How do I determine if my dog is overweight?

To determine if your dog is overweight, feel its ribs: You should be able to feel them without too much pressure. The waist should also be visible from above. A round belly is often a sign of being overweight. Also, observe its behavior - is it less active or quickly out of breath? A visit to your vet can also provide clarity, as they can professionally assess your dog's physical condition and determine the Body Condition Score (BCS).

What to do if your dog is overweight?

If your dog is carrying too much weight, you should support them in losing it. If your dog is too fat, it can indeed have health consequences. Achieving and maintaining the ideal weight for your pet is no problem with the right food, the appropriate amount of food, and sufficient exercise. There is also special diet and weight management food for dogs, which is calorie-reduced yet still satisfying.

What's the Best Way for a Dog to Lose Weight?

Pay attention to the daily food intake and also consider the snacks. Especially breeds with a large appetite tend to be overweight. In addition to your daily walks, you can increase the exercise depending on the severity of the overweight by walking faster or longer. Swimming can also help water-loving dogs lose weight and is also gentle on the joints.

Which Food for Overweight Dogs?

A healthy and species-appropriate diet for a dog consists of food with high-quality ingredients and without unnecessary additives such as grains, sugar, or flavorings. Pay attention to the appropriate amount of food and also consider snacks, and your dog will naturally lose weight. Additionally, you can also feed special diet and weight management food for dogs. This is usually a calorie-reduced food that still satisfies and tastes delicious.

How can I help my dog lose weight?

Helping your dog lose weight begins with a balanced, calorie-reduced diet and regular exercise. Avoid treats and instead give healthy snacks like carrots or cucumbers. Plan daily walks and gradually increase activity through games like fetch or agility training. Consult your veterinarian for a tailored nutrition and exercise plan to ensure your dog loses weight healthily.

Which nutrients are important in calorie-reduced dog food?

Calorie-reduced dog food should be rich in high-quality proteins to maintain muscle mass, and contain fibers that promote a feeling of fullness. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for joint health, especially in overweight dogs. Vitamins and minerals should also be included to support overall health. Make sure that the food contains little fat and easily digestible carbohydrates to reduce the calorie content without sacrificing nutrients.

Ran an den Speck: Übergewicht beim Hund bekämpfen und vermeiden

Time to tackle the fat: Overweight in dogs

When Beagle lady Molly starts panting after just four meters and she visually lives up to her name, it’s time for you and your four-legged friend: Grab the exercise mats, it’s time to tackle the fat.

Why being overweight in dogs is more than unhealthy, poses numerous risks to your beloved pet's life, and how your four-legged friend can regain their bikini figure, you will learn here.

The four biggest fatteners - Causes of overweight in pets

A half sausage from the grill, five treats in between, and whoosh, you can no longer tell Dachshund Waldi from the sausage on the grill. But not only a [→wrong diet](/magazin/hunde/hunde-ernaehrung/was-ist-gesundes-tierfutter) can lead to overweight in dogs and cats. Here they are - the five biggest fatteners:

1. Too many treats

Without a doubt, very few can resist the sparkling dog eyes that smile at you several times a day and want something tasty. And so, one treat easily turns into 10, and a number of excess pounds will end up on your pet's hips.

2. Begging

Maybe you are very consistent with your darling, and so far no crust of bread has found its way under the table and into the dog's belly. But perhaps you simply cannot resist, and the guilty conscience plagues you at the dining table while your darling watches and has a good hunger for a ham sandwich. Much of what is on your plate is a true fattening agent for your furry friend.

3. Too little exercise

Not only do you know it: As soon as you let regular exercise slide and prefer to spend your days on the couch, the pounds sneak onto the scale. Calories that your furry friend takes in with food must also be burned off, otherwise, they will settle in the form of fat rolls.

Mittelgroß & pfiffig!

Möglichkeiten & Tipps, um Hunde richtig auszulasten

4. Unhealthy food

Only the best for your treasure? But not everything that glitters is gold. A look at the labels of conventional pet food reveals: Questionable ingredients are involved, and natural nutrients are nowhere to be found.

Good pet food contains a lot of high-quality meat, such as muscle meat, liver, or hearts. Additionally, no preservatives, sugar, or grains should be included. Cheap pet food often contains fillers like grains, as production is cheaper this way - but these provide far too many carbohydrates that your furry friend cannot burn off, leading to weight gain.

Unser Futter für Hunde: gesund, ehrlich, lecker.

What does overweight do to my pet?

Aside from the fact that just the physical feeling can drastically limit the quality of life of your furry friend when they are overweight, obesity can be accompanied by numerous diseases. These often shorten the lifespan of your four-legged friend by several years. These five problems may arise for your four-legged friend if you let the excess fat run unchecked:

Joint diseases

The joints, bones, tendons, and ligaments of your furry friend are heavily stressed by their overweight. In the long term, this can lead to excessive wear and manifest as →arthritis or →hip dysplasia.

Cardiovascular system

The excess pounds lead to high blood pressure, increased blood fat levels, and heart problems.

Skin problems

Compared to normal-weight four-legged friends, the risk of →changes in skin and coat is significantly increased. With high obesity, the coat cleaning by your four-legged friend can no longer take place properly, and germs settle in the skin folds.

Diabetes

Overweight can, like in humans, cause metabolic disorders. The risk of your four-legged friend developing diabetes increases significantly with each kilo. In particular, sugary foods and types of feed promote this.

Immune system

The immune system is also affected by overweight. As a result, obese four-legged friends tend to have an increased susceptibility to infections and also find it harder to get rid of them - a vicious cycle.

Time to tackle the fat: How do I reduce my pet's overweight?

If your four-legged friend has been suffering from overweight (for a while), it is advisable to consult a veterinarian. In rare cases, serious underlying conditions may be responsible for the weight gain that cannot be treated solely by weight reduction. If the veterinarian gives the green light, it’s time to tackle the fat!

But just as quickly as pounds sneak onto the scale, they are rarely lost again easily. Gradually change the food and pay attention to the lower raw fat content in the analytical components of the dog food.

Your darling should lose a maximum of 2% of their body weight per week, so do not cut out their meals or drastically reduce the amount of food.

Gesund snacken war nie so lecker!

How do I prevent overweight in my four-legged friend?

Ideally, your four-legged friend should never find themselves in a situation of being overweight. The dangerous combination of too little exercise and too much (unhealthy) food should be avoided, and it’s important to maintain a healthy balance in these aspects.

Structure in feeding times is not only important for the training of your four-legged friend but can also be useful for maintaining a healthy weight. Set two fixed meals a day, whether you feed your furry friend from a bowl or on the go doesn’t matter.

Also avoid pet food that contains grains, sugar, and other additives. For dogs prone to weight gain, an early switch to special →food for overweight dogs can help keep their weight in check long-term. A good food is half the battle in ensuring your darling a long and healthy life.

Treats should always be included in the daily food ration! Also, do not reward them in between just because they are cute, but demand some movement from them.

Additionally, you can also replace treats with petting, which strengthens the bond between you and your four-legged friend better than any chew stick.

[TRANSLATION ERROR] Die richtige Futtermenge ist so individuell wie jeder Hund und sogar innerhalb einer Rasse variiert diese Menge je nach Aktivität, Alter und gesundheitlichem Zustand.

If your furry friend is already struggling with overweight, it means stress for both of you and high costs at your veterinarian. Your four-legged friend will thank you if you address the topic of healthy pet food in a timely manner and find the most irresistible food for them.

If you have not yet found the right food for your darling and need help, you can get free telephone advice from us on all questions regarding food.

Lena M.

Fighting and preventing obesity in dogs