How to Prevent Your Pet from Becoming Overweight

As the Investigation and Emergency Response (I/ER) department, we are actively involved in ensuring the health and welfare of all domestic companion animals. This includes ensuring that they are provided with all necessary medical attention, as well as adequate sources of food and water. Often, people will assume that our concerns are only for pets who are being provided with a less than adequate amount of food but that is not always the case. A huge misconception that the department often experiences is that overweight animals are “more cared for” and therefore viewed as healthier.

Overweight Animals

It is hard to resist slipping your pet a few extra treats here and there, but it is important to be mindful of how many treats you are giving. According to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, weight control is the easiest thing an owner can do to help increase/ maintain their pets life span[i]. Overweight animals can experience many difficulties, not limited to the following: greater risk during anesthesia, risk increase of kidney/heart/ vascular diseases, increased likelihood of arthritis, less likely to be able to fight off infectious diseases and they are at an overall risk of a decreased life span[ii].

It is also important for owners to be aware of how certain breeds of dogs may be affected when overweight. Large breed dogs, such as German Shepherds and Labrador retrievers are typically more at risk of hip dysplasia – a study found that overweight German Shepherd puppies were twice as likely to develop the disease compared to their normal-weight counterparts[iii]. Breeds with shorter noses, such as pugs, may experience breathing problems if overweight as the fat could press on the airways[iv].

Here are just a few ways to help prevent your pets from becoming overweight:
– Daily exercise. This can be walks, runs in the park or simply playing with toys at home to keep them active.
– Be mindful of table scraps. Some human food can be extremely fattening and can even be potentially toxic to pets.
– Feed treats in moderation. For pets that are overweight or on their way to becoming overweight, substitute their treats with lower calorie treats (like carrots!) or even kibble (taking from their breakfast/ dinner, rather than providing them with extras).
– Do your research and talk to your veterinarian to determine the correct type and amount of food for your pet rather than relying on the ‘feeding requirements’ that may be found on pet food bags

If you ever have any concerns about your pets’ weight, the best thing you can do is to consult your veterinarian and create an appropriate, specialized plan to best suit your pets needs.

For the month of October and November 2020, the I/ER team attended 246 animal welfare concerns, 85 animal related emergencies and 57 jobs for a variety of other tasks

For Animal Emergencies within the City of Winnipeg, call 204-982-2020
To report an Animal Welfare Concern within the City of Winnipeg, call 204-982-2028
To reach our Intake Department, call 204-982-2025 option #5
To report an Animal Welfare Concern outside of Winnipeg, call the Animal Care Line at 204-945-8000 or toll free 1-888-945-8001
To report Winnipeg Bylaw concerns (stray dogs, barking complaints), contact 311

[i] CVMA https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/news-events/news/canadas-veterinarians-provide-healthcare-options-for-pet-owners

[ii] CVMA https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/obesity-poses-serious-health-hazards-to-pets

[iii] https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/hip-dysplasia-in-dogs

[iv] CVMA https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/obesity-poses-serious-health-hazards-to-pets