5 Simple Ways You Can Help Your Overweight Dog

Obesity in dogs is a growing problem across the country. Extra pounds can lead to additional health problems for our pups, some of them life-threatening. Although helping your dog get fit might seem overwhelming at first, it doesn't have to be difficult!

Overweight dogs might seem cute or just “extra fluffy,” but those extra pounds can be incredibly dangerous for our furry friends. And with nearly 60% of the dogs in the US being classified as overweight or obese, it’s a problem that’s dangerously widespread.

But what harm can that extra weight cause? And what can we do to keep our dogs fit and healthy?

Health Risks for Overweight Dogs

When a dog carries excessive weight, it puts a serious strain on their body and can even shorten their life. That’s because fat cells release inflammatory hormones that put your dog’s body in a state of constant stress and inflammation.

Overweight dogs are at a higher risk of developing many different diseases, including:

1. Cancer

The inflammation caused by being overweight or obese has been found in studies to contribute to cancer in dogs. While scientists don’t yet understand exactly why this happens, they know that overweight or obese dogs are more likely to develop this deadly disease.

2. Diabetes

Just like humans, dogs can develop diabetes if they carry excess weight. When your dog regularly overeats, they may develop insulin resistance and high blood sugar, which may cause diabetes symptoms. Diabetes often drastically reduces a dog’s life expectancy and negatively affects their quality of life.

3. Hypertension and Heart Disease

Overweight dogs are also at a serious risk of increased blood pressure (or hypertension) as well as developing heart disease. While they don’t get clogged arteries like humans, high blood pressure adds strain to a dog’s heart and can damage it over time.

4. Osteoarthritis

Excess weight puts extra strain on a dog’s joints, increasing their chance of developing osteoarthritis. No one wants to see their dog suffering from chronic pain, but that’s exactly what can happen to an overweight dog.

5. Urinary Tract Problems

Urinary tract problems - including UTIs and bladder stones - happen much more often in overweight dogs. These conditions are not only painful but can even be life-threatening if left untreated.

We all want our dogs to live their happiest and healthiest lives. However, any one of these diseases can impact not only their quality of life but also their overall life expectancy. It’s up to us to make sure our dog gets to and stays at a healthy weight.

But where to start?

How to Tell if Your Dog is Overweight

A good place to start is with a body condition check. This can give you an initial indication of whether or not your dog is overweight or obese.

Feel your dog’s body on both sides along their ribcage. You should be able to feel the ribs, but they shouldn’t be visible from a distance.

When you look down at your dog from above, you should see an hourglass shape with a waist behind the ribcage. When you look at your dog from the side, you should see a tuck up in the abdomen.

These methods work for the majority of dog breeds but not for all - like bulldogs and pugs, for example.

If you suspect your dog may be overweight, bring them to your veterinarian for an expert evaluation. If it’s determined your dog needs to lose weight, your veterinarian will work with you to create a healthy diet plan so they can safely start dropping those extra pounds. 

But there are a couple of other big components to their journey towards a fit and healthy life: physical exercise and mental enrichment.

The Importance of Exercise AND Mental Enrichment for Dogs

Going for walks and runs is a great way to give your dog cardiovascular exercise and support healthy weight loss.

But it’s not enough.

That’s because a dog’s mental health plays a huge part in their overall well-being. For a dog, a large component of mental health is getting regular mental enrichment. When a dog has sufficient mental enrichment along with regular physical exercise, they’ll be on their way to living a longer, happier life.

What Is Mental Enrichment for Dogs?

Mental enrichment for dogs means more than just going for a walk in a different part of town. It involves adding a layer of complexity or interest to their day.

Every dog is different, so what appeals to one may or may not appeal to another. That’s why it can be a good idea to try different enrichment methods and see which ones your dog enjoys. 

Here are some ways to add enrichment to your dog’s life:

• Puzzle toys - These encourage your dog to use their mind along with their body, providing mental stimulation (if you use treats in your dog’s puzzle toys, be sure to use low-calorie training treats so they have fun without derailing their healthy diet).

• Agility training - Not only is this great physical exercise, but it also requires your dog to problem-solve and actively avoid obstacles.

• Training with balance boards - This increases your dog’s core strength while enhancing their body awareness and coordination.

 

Anytime you can safely add new experiences to your dog’s life - whether that’s through new smells, textures, or environments - you can enhance their mental development. 

New activities are great for enrichment, too. Whether that’s learning a new skill or trying new canine fitness equipment, new activities stimulate your dog’s mind and increase their overall well-being.

Canine fitness equipment like the balance boards or agility training hurdles mentioned above can seem intimidating at first. It may feel like when you go to the gym for the first time and don’t know how to use the machines! Don’t worry, though - they're actually quite simple to learn and will provide hours of healthy fun as well as bonding for you and your dog.

Canine fitness equipment is one tool in your belt to help your dog ward off extra pounds, build strong muscles to support their joints, and stay limber, especially as they age. 

National Canine Fitness Month - Why It’s Important

As you can see, obesity and a lack of mental enrichment can be absolutely devastating for our dogs. But with the right diet, engaging physical fitness, and stimulating mental enrichment, our dogs can turn away from canine obesity and towards a life of fitness, health, and fun.

That’s why we at FitPaws are spearheading National Canine Fitness Month. We know how critical it is to highlight the increasingly widespread trend of obese and overweight dogs. During the entire month of April, you can purchase a National Canine Fitness Month Bundle for $60 off, including a balance ramp, K9FITbone, TRAX Targets, and K9 Cavaletti Set. Plus, you'll get a free training session with world-renowned canine fitness expert Bobbie Lyons. So get your bundle, and let's get fit!

For over ten years, we’ve been promoting canine fitness and helping pet parents get their dogs up and moving. We are dedicated to educating people about the harmful effects of sedentary lifestyles on our precious canine companions.

National Canine Fitness Month is an opportunity to get the word out to more people and to help them help their dogs live the lives they deserve.

The Last Run

Canine obesity can be harmful to dogs, but there are simple and effective ways to prevent those extra pounds. From a healthy diet to cardiovascular exercise to mental enrichment, we have many tools at our disposal to prevent or treat canine obesity. By being proactive about keeping our dogs mentally and physically fit, we can ensure our dogs live their best, healthiest, and longest lives.