Troubled by Obesity issues with your dog? Here's why!!
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Problems of Obesity in Dogs:
Pet obesity is increasing at an alarming rate in our country. Are you one of those pet parents plagued with the Obesity issues in dogs ?. There are varied reasons behind this epidemic. Some breeds seem to be more effected than others. For example, Dobermans don’t seem to put on much weight at all. Labradors, on the other hand, are a different story. There are several health implications of the Problems of Obesity in dogs.
Dr Tousif Khan, a veterinarian practicing in Kolkata, has the following to say about dog obesity.
“Obesity is a huge problem especially in those dogs whose owners are not able to devote some time for dog walking. Exercise is of prime importance for dogs. The time needed for walking varies according to breed”.
Obese dogs can fall prey to a number of health problems. Following are just a few of Obesity issues in dogs :
Diabetes
Osteoarthritis
A short life (a study found that dogs with normal weight lived longer than obese dogs)
Inter-vertebral disk disease (it’s a very depressing condition which can render a dog immobile)
Heart problems
Breathing problems
Conditions like high cholesterol which in turn can lead to diseases like gastrointestinal disease and pancreatitis
Bladder/Urinary Tract Disease
Liver Disease
Chronic kidney disease
Why does a dog become obese?
Not taking out the dog for regular walking .An inactive pet can become obese in no time. Sadly many pet parents don’t have the time to take out their dog.
Feeding by multiple family members – several members of the same family feed the dog at different times
When we Feed sweets and other items with high sugar (for example cake)
Giving supplements which are high in fat
Mandakini Vasudevan, is a devoted a pet parent living in Bangalore. The city is reportedly home to the largest number of obese pets in India. Here is what she has to say about dog obesity.
“We are seeing increasing number of Canine Diabetes these days. Just the other day I met a Labrador at a vet’s clinic diagnosed with Diabetes. Severe weight gain is traced back to the dog being on an all-kibble diet. It’s becoming an epidemic among large breeds. Dogs don’t need grains. But it is still acceptable compared to kibble. Kibble can contain up to 80% of carbohydrates. The highly processed Kibble puts so much strain on the pancreas that it causes inflammation of the pancreas. A daily diet of kibble leads to destruction of pancreatic tissue, pancreatitis and finally, diabetes.”
So, how to deal with an obese dog? Following are a few tips:
Avoid all grains and rice (or give in low quantities)
Supplement the cooked food with turmeric, pepper and coconut oil (or make a golden paste
Include pro-biotics in their diet. Buttermilk is an excellent source of the same
Switch your dog to a raw food diet
Why raw food for Dogs
Dogs which eat a raw food diet tend to be healthier than other dogs. This is because they benefit from eating food in a natural unprocessed form. They get to derive more vitamins, minerals and enzymes than other dogs which are on a normal diet.
“We are seeing increasing number of Canine Diabetes these days. Just the other day I met a Labrador at a vet’s clinic diagnosed with Diabetes. Severe weight gain is traced back to the dog being on an all-kibble diet. It’s becoming an epidemic among large breeds. Dogs don’t need grains. But it is still acceptable compared to kibble. Kibble can contain up to 80% of carbohydrates. The highly processed Kibble puts so much strain on the pancreas that it causes inflammation of the pancreas. A daily diet of kibble leads to destruction of pancreatic tissue, pancreatitis and finally, diabetes.”