Definition of Obesity
Dogs that have an accumulation of body fat that puts them 20% or more over ideal body weight are considered obese. These dogs often have fat deposits over the thorax, spine and the base of the tail, as well as the neck and limbs.
Obesity is a major concern because it disposes a dog to certain health problems involving the cardiovascular, respiratory and skeletal systems. A 14-year study by Purina proves that a lifetime of proper feeding can help add to up to two healthy years to your dog's life. Read more about this ground-breaking study.

Recognizing Obesity
Owners are so familiar with the appearance of their dogs that they often fail to recognize obesity unaided. Try these techniques, and if you think your dog may be obese or aren’t sure, have your veterinarian take a look.

• Rib Check: Place both of your thumbs on your dog's backbone and spread both hands across his rib cage. On an obese dog, you won’t be able to feel the ribs through the fat covering, or will only be able to feel them when you exert significant pressure. Actually feeling your dog is important, as the coat of many dogs will make a visual check difficult.
• Profile Check: Examine your dog's profile – it’s best if you are level with the dog. In an obese dog, the stomach will hang down and there will be no abdominal tuck behind the rib cage.
• Overhead Check: Looking at your dog from overhead, see if you can see a waist behind the ribs. An overweight dog will not have a discernible waist.

It’s a good idea to learn more about how to rate your dog’s body condition.

Causes of Obesity
The simple reason why dogs gain weight to the point that they become obese is because they are consuming more calories than they burn through exercise and metabolism, but the cause of this discrepancy can have different sources.

• Diet and Exercise
  For dogs who are simply eating more calories than they burn, there are two ways to impact the animal's weight: feed fewer calories, or increase the amount of exercise the pet gets, thus burning more calories.
• Genetic Predisposition
  Certain breeds seem to be more susceptible to obesity than others including Beagles, Basset Hounds, Dachshunds and Labrador Retrievers. You must monitor the weight of dogs of these breeds more closely.
• Hormonal Disorders
  Conditions which impact hormone balances in pets may contribute to the development of obesity. These include thyroid or pituitary gland dysfunction. Neutering and spaying may also cause changes in metabolism. You must monitor the weight of dogs with these conditions more closely.

How to Correct Obesity
If you know or suspect your dog is obese, see your veterinarian before making any significant changes. Your veterinarian will recommend a regimen that includes some or all of the tips below, and will tell you how much your dog can handle and how quickly:

• Eliminate table scraps and treats
• Reduce the amount of food you give your dog
• Increase the amount of exercise your dog gets
• Consider switching to a low-calorie pet food, such as Purina® Dog Chow® Fit & Trim®

Avoiding Obesity
As always, the best thing you can do for your dog is not let him get obese in the first place. Here are some small steps you can take to control your dog’s food intake and calorie expenditure:

• Don’t feed table scraps; they are typically high in calories.
• Limit treats. Remember that if you feed your dog treats, they should be low-fat and you must reduce your dog's caloric intake accordingly to accommodate the extra calories.
• Make sure your dog gets exercise regularly, and try to make time for extra.
• Measure servings – don’t just eyeball the amount you serve. And don’t use an oversized bowl, which makes it easier to overfeed.
• Try feeding two or more smaller meals a day instead of one big meal so your dog feels more satisfied.
• Utilize the feeding guides provided on pet food packages. Remember, these guidelines are averages and you may need to adjust your feedings based on your dog's individual body condition.