What reduces the risk of obesity?
Access to healthy, affordable foods and safe, convenient places for physical activity can impact obe Read More
What are the risks of obesity in dogs?
Zack Kuhn
2025-09-01 02:05:18
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If your dog is obese, it will be at higher risk of a number of chronic and life-long conditions which it's important to be aware of. If your dog is overweight or obese, they are at greater risk of a number of serious and life-changing conditions:
Significantly reduced life expectancy
Cardio and respiratory problems
Diabetes
Reduction in immunity and therefore at risk of infections and other illness
Osteoarticular diseases such as arthritis
Cardiovascular disease
Urinary calcium oxalate calculi
Dogs who are obese are also likely to be lethargic, lack motivation and energy, and exhibit poor levels of effort when it comes to exercise, play or activity.
When a dog becomes obese, its body begins to store food and nutrients as fat because it's using less energy playing or moving than it's taking in through its diet.
This fat begins to infiltrate organs (such as the liver) meaning they function less effectively.
Fat also begins to 'coat' the organs, placing greater pressure on them and reducing their ability to work well – for example, there's greater pressure on the arteries in an obese dog than a healthy dog, which means they're more likely to suffer with cardiovascular disease.
As your dog is carrying around more weight, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to move; their joints begin to suffer because they're not built to carry excess weight.
Andre Bosco
2025-08-24 19:08:02
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Obesity is a chronic inflammatory condition that can shorten a dog’s life and predispose it to diseases like diabetes mellitus, orthopedic conditions, or cancer. Studies show that being even moderately overweight can reduce life expectancy by nearly two years. Fat cells secrete inflammatory hormones and create oxidative stress on the body’s tissues, which contributes to several diseases. Compared to lean or “fit” dogs, overweight and obese dogs develop an increased risk of the following problems: Cancer, Diabetes mellitus, Heart disease, Hypertension, Osteoarthritis and faster degeneration of affected joints, Urinary bladder stones, Anesthetic complications. Obesity may also be an indicator of diseases such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease.
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People with obesity have a higher chance of developing these health problems: High blood glucose or Read More
Abdiel Walsh
2025-08-22 01:58:32
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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. Excess body weight can be a contributing factor in many diseases. Up to 65% of dogs in the United States are considered overweight or obese. 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. Decreased exercise and heat tolerance, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, and abnormal response to insulin are also risks associated with obesity in dogs. Increased anesthetic risk and decreased quality of life are additional risks.
Ronaldo Kovacek
2025-08-12 14:49:54
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Pet obesity can cause serious health problems, and make existing problems worse, which can reduce the length and quality of your pet's life. It puts them at greater risk of conditions such as: Diabetes, Heart disease, Respiratory distress, High blood pressure, Cancers. In dogs, several factors can make obesity more likely, for example, Breed - certain breeds have a higher risk. Age - the risk increases with age. Neuter status - neutered dogs are more at risk. Sex - apart from older dogs, obesity is reported to be more common in females. Obese owner - may lead to having an obese dog as it may be exercised less, or less able to recognise obesity.
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How do you manage obesity in dogs?
It won't surprise you that the common reason for canine obesity is overeating and a corresponding la Read More
What are the risk factors associated with canine overweightness and obesity in an owner reported survey?
Seven factors were significantly associated with both overweightness/obesity and obesity alone in al Read More
Vergie Murray
2025-08-02 05:19:05
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: 17
Obesity affects nearly every major organ and body system and often leads to shorter lifespans. The most common risk of obesity in dogs is worsening arthritis because the extra weight increases the stress on dogs’ bones, joints, and muscles. However, obesity can contribute to the development of arthritis because when there is an excessive amount of fat cells present in the body, they release pro-inflammatory mediators, which can contribute to the development of arthritis by perpetuating the inflammation process over time. Obesity also puts dogs at a higher risk of complications should they need to go under anesthesia because of the added weight on their lungs and respiratory system.