Obesity in Dogs

Please read the following site, upon which much of this information is based. https://www.nomnomnow.com/learn/article/overweight-and-obese-dog-weight-loss-guide

Obesity is one of the most common medical conditions in canines: Up to 60 percent of dogs are overweight, and about half of those are obese, which is defined as more than 30 percent above their ideal weight. As in humans, excess body fat in dogs can lead to a host of problems, from joint disease to a predisposition to metabolic disorders to a state of chronic inflammation. Not to mention that obese animals are less energetic than their trim counterparts—and tend to live shorter lives too.

"You CAN spoil a dog too much, and that's what we see in many cases of dog obesity," says Dr. Justin Shmalberg, one of Nom Nom's Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists. Dr. Shmalberg considers obesity in dogs akin to "preventable malnutrition." Thankfully, while it can be tough to get an overweight dog to lose weight, it's a challenge that's within reach for most owners if they follow simple guidelines. And it's important—dog weight loss has been associated with improvement in the quality of life, increased energy, and a reduction in some of the side effects of excess weight, like disease and chronic inflammation.

The most important thing to remember is, having an overweight dog and doing everything else right (high-quality food, healthy supplements, and so on) is likely more detrimental than having a lean dog—no matter what you feed him. That in mind, we've put together a full guide to doggy weight loss, covering what you need to know to keep your best friend healthy: