The number of obese or overweight adult dogs that veterinarians see in their practices is alarmingly rising. A healthy weight for your pet is a factor that will have a significant impact on their quality of life.

According to an RVC (Royal Veterinary College) survey, 1 in 14 dogs are diagnosed as overweight by their veterinarians each year.

Many pet owners with mobile pet grooming find it difficult to recognize when their animal is overweight. Knowing your pet’s optimal shape and having the ability to spot when they deviate from it are both crucial. To assist you in deciding if your pet is welcome in the city, we’ve prepared the Paws in the City handbook.

The ribs, pelvic bones, and spine of your pet are readily evident if they are underweight, and there is an obvious absence of body fat and muscular mass.

The ideal weight of your dog should allow you to easily see and feel the contour of their ribs from above, as well as their waist. When seen from the side, their tummy should be tucked in and not rounded or the same size as their chest.

Being overweight means having more body fat on their stomach, which is rounded when viewed from the side. no discernible waist when viewed from the top.

Your pet’s body condition can be graded by your veterinarian using the following system:

1 – Sluggish

2 – Being underweight and extremely

3 – Underweight with ribs and pelvic bones clearly visible

Ideal weight: 4/5

6 – 15% to 20% overweight

7 – Obese + 20-30%

8 – Obese + 30-45%

9 – Obese by at least 45%

What triggers obesity in pets?

Your pet may be more likely to become obese due to a number of causes. Many people believe that a pet’s weight can only be affected by nutrition and lack of activity. However, the following factors also affect your pet’s likelihood of developing obesity:

Breed of your pet

Age: As your pet ages, they are increasingly vulnerable.
Regardless of whether they were neutered, neutered animals are more vulnerable.
Sex – According to the RSCPA, female pets are more likely to be obese than male pets.
The pet owner’s weight affects how much they exercise their pet since an obese pet owner is less likely to give their pet enough exercise.

What risks may overweight pets pose?

If your pet is overweight, they run a higher chance of developing certain health issues and are probably going to live shorter lives.

In addition to being an issue in and of itself, your pet’s weight may also be a sign of a more serious underlying ailment that is bringing about these physical changes.

Your pet is more likely to develop illnesses like the following if they are overweight:

• • Diabetes
  • elevated blood pressure
  • Cancers
  • Heart condition
  • discomfort in the lungs

In hot weather, a pet who is overweight is far more likely to experience heat stroke. Make sure you provide your dog with cool, shaded spaces during hot weather or when you are out for a walk.

Joints

If you overlook the extra weight on your pet’s joints, it could develop arthritis. Your doctor can suggest suitable workouts to start the weight loss process as the extra weight may be putting stress on the animal’s joints. It is illogical to anticipate that an obese, inactive pet will immediately begin engaging in high-impact or high-energy workouts like jogging or jumping. To prevent overexerting your pet and hurting them, we advise beginning with slow walking. Since swimming is regarded as a supportive treatment, it can be very useful to the joints of overweight pets.

Using a ramp can make it simpler to perform things like getting out of the car, getting on and off of furniture, and ascending stairs. Stair climbing may be physically challenging for your pet, and such motions will put a lot of strain on their joints.

Please get in touch with Mobile pet grooming if you’re unsure whether your pet is the right weight for their breed and age. Our vet will conduct a health check on your pet and give you advice on the best food and activity plan to provide them.