The cause of dog obesity: Cushing's disease

This is a disease that mainly occurs in middle-aged and elderly dogs. The weight gain of dogs with Cushing's disease is due to endocrine disorders and imbalance of adrenal gland hormones. lead to. This hormone controls metabolism and other body functions. Even without caloric intake, they may experience symptoms such as increased appetite, enlarged abdomen, abnormal thirst, excessive urination, hair loss, and weakened strength.

Causes of dog obesity: Diabetes

This is a chronic metabolic disorder involving an imbalance in the amount of sugar in blood sugar. Weight gain can be the trigger or the end result of blood sugar imbalance. Diabetes can affect dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes, and weight gain and loss are symptoms of the disease, along with increased lethargy, thirst, and urination.

Causes of dog obesity: genetic susceptibility

Although any dog ​​may be obese, the risk is increased in some dog breeds, such as Labrador retrievers, basset hounds, Beagles, Rottweilers, Spaniels, Saint Bernards, Bulldogs and Dachshunds. If you have a dog of this breed at home, it is recommended to have regular physical examinations.

Causes of dog obesity: lack of exercise and overeating

These two conditions will lead to gradual weight gain. This reason is usually difficult to reverse. They need more exercise than other dogs. . Another thing to note is that in older dogs, their metabolism slows down, so they also burn calories. In addition to this, a poor diet can also lead to nutritional imbalances, which can be observed through dry skin, cloudy eyes, diarrhea or constipation, and abnormal behavior.

Causes of Dog Obesity: Medication

There are a variety of medications that can stimulate weight gain in dogs. If they suddenly gain weight after taking a new prescription, they should go to the hospital to consult a doctor in time to see if the medication needs to be adjusted.

The cause of dog obesity: pregnancy

This is a relatively obvious point, but there are also cases where the owner does not notice at all when the dog is pregnant. This possibility can occur if the dog has not been neutered and has been in recent contact with other dogs.

Causes of dog obesity: Thyroid disease

The thyroid disease most likely to cause weight gain in dogs is hypothyroidism, which is particularly common in medium to large and elderly dogs. If your dog is overweight and often lethargic, has dry, itchy skin, or dull coat, it's best to get a thorough physical exam to rule out underlying conditions.