Recognize and Prevent Weight Gain in Your Dog from Lack of Exercise

Ensuring your dog maintains a healthy weight is essential for their longevity and overall well-being. A lack of exercise is a leading cause of weight gain, which can bring serious health risks, including joint pain, diabetes, and heart disease. Here’s how you can recognize and prevent weight gain in your dog from lack of exercise.

Recognizing Weight Gain Related to Inactivity

Physical Changes

• No Visible Waist: When viewed from above, your dog should have a waistline. If the hourglass shape vanishes and their body looks more sausage-shaped, weight gain is likely.

• Can’t Feel Ribs: You should be able to feel, but not see, your dog’s ribs. If you need to press hard to feel them, they may be carrying extra fat in their midsection.

• Pot-Bellied Appearance: Noticeable belly protrusion, sometimes with loose skin or fat deposits, are a sign your dog is carrying around excess weight.

• Coat and Skin Changes: Excess weight can sometimes affect your dog’s coat, making it dull, greasy, or flaky.

• Changes in Weight: Weigh your dog monthly and compare to the breed standard or previous weights. Gaining more than 10% over their ideal weight warrants a closer look and chat with your vet.

Behavioral Signs

• Decreased Interest in Activity: Overweight dogs may be less eager for walks, playtime, or climbing stairs. They often become more lethargic.

• Excessive Panting: Even slight exercise can leave an overweight dog winded and panting heavily. Overweight dogs can also be more sensitive to heat and heat-related injuries.

• Reluctance to Move: Hesitation or discomfort in getting up, climbing stairs, or jumping into vehicles may signal that the joints are experiencing pain due to inflammation and added pressure caused by weight gain.

Preventing Weight Gain Related to Inactivity

1. Ensure Daily Exercise

• Set a goal of at least 20–60 minutes of daily activity, depending on your dog’s age, breed, size, and health

• Consider including walks, games like fetch and scent/nosework, swimming, or supervised play with other dogs to keep yourself and your dog engaged in your exercise regimen

• Hire a dog walker to help keep your dog moving when you get busy or if you are unable to commit to daily dog walks

2. Control Food Intake

• Feed measured portions tailored to your dog’s size, age, and activity level

• Avoid free feeding; leaving food out all day can lead to overeating

• Minimize or cut out table scraps and calorie-rich treats; use healthy alternatives like blueberries or green beans

3. Use Interactive Feeding

• Try slow-feeder bowls and puzzle toys that make meals last longer and help your dog burn calories while eating

4. Regular Vet Checks

• Schedule routine checkups help ensure that weight gain is not due to a medical issue such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease

• Discussed caloric intake, specialized diets, or wellness plans tailored to your dog’s needs with your veterinarian

5. Monitor Progress

• Use a journal to track your dog’s weight, activity, and food intake

• Adjust routines if weight starts to creep up or if your dog’s weight loss plateaus

Recognize and Prevent Weight Gain in Your Dog from Lack of Exercise