Common Health Threats in Dogs
Based on pet-insurance providers, most dogs nowadays suffer from obesity. This is a common problem and almost half of the dogs we have nationwide are obese or overweight. Here are some of the reasons that have caused an increase in cases of obesity. And if you want to prevent your dog from being obese or overweight, then you need to monitor these conditions and visit the vet regularly.
1. General limping
Limping or lameness is often attributed to arthritis, and if your dog is obese it will experience stress on the joints. That means you may have to spend more in vet visits to treat the arthritis. And trust me, treating arthritis isn’t cheap!
2. Cancer
Your dog might be suffering from rare forms of cancer that is common in obese or overweight pets. Cancer is expensive to treat and you would rather ensure your dog has healthy weight to prevent the onset of preventable diseases.
3. Tummy troubles
Pets often consume more food when given a chance, right? Overeating is a problem and it can cause diarrhea and vomiting. Statistics now show that more than 900 dogs have tummy problems every month.
4. Urinary tract infections
Several condition cause the onset of urinary tract problems in dogs. However, obese or overweight dogs are at a higher risk of urinary tract infections since they are unable to clean those inaccessible places.
5. Ligament injuries
Obese dogs are also likely to suffer from ligament injuries due to excess stress on their joints and weaker muscles. These ligament injuries are costly to treat.
6. Heart disease
Obesity is closely related to inactivity, poor organ function and high blood pressure, and all these factors can easily cause the onset of heart disease. Remember that heart disease can lead to death, and that’s why you should prevent your dog from being obese or overweight.
7. Back attack
Some dog breeds such as the Basset Hound are typically vulnerable to back injury than other dog breeds. Obesity can increase the chances of your dog developing this disease.
Conclusion
Unlike most of the conditions mentioned above, obesity in pets is preventable. Important steps you need to take with respect to preventing your dog from being obese include daily exercise and healthy diets. But if you don’t know the right calorie count your dog needs to consume on a daily basis, you should visit a vet who will guide you accordingly.
References: Modern Dog Magazine, Webmd, 1800petmeds
