Distinguishing Real vs. Fake Fat in Dogs: A Quick Guide
What Are the Dangers of Overweight in Dogs?
Excessive weight in dogs can lead to an increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. They are also more prone to allergies, skin conditions, and increased pressure on their joints—especially for breeds like Corgis, French Bulldogs, Pekingese, and Dachshunds, which have short legs and long bodies.
Obese dogs face a higher risk of complications during surgeries and anesthesia.
Just like humans, obesity in dogs can bring about numerous inconveniences.
How to Determine If a Dog Is Overweight?
There are many online charts showing the standard weight for dogs, but these can be inaccurate. Even within the same breed, variations in size and bone structure can lead to different weights.
Therefore, determining a dog's weight should not solely rely on numbers but also on their body shape.
Underweight
Underweight dogs have clearly visible ribs and a severely sunken waist, with the backbone easily felt through the skin. The ribs are prominent when touched, and there is almost no subcutaneous fat.
Slightly Underweight
The ribs and waist are visible, and the ribs can be felt when touched, with a thin layer of subcutaneous fat covering the bones. Causes of this condition may include picky eating, parasites, inadequate nutrition, irregular feeding schedules, illness, lack of sunlight and exercise.
Standard Weight
The ideal body shape for a dog is one where you can feel the ribs and backbone when you touch them, and you can also see the waistline. The dog's limbs should be wellmuscled with a graceful silhouette. This is the most suitable body type for a dog.
Slightly Overweight
Slightly overweight dogs have ribs that are not easily seen and are not easily felt when touched. The waist is slightly protruding, and you can pinch a thick layer of fat around the back of the neck.
Overweight
Ribs are not visible and cannot be felt, and there is a lot of fat when touched. The waist and abdomen are distinctly protruding, and the fat wobbles when walking. If a dog is in this condition, it's time to consider weight loss.
How to Help a Dog Lose Weight?
1. Choose lowfat, lowsugar, and lowcarbohydrate dog food.
2. Control the amount of food they consume.
3. Increase exercise and sunlight exposure to build a stronger body.
4. Be cautious about weight gain after spaying or neutering. After these procedures, hormonal changes can make dogs more lazy and less active. It's important to control their diet to prevent weight gain.
