Obesity in dogs is as bad as being obese in humans. All the extra weight your dog is carrying around will eventually affect your dog’s other organs. And when there is too much work for each of your dog’s organs, certain medical conditions will occur, and this often leads to death.
It is very important that owners are aware of the seriousness caused by canine obesity. In this post, we will be listing the most common medical conditions obesity can bring to your pets.
Ligaments, joints, and bones are damaged
More or less, one out of every four overweight dog develops some joint issues. Under normal conditions, bones, ligaments, muscles, and tendons function together to allow your dog to walk smoothly and efficiently. However, if they carry extra weight around, they become overworked and eventually damaged. The condition is called arthritis.
Furthermore, the increased weight can also affect the ligaments. Ligaments are an important part of the skeletal system since they connect one bone to the other. This knee ligament is prone to wear and tear and once it’s torn, the knee becomes unstable. Your dog will become reluctant to use it because it is also painful. The only way to repair a torn ligament is surgery.
A slipped disc is another disease that can occur if your dog is carrying all that extra weight around. Some dog breeds, like Dachshunds, are prone to developing this painful condition. So if you own one, see to it that they don’t become overweight.
Diabetes
Dogs can develop diabetes too. When a dog is obese, the extra weight will cause the body to increase insulin production. This is in response to the increased glucose level in the overweight dog. If the body is no longer able to supply the insulin needed, diabetes will occur.
Hypertension and heart disease
Obesity causes hypertension in dogs which often results in the increased workload of the heart. This condition will eventually lead to congestive heart failure.
