Canine Obesity Can Lead to Health Problems

Whilst the physiology of a cat or a dog might be quite different to our own there are some similarities. For example, when we overeat and don’t get enough exercise our health begins to suffer. One of the common complications of a bad diet is obesity, which is just as much of a problem for dogs as it is for us.

Actually, you could argue that it’s more of a problem. Dogs are necessarily active animals and get much of their enjoyment from running and playing around. Obesity can make dogs much less active and therefore undermine the quality of their life.

It gets worse; obesity in dogs can lead to all sorts of serious problems for pets:

Being overweight can be a leading factor in causing various diseases. For example, it can lead to heart disease, liver disease and even exacerbate skin disease. Just like with humans, these diseases can be very severe, even fatal.

One of the most common conditions that afflict canines is arthritis. Arthritis isn’t a curable condition but its severity can be managed. Dogs are carrying too much weight put their joints under too much pressure, which can make arthritis more severe.

As well as causing various diseases, arthritis can also make your dog much less comfortable. Many overweight dogs are less able to deal with heat, will sweat more and be generally unhappy.

So, next time you’re in a real world or virtual pet shop think about what products are good for your dog and what can help them maintain a healthy weight.