Causes of dog obesity

Be aware that you don't have to go it alone to treat your dog's obesity. Warn other family members, friends, and neighbors not to give your dog any more treats.

We recommend that you consult your veterinarian to determine your pet's ideal weight based on its breed, size, and other factors that may come into play, which we will discuss later.

To avoid the unwanted weight gain that could be dangerous to your pet's health, your pet must have a healthy lifestyle.

Obesity is a disease that is becoming more and more frequent in our pets. It is defined by excess weight of 15% compared to the ideal weight of your pet.

Causes of obesity in dogs

There are two different categories of causes of obesity.

Causes related to what your pet eats:

• An all-you-can-eat or unbalanced diet
• Treats that are often rich in fat or sugar (a cookie given to a dog weighing 10 kg is equivalent to eating a hamburger for a human)

Causes not directly related to your dog's diet:

• Low or non-existent sports activity
• Sterilization: the energy expenditure is less important in a male or female dog that has been operated on than in a "whole" animal
• Females are more exposed to the risk of obesity
• Age: the older a dog gets, the lower its caloric needs become
• Some breeds are more prone to obesity, such as Labradors, Cavalier King Charles, Cockers, Colleys, Dachshunds, Beagles, Terriers, etc.
• Hormonal disease such as diabetes or hypothyroidism: certain medications can increase your dog's appetite and therefore its weight gain
• Genetics (hereditary obesity)
• Behavior: anxiety and depression can lead to bulimia