{"id":2857,"date":"2019-03-07T10:00:01","date_gmt":"2019-03-07T16:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/?p=2857"},"modified":"2024-01-17T17:05:33","modified_gmt":"2024-01-17T23:05:33","slug":"overweight-dog-problem-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com\/health\/overweight-dog-problem-study\/","title":{"rendered":"The Lifestyle of Overweight Dogs: A Sobering Study"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
People aren\u2019t the only ones who need to worry about a mid-life spare tire. Obesity\u205fin\u205fdogs\u205fis\u205fa\u205fmajor\u205fproblem, too. But it\u2019s not just a matter of letting the collar out a few notches or buying a roomier dog bed \u2014 a recent study of chubby middle-aged dogs shows that curbing obesity in dogs could actually add years to their lives.<\/p>\n
Researchers examined the medical records of more than 50,700 middle-aged, spayed or neutered dogs<\/a>, comparing the life spans of overweight pups against their normal-weight counterparts. Published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine,<\/em> the study found that dogs with ideal body weights lived up to 2.5 years longer.<\/p>\n The scientists compared 12 purebred breeds \u2014 representing five general sizes \u2014 including chihuahuas, Pomeranians, shih tzus, dachshunds, Yorkshire terriers, cocker spaniels, beagles, boxers, German shepherds, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers and pit bull terriers. All overweight dogs, on average, lived shorter life spans than normal-weight dogs, ranging from 2.5 years shorter for Yorkshire terriers to just a few months less for German shepherds.<\/p>\n In the United States, approximately 56 percent of dogs and 60 percent of cats are overweight or obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. A dog or cat is considered overweight if it\u2019s 10 to 19 percent heavier than its ideal body weight. When that figure creeps up to 20 percent or more, the pet falls into the obese category.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not sure what your pet should weigh, ask your veterinarian. These BMI charts for dogs<\/a>\u00a0can also help you determine if your pet is perhaps a little too roly-poly.<\/p>\n Obesity is considered a chronic inflammatory condition, contributing to changes in insulin resistance, metabolism and appetite control. Those few extra pounds can put your dog at risk of a range of diseases and conditions including cruciate ligament tears, arthritis, diabetes and even certain types of cancer.<\/p>\nOverweight Dogs Are A Common Problem<\/h3>\n
Extra Pounds, Extra Health Risks for Overweight Dogs<\/h3>\n