Most dog owners didn't know that their dogs were overweight at first, and they were not told that their dogs were obese until they took them to the vet for another reason.
Overweight dogs may have difficulty breathing or walking, and may not be able to tolerate high temperature or exercise.
Diagnosis of dog obesity
Veterinarians will give dogs various diagnostic tests to determine the overall health status and provide weight loss suggestions based on the diagnosis results. Related tests may include:
1. Comprehensive veterinary examination, including accurate weight measurement and physical condition assessment. Among them, the historical review of the dog's weight change is usually helpful to find out the reasons for its weight gain, and may be helpful to determine the specific events or environmental changes that will lead to weight gain.
2. Routine blood tests, including whole blood cell count, serum examination and urine analysis, can be used to determine whether dogs have potential diseases. If the results of these tests show that there is a problem, the veterinarian will give the dog additional tests before starting the weight loss plan to determine the situation more accurately.
3. The veterinarian will evaluate all the foods, snacks, leftovers and exercise plans that your dog currently consumes every day, and then make a more suitable weight loss plan according to the evaluation results. Obviously, if the calculated calorie intake exceeds the daily energy required by an ideal weight dog, then excessive calorie intake is the cause of obesity.
Treatment of dog obesity
Dog owners are advised to treat any potential diseases that may lead to obesity in time, and the relevant treatment methods are as follows:
1. Reduce the daily calorie intake of dogs by changing dog food products (choosing some diet recipes on the market) or changing the daily feeding amount.
Sometimes, it may be necessary to increase fiber or water intake.
3. Increase physical exercise activities. In order to strengthen exercise, there are various leashes and toys to choose from.
Home care
Losing weight is not only a dog's task, but also your task. All family members must take the responsibility of losing weight for dogs. It is helpful to closely monitor the dog's intake and weight. Someone better feed your dog. In addition, all members should help it exercise or exercise with it.
In order to achieve a significant weight loss effect, the dog's food must be transformed into a therapeutic diet specially designed for weight loss. If you simply reduce the dog's daily food intake, it is usually difficult to lose weight. In addition, as a dog owner, we must accurately measure the amount of food and minimize food rewards. If necessary, you can also provide some low-calorie snacks, such as some vegetables (such as carrots).
Because it is often necessary to adjust the feeding plan, it is recommended that you take the dog for examination every 4-6 weeks to monitor the weight loss. When your dog approaches the ideal weight, you still have to reduce the calorie intake further to keep the weight down.
Most dogs usually need 8- 12 months to lose weight to reach their ideal weight. When owners and family members are committed to improving the health of pets, most dogs can really reach the ideal or close to the ideal weight. After that, most dog owners will choose to continue to feed their dogs diet meals, but maintain their pets' ideal weight with higher food dosage.
Specific suggestions depend on the root causes, and related diseases and countermeasures are as follows:
1. Excessive calorie intake. Even if the dog reaches the ideal weight, it should continue to eat low-calorie food, try to eat less snacks and exercise more.
2. Diabetes. For this disease, it is necessary to check it regularly to monitor the dose status and effectiveness of insulin. In addition, changes in weight should also be checked regularly.
3. Hypothyroidism. Similarly, regular review is necessary to monitor the dose status and effectiveness of thyroid. Changes in weight should also be checked regularly.
Blood thyroid levels should also be checked regularly, especially if the dog is losing weight.
5. Hyperadrenocorticism. Regular review is necessary to monitor medical management. Changes in weight should also be checked regularly.