Fat Italian Greyhound
Maintaining your Greyhound’s health and happiness entails assisting him in maintaining a healthy weight. Healthy dogs are less prone to suffer from respiratory disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney disease, or even cancer than unhealthy dogs. It also reduces his chance of bone, muscle, and joint ailments caused by being overweight.
If your dog has arthritis, keeping them at a healthy weight will help lessen the pain they feel. And will also help keep them healthy overall and prevent them from getting other medical problems. Ensure that they consume a healthy diet, engage in regular exercise, and not spend too much time lying down.
Can Greyhounds Be Overweight?
Many people are concerned about obesity because it can lead to health problems. Some dog breeds are more likely to be obese than others. If you have a greyhound, here is some information about obesity in that breed.
If you overfeed a greyhound, it will become just as overweight as any other type of dog. This breed is tall and has a powerful neck. And also have a muscular chest and a flexible spine. When in good shape, greyhounds may reach speeds of 45 miles per hour.
These dogs are very lean and athletic, but they can also be couch potatoes. They take great pleasure in lazing away a significant amount of time in bed or on the couch. Without regular physical activity and a nutritious diet, people are susceptible to gaining weight over time. Even if children are not at high risk for fat retention, every effort must be made to maintain their appropriate weight.
Retired racing greyhounds can gain weight after they leave the racetrack. It is because they may not get as much exercise as they did before, and they might also eat more since there is more food available to them. If you adopt a retired racing greyhound, monitor its weight carefully over time and adjust its diet and exercise routine as needed.
Even though the dog will be at the optimum weight when they enter your home, excessive weight growth can hinder their ability to perform routine duties. The Greyhound’s excess weight will strain their bodies as they age if nothing is done. There is a risk that the dog’s health will suffer.
TV dog shows often show dogs that are a bit overweight. But greyhounds are different. They have a thin body and some bones sticking out, making people unfamiliar with this breed.
Some people may think that your Greyhound is underweight and neglected. But if most people think your dog looks healthy, there’s a good chance your dog has gained weight. As a greyhound owner, you should anticipate comments from those unfamiliar with the breed that your pet is too skinny.
Obesity Health Problems
Overweight greyhounds may experience discomfort and joint pain. One of the long-term effects of obesity is an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, osteoarthritis, diabetes, renal disease, fatty tumors, and cancer. Excess chest fat might hinder the lungs from extending fully, leading to breathing difficulties.
Even though greyhounds love to run, if they are overweight, it can be dangerous because the extra fat will make it hard for the dog to get rid of heat quickly when running, leading to severe overheating. These long-term impacts are serious and impair the quality of life of your dog. In extreme circumstances, the effects can be lethal.
How Do I Know My Greyhound Is Overweight?
The owners of a dog should make sure that their pet maintains a healthy weight. They will be able to detect whether the dog gains an unhealthy amount of weight promptly before it becomes a severe health issue. The question “how will I tell if my greyhound is overweight?” is one of the most frequent inquiries received from those who are the proud owners of this breed. The following are some red flags to watch out for:
Their Weight Is Higher Than Normal
If you think your Greyhound may be overweight, you should weigh him on a bathroom scale. You should receive a chart from your vet or the internet to discover the optimal weight for a healthy greyhound. Generally, healthy greyhounds weigh between 80 and 90 pounds on average.
You Cannot Feel Their Ribs
The rib test will help you know if your Greyhound is overweight. If the dog is at the ideal weight, you should feel the ribs when running your hands around their flanks and abdomen. But if you can see the ribs, the dog is too skinny. If you can’t feel them, the dog might need a different diet and more exercise.
Lack of Interest in Physical Activities
Although greyhounds are not always very active, they will be very enthusiastic when you return home. They may play around for a while and then be tired. Make sure you give them plenty of toys to play with and exercise them regularly. If the dog doesn’t seem interested in getting up and moving, it might be overweight. Carrying too much weight can be very tiring for the animal and make it difficult for them to be active.
Digestive Problems and Constipation
If your dog eats more than they need, it might get sick. Conditions like liver problems, pancreatitis, and diabetes can happen when the dog can’t clean their body correctly. It might cause them to have issues pooping or make it happen more often.
Reduced Stamina
Even though greyhounds are built for speed, they don’t have a lot of stamina. If your dog can still do his regular activities but not as fast or for as long as he used to, you should consider checking his weight. When a greyhound’s weight is above what is deemed to be ideal, it puts more work on the muscles, blood, and even the heart.
Difficulty Doing Simple Tasks
If your Greyhound seems to be getting tired more easily, this might mean that it will take more effort to exercise them. It can mean that your dog has difficulty doing simple things like jumping on the couch or following you around. If your dog is having trouble with things they used to do quickly, it might be a sign that they are overweight.
Excessively Lengthy Naps
Greyhounds are often known to be couch potatoes. They will usually take a short nap after exercising or playing. However, if they take excessively long naps, it could mean that something is wrong. Many things could explain this strange occurrence, but one possibility is that the dog has gained weight.
What Causes Obesity in Greyhounds?
Obesity is when your dog has a lot of extra body fat. It happens when the dog takes in more energy than it uses. To locate the treatment that will be most successful for your dog’s obesity, you must first determine the origin of the condition. Here are some reasons why a greyhound might be obese:
Unhealthy Eating Habits
If your dog eats more than it can burn off through exercise, they are at risk of becoming obese. Some things that might make a dog fat are how many meals it eats per day, what kind of food it eats if it gets table scraps, how much food it gets at once, and how often it eats different things.
