Causes, risks & what really helps
Overweight in dogs
Obesity in dogs is a widespread problem - and often harder to recognise than you might think. At first glance, anoverweight dog often simply appears to be "well-fed", but long-term obesity can have serious consequences for health, mobility and quality of life.
How can I recognise if my dog is overweight?
Not all weight gain is immediately visible. Typical signs of overweight in dogs are:
- Ribs are no longer easily palpable
- No recognisable waistline from above
- Belly line hangs or runs straight
- Your dog gets tired more quickly or is less active
- Shortness of breath with little exertion
The Body Condition Score (BCS) is a helpful guide. It rates your dog's body condition on a scale of 1 to 9. A healthy score is usually between 4 and 5.
If you are unsure whether your dog is overweight or how severe it is, our veterinary nutritional counselling at PERRO will be happy to help you with an individual assessment.
Causes & risks of obesity in dogs
Common causes of obesity in dogs
- Too large portions of food
- Lots of snacks & chews in addition to the main food
- Lack of exercise
- Castration (altered metabolism)
- Age (lower energy requirements)
- Hormonal diseases
Important: A dog can also become overweight even though it is fed little food if calorie requirements and food composition do not match.
Health risks
Adog that is overweight has a significantly increased risk of:
- Joint problems & osteoarthritis
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Diabetes
- Respiratory problems
- Shortened life expectancy
Suitable products for overweight dogs from our PERRO range
- Single-protein recipe with hypoallergenic goat - ideal for sensitive dogs
- Semi-moist croquette with soft bite - extra flavourful & high acceptance
- Reduced energy content - ideal for overweight or senior dogs
- Grain and gluten-free - with potatoes & peas as a digestible source of energy
- With chondroitin & glucosamine - supports joints & mobility
- Herbal mix for digestion, immune system & general well-being
- Extra low in fat - ideal for metabolic problems & pancreatic insufficiency
- Wholesome supply despite reduced fat intake
- With fibre to support digestion & intestinal flora
- Can contribute to the stabilisation of blood sugar levels
- Omega-3 & -6 fatty acids for skin, coat & immune system
- Quick feeling of satiety and optimal nutrient absorption
- Low in energy & fat - for weight control or weight reduction
- High crude fibre content for long-lasting satiety
- Mussel extracts support bones & joints despite diet
- With omega-3 & -6 fatty acids for heart, skin & shine
- Natural fibre promotes healthy digestion
- Complete nutrient supply despite reduced calorie intake
- Lean poultry meat for high-quality proteins with a low fat content
- Exotic ostrich meat - hypoallergenic, low in cholesterol and very well tolerated
- Gluten-free rice as a gentle source of energy for sensitive stomachs - also as a light diet
- Safflower oil provides essential fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- Carrots provide natural vitamins and promote eyesight
- Ideal for weight management and a light, balanced diet
How much should my dog weigh? (depending on the stage of life)
The ideal weight for dogs depends on the following factors:
- Dog breed
- Size of the dog
- Age of the dog
- Activity level
- State of health
Rules of thumb:
- Puppies & young dogs: even growth, no "flab"
- Adult dogs: slim, well-muscled, visible waistline
- Seniors: Slightly less muscle mass is normal, fat gain is not
If you want to put your dog dieting, an individually determined ideal weight is particularly important. Our veterinary nutritional counselling at PERRO will help you to determine the right target weight and find a diet plan that really suits your dog.
Our tips for overweight dogs
Diet & exercise for obesity
Nutrition
- Weigh portion sizes exactly
- Reduce snacks or deduct them from the daily requirement
- Avoid high-calorie chews
- High quality Diet food for dogs use high quality diet food
Exercise your dog
- Several short walks instead of infrequent long ones
- Regular exercise (e.g. brisk walking)
- Gentle on joints, especially in the case of severe obesity
Mental activity (sniffing games, search tasks) also helps without burning calories.
