with duties, so don’t let your dog become dangerously obese. (Act NOW!) Nonetheless, you can (and you should!) always have fun during his weight loss program!

The reason why your dog is overweight will influence what you should do to help him. However, losing weight always requires good nutrition and proper exercise. Finally, dogs’ weight loss methods are extremely similar to what overweight people should do. This could be interesting to get in better shape with your furball!

I hope that this article helps you understand the causes of your dog’s overweight. I would love to see you exercising your obese dog during my daily walks or runs with my Labrador. Have a lot of fun helping your furry friend lose weight!