Health Risks of Overfeeding Your Dog

The Dangers of Over feeding Your Dog

Just like us, it’s important for dogs to have the right balance of essential vitamins, nutrients and minerals for their bodies to function properly. Dogs that aren’t fed a balanced food can have a variety of health problems, like bone malformations or poor density due to a lack of calcium and phosphorous, says Sarah Carter, DVM at the MSPCA Angell Shalit-Glazer Clinic. You want to ensure that you’re feeding your dog the right amount of food, as over feeding can cause an entirely different host of issues, namely obesity, which can be difficult to manage.

“An obese dog is not a healthy dog; they often have less energy and it is harder for them to get around [to] go for walks and get up and down stairs,” Dr. Carter says. “A dog that can run and jump will be much happier and have much better mental and physical health.”

Obesity can lead to diabetes and inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. According to Dr. Carter, orthopedic and neurologic diseases can also be more difficult to treat when a dog is obese. If a dog has slipped a disk or fractured a limb, for example, it will be much harder for them to recover and move around if they are carrying extra weight, she adds. While any dog can be predisposed to obesity, dogs that lead sedentary lifestyles and consume extra calories are at the highest risk of being obese. Unfortunately, a large number of dogs are currently overweight or obese regardless of their breeding.

For accurate diagnosis and treatment options, always consult your veterinarian and ask them to recommend the best food for your dog’s condition.

For the complete article on feeding your dog with love, not excess food, visit petMD.