Health Problems Associated With Canine Obesity

obesity - By Staff Writer on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 - 20:40

Like with humans, obesity in dogs can lead to a variety of illnesses.  Beyond just being uncomfortable, hot and unable to play and move, obesity can cause illnesses that can cause medical complications and death in dogs.  Below are some medical illnesses that are linked to canine obesity:

Diabetes Mellitus
This is the most common complication of obesity in dogs.  Obese dogs have an increase in blood glucose levels meaning they have a build up of sugars.  This demands extra insulin to break down the glucose.  Over long periods of time increased demand for insulin puts a strain on the glucose producing cells of the pancreas.  This stress from over work can result in damage and lead to an inadequate production of insulin causing diabetes.  

The goal is to reduce your dogs weight and her glucose levels to appropriate levels for health and prevent diabetes from forming.

ArthritisArthritis is an inflammation of the joints that is caused by abnormal stress on a normal joint or normal stress on an abnormal joint. It can be triggered by inherited illnesses, trauma or arise from over use of joints. Arthritis causes swelling of the joints, pain, difficulty moving the joints and even loss of movement over time.
The extra weight that your dog carries around puts pressure on their entire musculoskeletal system.  This pressure and strain causes joints to become inflamed and irritated.  Arthritis can develop from the constant strain placed on joints.  Obese dogs often suffer from ligament damage in the knees, back problems and hip issues from the extra weight.

Heart Disease
As your dog puts on weight it strains all the systems of the body.  The cardiovascular system is particularly sensitive to extra weight as it has to pump extra hard to move the blood through the system.  As the heart increases the work blood pressure rises causing hypertension.  Prolonged periods of high blood pressure can lead to congestive heart failure.

Liver Disease
Extra fat in the system can lead to a fat build up in the liver or hepatic lipidosis.  The increase of fat in the liver can cause inflammation, decreased functioning and disease.  Liver disease if left unchecked could become fatal.

Breathing Difficulties
Excess weight on your dogs chest and ribs make it more difficult for your dog to breathe.  The fat can interfere with the functioning of the lungs causing strain on breathing.  Overtime this strain can lead to problems with the pulmonary system.
 

This is simply a list of some of the complications.  Not all obese dogs will get these problems but the likelihood of them getting them is higher than if they were at a normal weight.  If you believe your dog is overweight you should speak with your veterinarian to determine the cause and correct the problem.