Simple Ways To Know If Your Dog Is Overweight

Overweight dogs have become a growing problem for many dog owners. Dogs normally get overweight due to excessive feeding and lack of activity doesn’t help matters too.

Less activity puts your dogs at risk of having heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure. Sometimes you might also find out that your dog is less tolerant to heat or has some difficulty breathing.

How you can tell if your dog is obese or overweight

To solve this issue effectively, you should seek help from a veterinarian. They will help you to know if your dog is getting overweight or not. That said, before you start making plans to visit the vet’s office, there are a few things you can do.

First, you need to check the ribs. You must make sure you’re not feeling any layer of fat while touching the ribs. Secondly, you must pay attention to your dog’s chest and abdomen. 

The chest should be wider than the abdomen, with a noticeable tuck-up (from chest to stomach). Overweight dogs will not have that distinction between the chest and stomach. They may walk a bit slower and sleep a lot.

Other factors may include the following:

• Appearing exhausted after minimal movement
• Avoiding fun activities
• Constant panting
• Having difficulty breathing (wheezing)
• Needing assistance to get on the couch, stairs, or car 
• Having some form of difficulty while standing up or lying down

Once you notice these few symptoms, it’s time you talk to your vet about it.

Conclusion

Having a dog comes with lots of responsibility. Each dog is a unique individual and you have to treat them as such. Health-wise, using the tips above will help you to ascertain if your dog is still in perfect shape. If they’re overweight, you should visit the veterinarian as soon as possible.

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