Inadequate Exercise
Another reason why greyhounds can gain weight is that they don’t get enough exercise. Greyhounds can spend a lot of time indoors, sleeping or relaxing on the couch. However, these dogs need a certain amount of physical activity every day to meet their needs. If they don’t get enough exercise, the extra energy will build up and cause them to become obese.
Chronic Illness
A few health problems can lead to your Greyhound gaining weight. Cushing’s syndrome is when the dog’s adrenal gland produces too much cortisol. Cortisol is a chemical that helps the animal control its weight and other things like blood sugar levels, fight infection, and how to respond to stress. Another condition that can make your dog gain weight is hypothyroidism when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce certain vital hormones.
Old Age
As your Greyhound gets older, they will not have as much energy as they used to. It means that it won’t be able to exercise as much. You will also need to give less food because the body will require less energy. If you don’t adjust how much food you provide, Because it has more power than it can use, it will gain weight.
Neutering
One of the results of having your Greyhound spayed or neutered is reducing the number of sex hormones that it produces. That will result in increased hunger, leading to increased food intake. Suppose the dog does not take part in physical activities regularly. If that happens, it won’t be able to use up the extra energy it has stored up. When the body stores a lot of food as fat, your Greyhound may become overweight.
Medications
Some drugs can make dogs overweight. For example, phenobarbital is a common anticonvulsant that can make dogs not feel full, so they eat more. Another medicine, glucocorticoids, can cause abnormal fat and weight gain. Before giving your dog any medication, you should talk to your veterinarian to get expert advice. If you think the drug makes your dog overweight, you should also visit your vet.
Overweight or Obese Owners
Your Greyhound will usually adjust and fit into your lifestyle. The canine will keep up with you if you have an active lifestyle. However, the dog might not be as active if you spend most of your time relaxing indoors. If their owner is obese and doesn’t exercise as much as is necessary, the greyhounds in their care are at risk of becoming obese.
What Should I Feed My Overweight Greyhound?
If you own an overweight greyhound, a diet plan will help them lose weight. Your pet’s diet must be closely monitored if you want it to lose weight. Diet is important, but it is not the only thing that matters. Below are some additional considerations for feeding your pet buddy.
Commercial Weight-loss Dog Food
Now that you know your Greyhound is overweight, you should start feeding them dog food meant for weight loss. Most of the options available have the proper nutrients to help your dog return to a healthy weight and stay trim. Specialists recommend looking for commercial foods with above-average protein, fat, and below-average calories.
It will allow him to burn off the excess energy over time without eating small amounts of food that might make him feel hungry. However, you should not buy dog foods filled with unnecessary fillers.
Homemade Greyhound Dog Food
There are times when making your dog food can be a good idea, even more so if your pet is overweight. You may create raw or cooked dog food at home with natural ingredients. You would give your pet equal amounts of meat and vegetables for the raw diet. Some good choices for meat include liver and beef. Vegetables could consist of collard greens, carrots, peas, celery, and potatoes. But it would be best if you boiled or baked potatoes before using them in the diet.
You will need to cook the meat and vegetables differently when cooking your food. Chop the vegetables and add them to ground meat. Add some unsweetened yogurt and whole-grain grains to the mix.
Customized Diet
Not all weight-loss foods are the same. That is why you need to develop a nutritional plan that meets the specific needs of your overweight dog.
When looking for commercial dog food, find a brand that offers different types of food that fit your Greyhound’s needs. You will need to think about how much weight the dog should lose, what the dog likes, and any food sensitivities. A plan tailored to the dog’s specific nutrition needs will be the best way to keep them healthy.
Make Sure the Diet Is Well-rounded
Your Greyhound must receive a range of nutritional foods, regardless of the diet you choose for him. You will want to verify that the primary ingredient is beef, lamb, chicken, or turkey. Rice should also be the predominant grain in the diet.
A well-balanced diet is vital for maintaining the health of your pet’s coat, immune system, and digestive system. This will lessen the likelihood that your Greyhound will develop ailments associated with obesity.
Other Considerations
It is advised that you do not significantly alter your pet’s diet. Instead, try to change the diet over time slowly. Feed twice a day – once in the morning and once at night. Make sure they do not overeat at a single meal and pick up the bowl after they finish, not always to be able to eat. Also, feed them based on how active they are. Only give them table scraps and treats about 5% of the time. Lastly, make sure your pet has clean and fresh drinking water.
You will want a diet for your Greyhound that helps him lose weight but is also healthy and strong. To find the best commercial dog food, you should look at the ingredients. You should also consult your vet to choose the best dog food for an overweight greyhound. After your Greyhound achieves the ideal weight, you should continue to feed him a healthy diet to keep him in good shape.
Read more: The longest living dog breeds in the United States
Frequently Asked Questions About Fat Italian Greyhounds
Keeping an Italian Greyhound at a healthy weight to have a long and healthy life is necessary. An overweight Italian Greyhound can suffer from short and long-term health effects, just like people do.
There is a broad range of allowable Italian Greyhound weights. Small IGs might weigh as little as 6 lbs, while very large IGs might weigh only 20 lbs. The average weight for an Italian Greyhound is usually between 12-14 lbs. You can tell if your dog is at a healthy weight by looking at them.
The Italian Greyhound is a miniature greyhound. An elegant and graceful, with a height of 13 to 15 inches and 7-14 pounds.
The racing weight for a greyhound should be around 60lbs. If it is heavier than 58lbs, it has too much hipbone, which can be dangerous for the dog’s health. If the dog is obese and weighs more than 80lbs, it is serious trouble.
Greyhounds have a low body fat percentage, so they are often considered the fittest dogs. They also have short, smooth coats.
If your dog needs to gain weight, you can feed them high protein and fat foods. It will help them healthily put on weight. You should see a difference in their importance in just a couple of weeks.