Pet over weight can contribute to gastrointestinal problems, such as indigestion, constipation and pancreatitis, all occur more in overweight dogs.
An overweight Beagle (l) and one of proper weight (r) seen from above. A dogs waistline should tuck in behind the rib cage. An hourglass figure is ideal.
Just a couple of pounds may not seem like much but a dog weighing 22 lbs. that should weight 17 lbs. is equivalent to a man weighing 220 and his proper weight of 170.
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*Purina has just finished a 14 year study on the effects of food intake on body condition. 48 labs were studied, half were free fed at 15 minute intervals and the other half was given 75% of the food the free feed dogs ate. At the 12th year 11 lean fed dogs were living with only 1 free fed. At 13.5 years 25% of the lean fed dogs survived and none of the free fed lived to that age.
"What we have learned .... is that feeding less does not necessarily change what health problems dogs encounter, or what ultimately causes their death," Dr. Lawler (DVM). says. "What it does change is when it occurs."
*Purina Today's Breeder issue 41 Nov. 2002
