What dog is most prone to obesity?
Elton Anderson
2025-08-26 14:14:36
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: 19
Certain breeds are particularly prone to weight gain, meaning their owners need to be especially careful. Eight breeds showed increased risk of overweight status compared with crossbred dogs: Pug (x 3.12), Beagle (x 2.67), Golden Retriever (x 2.58), English Springer Spaniel (x 1.98), Border Terrier (x 1.72), Labrador Retriever (x 1.70), Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (x 1.50) and Cocker Spaniel (x 1.32). Camilla Pegram, VetCompass™ Epidemiologist at the RVC, and author of the paper, said, “Whilst veterinary professionals and owners should focus efforts on obesity prevention strategies in all dogs, those identified at high-risk, such as Pugs, Beagles and Golden Retrievers, may need a more targeted approach.” Dr Eleanor Raffan, Associate Lecturer in Systems Physiology, at the University of Cambridge, and co-author of the paper, added, “Where breed increases risk of a problem, it means genes are likely to be at least in part to blame and our previous work suggests that genetics drives a high appetite in some breeds.
The study also highlighted that being “neutered and middle-aged” were associated with increasing chances of dogs being overweight. Dogs aged 6 to < 9 (years) had the highest risk of overweight status (x 2.99) compared with dogs < 3. Neutered males had the highest risk (x 1.90) compared with entire females.
Dr Dan O’Neill, Senior Lecturer, Companion Animal Epidemiology, at the RVC, and co-author of the paper, said, “To defeat your enemy, you need to know your enemy. Obesity is the enemy of the health of our dogs. “This new study identifies the breeds and ages of dogs that are most susceptible to obesity; we can use this information to defeat obesity.”
Justine Koelpin
2025-08-19 19:16:56
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: 20
Pugs are one particular breed that have a lower metabolism than many other dogs. The top five breeds with lowest metabolism are: Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Cairn Terriers, Pugs, and Cocker Spaniels. Katie McCaul established which breeds are more prone to being overweight, and how owners can combat it. Any excess weight from not being able to metabolise effectively could cause issues such as painful arthritis, liver/kidney disease, cancer or heart failure. There are a plethora of reasons why your dog could be gaining weight, such as genetics, age, and gender, as females have a greater tendency to gain weight - as do dogs that are neutered. A big contributing factor to obesity in dogs is indulging your pets with excess treats and overfeeding, so it’s important to be mindful of the correct portion size and diet that suits your dog’s breed and requirements. Katie outlined the healthy weights to aim for, for dogs that have a lower metabolism. The healthy weight ranges are: Labrador Retrievers: Males 29-36 kg. Females 24-31 kg, Golden Retrievers Males: 29-34 kg. Females 24-29 kg, Cairn Terriers: Males 6.3 kg. Females 5.8 kg, Pugs: Males and females 6.3-8.16 kg, Cocker Spaniels: Males 12-15 kg. Females 11-14 kg.
Tiffany Gerhold
2025-08-07 08:49:20
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: 20
In addition, certain dog breeds can be predisposed to obesity, including: Golden Retriever Labrador Retriever Cocker Spaniel Dachshund Beagle Boxer Pug. The most obvious cause of obesity in dogs is overfeeding, which can include the dog’s regular wet or dry food, treats designed for dogs, and “table scraps” or human foods. Inadequate exercise can also lead to your dog becoming overweight. There are some medical conditions that cause obesity, including hypothyroidism and hyperadrenocorticism, also known as Cushing’s disease. Up to 65% of dogs in the United States are considered overweight or obese. Obesity can contribute to many conditions in dogs, including: Arthritis Pancreatitis Kidney disease Respiratory compromise Decreased exercise and heat tolerance Increased risk of cardiovascular disease Abnormal response to insulin Increased anesthetic risk Decreased quality of life. Dogs that weigh at least 10% above their ideal body weight are considered overweight, while dogs weighing 20% more than ideal are considered obese. Excess body weight can be a contributing factor in many diseases. Showing love by showering your dog with treats may actually result in a shortened lifespan and decreased quality of life if the excess calories result in obesity.
Beatrice Lueilwitz
2025-07-30 09:21:41
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: 23
Roughly half of the dogs in the UK are estimated to be overweight or obese. Breeds such as Retrievers and Labradors are more motivated by food than other dogs, researchers found. Analysis revealed popular sporting group breeds – including Retrievers, Spaniels and Setters – are about 10 per cent more likely to be motivated by food than other dogs. Our study confirmed that dogs in the sporting group — which in our study group were largely Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers — have a greater likelihood to have high food motivation. Labradors are some of the most popular dog breeds around the world, but they are known to pile on the pounds. Unsurprisingly, dogs with higher food motivation were more likely to be overweight. Given that these are two of the most common breeds… it is vital that both veterinarians and dog owners understand the diet management strategies necessary for achieving a healthy weight. The data showed that hounds were next most likely to be motivated by food.
Jordane Cummings
2025-07-30 06:09:12
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: 11
Labrador Retrievers are the most likely to pile on the pounds. One reason that Labradors are so likely to be overweight or obese is their genetics. Most Labradors have a deleted gene which makes them more food motivated. This can make them easier to train, and makes them more likely to be a successful assistance dog. However, this mutation also means that Labradors can’t recognise when they feel full, so they overeat and put on weight. Another reason why Labrador Retrievers are more likely to be obese is because it’s become normal to see overweight dogs. Since such a large proportion of the breed are chunky, people’s perception shifts to think that’s how they’re meant to look.
In a study by the Royal Veterinary College, Pugs are the breed mostly likely to be overweight. They found that Pugs were 3.12x more likely to be overweight, and in some studies, over 60% of Pugs were obese.
Cocker Spaniels are also one of the breeds most at risk of being a bit chunky.
Dachshunds may be prone to being overweight because of their unique sausage shape.
Another dog breed prone to obesity is the Basset Hound, but there’s no definitive reason why they’re at high risk.
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