CANINE OBESITY
A preventable killer
Http://www.delayekennel.com

Overview
40% of dogs in the USA are overweight or obese
Pfizer animal health found through a study, that Veterinarian’s
consider 47% of their patients are overweight or obese but only 17%
of their owners think the same
Sources report 17,000,000 overweight or obese dogs in the USA .
Obesity contributes to many preventable illnesses and deaths in
dogs
Pictured is a Standard Dachshund recently in the news. Maximum
weight for a male Doxie is 32 lbs. He weighs 70

Breeds prone to obesity
Any dog can become overweight or obese. However certain breeds are more likely. Some breeds
are picky eaters, others will eat until they burst.
Common breeds most likely to become obese are:
Dalmatians
Labrador Retrievers
Golden Retrievers
Boxers
Cocker Spaniels
Dachshunds
German Shepherds
Beagles
Basset Hounds
Scottish Terriers
Yorkshire Terriers
Shih Tzu
English Bulldog
French Bulldog
Chihuahua
Mixes of any of the above breeds

Causes of Obesity
Spaying or neutering
Feeding habits
Slow metabolism usually after 5years. A
real problem if your dog is obese by 2 yr.
Lack of exercise
Hormonal disorders
Breed of dog
Medications especially steroids

Health Problems
Osteoarthritis
Cardiac disease
Respiratory conditions
Heat stroke
Inability to exercise
Skin problems
Immune system compromised
Cruciate or intervertebral disk rupture
Surgical risk
Diabetes

Signs of obesity
Feel your dog’s ribs. If there is so much fat you
cannot easily feel all of the ribs he is obese
Look from above. Does he have a waist? You
should be able to see a visible narrowing just
past the 13th or last rib .
Pendulous belly fat. A dog should not have a
beer belly.
Have your Veterinarian check your dog over. He
can tell you if he should go on a diet. Don’t be
the 83% of pet owners who refuse to
acknowledge their dog is fat . Listen to your
Veteranarian and keep your pet healthy.

Tips to keep them fit
Feed a top quality dog food. Feed your adult dog the least amount
recommended for your dog’s ideal weight. Some dogs do need the higher
amount due to metabolism but start out with the lower. Until a dog is full
grown (up to one and two years for large and giant breeds 7 months small
dogs do not feed to maintain the adult weight. Puppies need maximum
nutrition and extra food to grow properly )
Do not free feed an adult dog . Feed twice a day.
Exercise him daily. Depending on the breed and age the exercise, can be
walks, jogging, swimming, or chasing a ball .
For treats use veggies and fruits. Carrots ,string beans ,apple, melon,
banana, and other non-starchy vegetables make great lo cal treats. Also
plain popcorn.
Have a full pysical to make sure your dog dose not have health problem
making him obese.
Your Veterinarian can recommend the best diet for your dog if he is
overweight or obese