Obesity has become one of the most serious problems that our dogs face nowadays. There are many negative consequences that golden retrievers face due to obesity. It shortens their lifespan. But don't worry, it can be avoided and life expectancy can be restored.

This article is an in-depth look at how to avoid obesity in golden retrievers.

Why are retrievers so prone to obesity?

Obesity in retrievers is becoming more common, depending on a variety of variables in our lives today. The majority of dogs are unemployed; they do nothing. Also, their owners go to work daily, severely restricting the time their dogs spend doing outdoor activities.

Dogs acquire weight faster than humans, especially if the dog bowl has always been full of food and they may eat it anytime they want. Excessive consumption is harmful to one's health, therefore weight increase is unavoidable.

Obesity Prevention in Golden Retrievers

To keep your dog from becoming obese, you should:

• Give an appropriate amount of food.
• Foods that are fatty or high in calories should be avoided.
• Make a treat routine that is both healthy and safe.
• Make time for exercise.

By following these four steps, and by visiting your doctor daily, you can prevent your dog from becoming overweight.

Below, we go through all these steps in even more depth, as well as the health hazards associated with obesity and other factors to consider.

Appropriate Amount of Food

Request assistance from your veterinarian in deciding the proper diet for your dog. Instead of just some dog food, they want a meal that is developed for their particular age and meets their individual nutritional demands. Large-breed puppies, in particular, require a different nutritional content than small-breed puppies in order to develop more gradually and reduce the likelihood of orthopedic problems.

Your veterinarian will tell you the ideal time to transition pups to adult food. Grown dogs' demands vary from those of pups, so a puppy diet may not be the best option for them. Older dogs are in a distinct stage of life and require a different approach to maintain their health. Furthermore, dogs with particular medical disorders or diseases require a specialized diet.

Foods That Are Fatty or High In Calories Should Be Avoided

Giving food to a dog from the table is a common blunder that people make. They share their food out of love and affection, but this causes weight gain and your dog to develop bad habits like begging and stealing food.

If your dog continues doing such things, there are high chances that it may consume something that is not good for his health. This can result in high veterinary expenditures and potentially put your dog's life in jeopardy.

If you can't stop sharing your food with your dog, just be mindful of what you're giving him. Everything will not suit your dog as much as it suits you.

The following are some of the human foods that are healthier and safer options to give your dog.

• Carrot
• Apple
• White rice
• Chicken
• Fish
• Dairy products
• Banana
• Cucumber
• Green beans

Place these foods on the table. As he comes to you to ask for some food, just give it to him, don't throw it away. This way, it will reduce the odds of your dog begging and stealing food from your plate.

Treat Routine That Is both Healthy and Safe

If you like to feed your dog every interval of time, just decrease the quantity of food. Calories can be found in even the tiniest of delicacies. These calories might add up quickly, and every calorie counts.

The caloric intake of each item should be listed on the bag. That way, it will be easier for you to determine how much more food you should give your dog.

 Also, look for low-calorie foods and avoid those that are high in salt. Teeth-cleaning treats are a fantastic choice.

Exercise

Exercising is the most essential method for preventing your Golden Retriever from gaining weight. Despite the fact that golden is not really that active, they are quite lazy. But they love playing, so they will put all their energy into it while paying.

The metabolism will stay on track if they work out regularly. The workout will indeed let them continue improving their muscular mass, which will help them avoid the harmful consequences of arthritis and other joint difficulties that they may experience as they age. Resistance exercise is also beneficial to their cardiovascular health.

Establishing a daily workout regime with your Golden Retriever is beneficial not just to his or her physical health, but also to his or her psychological and emotional well-being.

Exercising can take many forms. It may include walking, running, and jogging. Some people might consider taking their dogs on a walk around the neighborhood. Others might consider it a way of hiking, fetching, or visiting dogs on a daily basis.

Obesity in Golden Retrievers and Its Consequences

The problem arises when a puppy gains more weight than it should. If a puppy is overweight and plays simple games like fetch, he or she is more likely to get tendon and ligament damage. And if an adult dog is overweight, it can cause you the following issues: Here are a few examples:

• All of the joints, bones and soft tissues can be harmed.
• They can suffer from high blood pressure, respiratory problems and cardiovascular issues.
• Liver and kidneys diseases can be caused
• They can suffer from diabetes and arthritis.
• There are numerous varieties of cancer.
• Disorders of the digestive system.
• They can become heat Intolerant.
• Due to a life-threatening condition, there is a higher risk of infection and sickness in adult dogs.
• Anesthesia surgery has a higher risk of complications.

However, the issues do not end there.

Due to the extra pressure placed on these regions when lying, a large sized dog like Golden Retriever carries a lot of weight and may often develop sores and calluses on its hocks and elbows. And an overweight Golden does a lot of lying down!

As a breed, Golden Retrievers are sensitive to conditions like elbow and hip dysplasia, which is increased by carrying excess weight, as well as putting extra pressure on all those joints, resulting in a lifespan of agony and misery.

How to Assist Your Overweight Golden Retriever in Losing Pounds

The first step in addressing an obese golden is to take him to the veterinarian for a physical checkup. Excessive weight gain is frequently caused by health conditions such as low thyroid activity or water retention, which should be examined prior to starting any diet or exercise program.

Second, there are numerous issues that a dietary or fitness regimen may exacerbate. If your dog suffers from arthritis or dysplasia, for example, increasing his or her activity routine may exacerbate the situation, causing irritation and anguish.

So, before acting, seek guidance from your family veterinarian to verify that you're doing the right thing.

Medical Conditions to Consider

The majority of fat dogs gain weight as a result of poor diet and laziness, but a variety of physical disorders can also cause dogs to gain weight for no apparent reason.

The significant reason for this is hypothyroidism. These diseases strike dogs at any age, which causes their metabolic activities to slow down dramatically.

The following are symptoms of hypothyroidism in dogs:

• Weight gain
• Appetite decreases
• Lethargy
• Depression
• Looking for a cool spot to sleep
• Fur loss is most common towards the tail's base.
• Skin diseases

Using proper medication can treat hypothyroidism. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice hypothyroidism symptoms in your dog. Take him to your veterinarian. They will take a blood test to see whether this is the cause of your dog's sudden weight gain.

Cushing's disease is another disease which causes sudden weight gain in dogs. In this disease, the dog's body produces an excessive amount of steroid hormones. Sometimes it is linked with obesity, but it is also common in dogs that are of normal weight.

Cushing's disease in dogs manifests itself in the following ways:

• Having a potbellied appearance
• Muscle wasting
• Excessive panting
• Thirstiness increases.
• Urination is becoming more frequent.
• Appetite levels rise.
• Fur thinning
• Diseases of the skin

Go to your doctor if you see any of the symptoms listed above in your dog. They'll be able to tell if your dog has Cushing's syndrome by looking at its blood samples.

Final Verdict

Golden retrievers can never get tired of eating. They are able to eat themselves up to death. Only the pet owner can control his dog's health because they just cannot do it themselves.

There are so many health hazards to obesity in dogs. And for dogs that are already suffering from any medical illness, carrying excessive weight can exacerbate their difficulties.

Losing weight will improve their flexibility and will alleviate pain, which will result in an improved lifestyle.