For your dog's ideal weight:
- Single protein from fresh horse meat & offal - hypoallergenic & easily digestible
- With gluten-free & grain-free potato - provides gentle energy & supports digestion
- Puristic recipe - ideal for exclusion diets and allergy sufferers
- Gentle cold filling - best possible preservation of vitamins & minerals
- No unnecessary additives - natural, high-quality complete food
- Also ideal for healthy dogs on a grain-free diet
Content: 0.41 kilogram (€9.39 / 1 kilogram)
- Lean poultry meat for high-quality proteins with a low fat content
- Exotic ostrich meat - hypoallergenic, low in cholesterol and very well tolerated
- Gluten-free rice as a gentle source of energy for sensitive stomachs - also as a light diet
- Safflower oil provides essential fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- Carrots provide natural vitamins and promote eyesight
- Ideal for weight management and a light, balanced diet
Content: 0.41 kilogram (€8.05 / 1 kilogram)
- Single protein with fresh horse meat & offal - hypoallergenic & easily digestible
- Grain and gluten-free recipe - ideal for dogs with intolerances
- With pumpkin & apple - provides fibre, vitamins & antioxidants
- Reduced composition - ideal for exclusion diets
- Gentle cold filling - maximum preservation of nutrients & flavour
- Also suitable for healthy dogs as a high-quality, grain-free complete food
Content: 0.41 kilogram (€9.39 / 1 kilogram)
- Single-protein recipe with hypoallergenic goat - ideal for sensitive dogs
- Semi-moist croquette with soft bite - extra flavourful & high acceptance
- Reduced energy content - ideal for overweight or senior dogs
- Grain and gluten-free - with potatoes & peas as a digestible source of energy
- With chondroitin & glucosamine - supports joints & mobility
- Herbal mix for digestion, immune system & general well-being
Content: 2.5 kilogram (€9.96 / 1 kilogram)
- Low in energy & fat - for weight control or weight reduction
- High crude fibre content for long-lasting satiety
- Mussel extracts support bones & joints despite diet
- With omega-3 & -6 fatty acids for heart, skin & shine
- Natural fibre promotes healthy digestion
- Complete nutrient supply despite reduced calorie intake
Content: 2.5 kilogram (€8.08 / 1 kilogram)
- Light food for digestive problems
- gastrointestinal wet food
- low in fat & highly digestible
- gluten- & grain-free
- for pancreatic insufficiency
- gentle on the stomach & intestines
- Diet food
Content: 0.3 kilogram (€11.33 / 1 kilogram)
- Extra low in fat - ideal for metabolic problems & pancreatic insufficiency
- Wholesome supply despite reduced fat intake
- With fibre to support digestion & intestinal flora
- Can contribute to the stabilisation of blood sugar levels
- Omega-3 & -6 fatty acids for skin, coat & immune system
- Quick feeling of satiety and optimal nutrient absorption
Content: 2.5 kilogram (€9.00 / 1 kilogram)
- to lose weight
- Wet food light
- with joint protection
- with lamb, broccoli & asparagus
- Complete food
- to reduce excess weight
- low in fat & high in protein
- grain-free
Content: 0.285 kilogram (€9.12 / 1 kilogram)
- for weight reduction
- Dry food for overweight dogs
- light, low-fat & calorie-reduced
- full nutrient supply
- also for diabetes mellitus
- high in fibre
- Diet food
Content: 2 kilogram (€13.70 / 1 kilogram)
- Wet food light
- for small dogs
- with lamb, broccoli & asparagus
- Complete food
- to reduce excess weight & to lose weight
- gluten & grain free
- per joint
Content: 0.14 kilogram (€13.57 / 1 kilogram)
Individual support from our veterinary nutritional counselling service
Every dog is different - and many factors play a role in obesity in particular. In our veterinary nutritional counselling, we provide you with personal and professional support on the way to a healthy weight for your dog.
Among other things, our experts will support you with:
- Assessment of the current body condition
- Determining a realistic target weight
- Selection of a suitable diet food
- Creation of an individual feeding plan
Tips if you are switching to diet food but your dog is picky
Many dogs react sceptically to new food. This is how the changeover works:
- Slow changeover over 7-10 days
- Warm the diet food slightly
- Add a little water or low-sodium bone broth
- Stick to fixed feeding times
- Do not give in immediately if the dog "goes on strike"
Important: No extras on the side, otherwise the diet food will lose its effect.