Which breeds of dogs tend to gain weight?
Obesity is a major nutritional disease in animals. Excess weight in dogs leads to arthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, diseases of the loam and a decrease in life expectancy.
Dog Risk Factors
As you know, aging or sterilization increases the risk of obesity in pets. With age, the level of activity of animals decreases and without adjusting the portions of food, old animals will easily gain excess weight. Sterilization reduces the daily calorie intake by 10-20 percent.
The socio-economic status of the owner also affects the risk of obesity. Dogs of wealthy owners are more spoiled and often gain weight.
The likelihood of obesity also depends on your dog’s breed. Being overweight with Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, and Newfoundland is the norm rather than the exception. Cocker spaniels and pugs have the same tendency. On the other hand, boxers, whippets and setters easily maintain their ideal weight.
As a result of the study, it was found that some dog breeds have a “thrift” gene that promotes fat deposition. Some breeds of dogs were bred for long-term work in an unfavorable environment, and such “frugality” increased their effectiveness. But in urban conditions, without proper nutrition control and regular exercise, such dogs will gain weight.