Signs of Obesity in Dogs

1 Recognizing and Managing Dog Obesity

Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s disease): when the adrenal glands make too much cortisol. Affected dogs don’t gain weight but redistribute fat to the belly, looking pot-bellied as if heavier. If you suspect overweight or breathing trouble, contact your vet. Have a thorough check before any weight plan to rule out such conditions.

Further diagnosis

Your vet finds the cause of obesity before treatment, possibly with:

1. Full physical exam: precise weight and body condition score

2. Review all food, treats, scraps, and exercise

3. Routine blood work: CBC, serum, urinalysis. If normal, obesity is from excess calories and too little exercise; if abnormal, more tests.

Then extra tests pinpoint the issue.

Extra tests may include:

1. Blood and urine glucose. Diabetes shows high blood glucose and glucose in urine.

2. Urine cortisol:creatinine ratio. High suggests Cushing’s.

3. ACTH stimulation test, commonly used to confirm Cushing’s.

4. Low-dose dexamethasone suppression test, used with the ratio and ACTH test for a clear Cushing’s diagnosis.

Further treatment

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Before a weight plan, get a full vet exam to rule out serious disease.

For obesity from excess calories:

1. Cut daily calories by 50% toward ideal weight.

2. Switch to weight-management food: under 340 kcal/100g dry matter, 5–10% fat, 10–30% crude fiber, over 25% crude protein.

3. Feed the set amount in several small meals daily.

4. Cut food-reward use, or use low-calorie diet treats / cooked or raw vegetables.

5. Increase exercise

6. Try swimming — great calorie burn.

7. Monthly vet weigh-ins to adjust portions.

For obesity from diabetes:

1. Diet therapy controls blood glucose: moderate fiber (5–10%) and lower simple carbs.

2. Insulin therapy

3. Some diabetic dogs’ symptoms vanish as they lose weight and may need no insulin.

For obesity from Cushing’s:

1. Mitotane tablets, with ACTH recheck every 3–4 months.

Note: often the weight plan needn’t hit ideal weight — close to standard is fine.