Obesity is a growing problem among dogs
across the US. This health issue continues to worsen and has affected more than
50% of canines. There are a series of diseases that come along with the extra
pounds. Your role as a pet owner is to be watchful of the daily caloric intake
of your pet.
Health problems can be a lot more
frequent and are more common in overweight dogs. Canine obesity is associated
with several health issues including diabetes, cardiorespiratory and kidney
disease, osteoarthritis, even some cancers. With all these conditions and their
complications, their lifespans are tremendously reduced to 2.5 years.
The excess weight will exert a lot of
force on their joints which can lead to arthritis. Not only will it cause
limitations in how your dog moves, but it can cause them severe pain. For cats,
a significant change in their appearance provides the best clue that they are
already obese. Obese cats would appear unkempt in some areas of their body
because they can no longer twist and stretch to groom themselves.