As responsible dog owners, it’s our duty to keep our dogs in the best health we possibly can. That means making sure they are a perfect weight. Of course, there are fluctuations in body weight just as there are in humans. But dogs have healthy weight ranges that we should always keep in mind as we care for our dogs.
How can we determine if our dogs are at the ideal weight anyway? Is there a way of eyeballing it if you can’t constantly measure them? You can and we’ll show you how!
Why Does Your Dog’s Weight Matter?
To keep your dog happy and healthy, bodyweight is a huge factor. More so than you probably think.
Sure. We’ve all seen those low energy dogs like the fat, jolly, neighbourhood Labrador with a round face and a waddling walk. That dog may be happy and the owner may be certain that they love their food, but their internal organs tell a different story.
Your dog doesn’t have the same awareness of how much they are eating as we do. It’s not entirely true that a dog will eat until they die. They do have a concept of being full. However, for the most part, dogs do better with regimented meal times as opposed to nibbling throughout the day like cats. It depends on your dog’s specific eating habits though. Adapt as necessary.
What Happens If My Dog Is Obese?
Obesity in dogs is an epidemic in itself. It’s estimated that 25-30% of dogs in North America are clinically obese. Obesity in dogs is also much more common than underweight issues. Particularly for dogs who are truly loved by their owners. It’s rare for an owner to starve their dog accidentally. But overfeeding is a slippery slope. It starts with giving your dog spare scraps from your own food. Then you introduce more treats to make your dog feel even more loved. It all adds up, this is why it’s critical to feed your dog the correct amount based off their size and activity levels.
