Dr Siân Burwood MA VetMB MRCVS

With a staggering 65% of all British dogs scored to be overweight by their vets, obesity is an issue that is not going away for our nation of animal lovers. 90% of owners with an overweight pet do not realise this is the case, and with the complicated feelings that our own body shape can bring up for us, it’s easy to see why this often becomes a difficult thing for vets and owners to talk about.

So, why talk about it at all? Rest assured that your vet does not wish to ‘body shame’ or judge, but they do know there are a significant number of medical problems that obesity can cause or make worse. The good news? Reducing your pet to a healthy weight can reverse the risk of most of these conditions and prevent the need for ongoing medication.

Let’s have a look at some of the most common problems made worse by obesity:

Joint Disease

Developmental Disease

Many problems such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and luxating patella start with a normal joint, but genetics, growth rates and weight all interact to cause issues as the dog grows, and overweight dogs will see these issues sooner.

Similarly, the pressure placed on the spinal column in long backed breeds like dachshunds is made worse by being overweight and makes a slipped disc even more likely.

Injury related Disease

Cruciate ligament injuries cause lifelong lameness, and the need for surgery to reduce pain and slow down degenerative changes. Overweight dogs with reduced muscle strength are more likely to suffer this injury, and their surgical recovery is slower and less effective because of the amount of added stress on the knee joint.

Arthritis

Arthritis (degenerative joint disease) occurs when we lose shock absorbing cartilage, and the heavier your dog is, the faster this will happen (whether through the issues listed above, or just age related wear and tear).

Cancer

Scientists, doctors and vets know that cancer is a disease of chronic inflammation, and that fat is not just fat, but an organ in its own right that produces substances called lipokines. Lipokines increase inflammation throughout the body, and in so doing increase the risk of a number of cancers.

 Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus causes loss of the hormone insulin, and fat reduces the body’s ability to use what insulin it does have to safely take glucose out of the blood and into the tissues where it is needed. Dogs cannot reverse their diabetes by dieting back to a healthy weight (as can sometimes happen in humans and cats), and all dogs need twice daily insulin injections lifelong to control the disease (at greater doses when overweight), something that is financially and emotionally very difficult for owners.

Skin Issues

Almost as common as obesity, many UK pets now suffer from allergic skin disease and require lifelong medications to control the regular flare ups of itching and infection. Being overweight makes these flare ups more frequent (by increasing inflammation) and physically creates skin folds, the sweaty nooks and crannies where bacteria can readily overgrow and cause infection.

BOAS - breathing issues in flat faced breeds

Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome is the term vets use to describe the changes in anatomy and function that are seen in flat faced breeds such as pugs and French bulldogs. This causes breathing problems and reduced ability to cope with heat, as well as chronic sickness issues. Whereas many dogs gain weight around their middle (like us!), these breeds often gain weight around their neck, making the issues seen even worse as it squeezes the airways.

Heart failure

Small dogs often have heart murmurs that can progress to congestive heart failure, a condition where the body cannot effectively pump blood and oxygen around the body. Being overweight usually means a dog is less fit, and so the lethargy and weakness seen in this condition becomes a problem earlier, and the medications prescribed are less likely to help.

Increased anaesthetic risk

Related also to general fitness is how safe an anaesthetic will be for your dog if they need an operation. Under anaesthetic all the external muscles are asleep, and the diaphragm has to work on its own to inflate the lungs. If your dog is overweight it has to work much harder to do this, and less oxygen is delivered around the body. It’s also much harder for the vets and nurses to move your unconscious animal safely around the hospital!

But my dog really loves their food! How long can an overweight dog live if I let them stay this way?

The short answer is…..not as long and not as happily as they would do if they were their ideal weight. A major study looking at body condition score and lifespan in dogs over a twenty year period showed healthy weight dogs lived up to two and a half years longer than their fatter friends. Whilst the issues listed above have many different factors that can contribute to them, obesity is the one that links them all. We provide our animals food and control their weight, so your vet will always be checking and advising on how to keep them healthy and slim.

The Happy Joints Quiz