Optimal dog weight

For example, a dog of the Rottweiler breed (dry type of constitution) can be obese, even if its weight fits into the breed standards. In addition, breed weight standards are based on healthy adult dogs and do not take into account the characteristics of growing dogs and older dogs. For a more accurate assessment of your pet’s fatness, you should use the 5-point body condition assessment table. Assessment should be made by inspection and palpation.

Recommendations:

1. The weight of the dog is below normal. If your pet falls into the first two categories, then try to find out whether the cause is disease or improper/insufficient feeding:

• Consider if your dog has any diseases that are manifested by weight loss. For example, some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can prevent nutrients from being absorbed normally.

• Remember how often and with what drugs you treat parasites.

• What do you feed your dog: homemade food or ready-made food? Does this diet meet the needs of the dog?

• Assess the feeding and housing regimen: is the dog getting enough food? What is her activity level? Are there other animals in the house?

2. The dog has a normal weight. Is your dog in the third category? Congratulations! But still, do not forget that preventive examinations by a veterinarian are the basis for maintaining health. And remember about regular processing from internal and external parasites.

3. The weight of the dog is above the norm. If your pet belongs to the fourth or fifth category, it is worth understanding what the reason is: perhaps it is associated with a disease, or overfeeding or lack of physical activity is to blame. If a dog is obese due to a disease, reducing food and increasing activity can greatly worsen its condition. If the dog really overeats, then it is important to remember the danger of losing weight too quickly. It is important to analyze the diet and conditions of detention: what if at home a small child and a dog just sits under the table and eats everything that the child throws off? Or does he eat not only his own, but also all cat food?

In any case, if your dog’s weight is not normal, you should contact your veterinarian – he will help to correctly determine the causes, prescribe treatment if necessary, or give recommendations on nutrition and physical activity.

The article is not a call to action!

For a more detailed study of the problem, we recommend contacting a specialist.

Ask the vet

August 28 2017

Updated: October 5, 2018