How might my dog's weight be impacting his quality of life?
How might my dog's weight be impacting his quality of life?
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Obesity in dogs can have profound effects on health and longevity. Being overweight puts severe strain on a dog's heart and lungs, and makes arthritis worse. The dog may have trouble getting up, moving around, exercising… so he gains even more weight.
Liz Rozanski, a veterinarian at Tufts University, says obesity can also cause sleep apnea, which compounds the problem. Dogs may have a form of sleep apnea with obesity where they're just not able to rest completely, and that also makes them more hungry because they're stressed all the time.
When nervous dogs don't get enough sleep, they eat more, gain more weight and their sleep apnea becomes worse. So keep your dog's weight in check!
– Dr. Andrea Looney, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series