Richard Cussons
What If My Standard Poodle Is Obese?
By Richard Cussons
A Standard Poodle may not be genetically predisposed to becoming overweight but that doesn't mean it can't happen. Every dog, regardless of breed, should be given close attention when it comes to food intake and exercise so as to prevent obesity. A healthy Standard Poodle with ideal weight can avoid the following health risks associated with obesity:
Heart Disease. Just like in people, obesity can be associated with high blood pressure or hypertension. The heart must pump additional blood to excess tissues and may eventually lead to congestive heart failure.
Breathing Problem. The additional body fat can increase pressure on a dog's lungs and interfere with normal function. The excess fat results in less space in the chest cavity thus restricts the expansion of the lungs. The lungs then have to work harder to supply the increased demand of oxygen.
Arthritis. In an overweight dog, the joints, bones and ligaments are required to carry excess weight. This could damage certain ligaments or joints making it harder to move around. Arthritis and hip dysplasia can eventually develop resulting to difficulty in going up stairs, getting into cars or just going for a walk.
Surgical Risk. The excess fat makes surgery more difficult for the surgeon as this may hinder the access to the organs you are looking for thus prolonging the procedure and increases the risk associated with anesthesia.
Decreased Stamina. An overweight or obese dog exhibits less physical activities because those extra weight can slow down a dog.
Other
*******************************************
DOG TRAINING PRODUCT REVIEW. SitStayFetch - Dog Obedience Training. SitStayFetch presents a wonderfully detailed and thorough look at how to both prevent and deal with most common problem behaviors found in dogs. As the owner of a pretty problematic pooch myself, I've spent a fair amount of time searching the Net for reliable resources on this topic, and I have to say that the level of knowledge and detail contained within this volume is unusually high for an online book. Also, the information at hand is actually (surprise!) reliable. Written by a seasoned dog trainer, all the tips and advice included are tried and true, and come from Stevens' real-life professional experiences... To read the full review click on the link in the side bar.
*******************************************
health risks are diabetes mellitus, decreased stamina, heat intolerance, skin problems and decreased liver and immune function.
To sum it all up, obesity, a what seems to be a minor health issue causes other complications that can decrease the quality and length of a dog's life. Dog owners should bear in mind that fat don't necessarily mean healthy dogs. Losing weight is not easy but if you want to spend long years of companionship and love with your Standard Poodle, do your best to keep him fit. All it takes is your time, effort and commitment to achieve that weight of your dreams.
We strive to provide only quality
articles, so if there is a specific topic related to dogs
that you would like us to cover, please contact us at any time.
.gif)
