Stop Normalizing Obese Dogs – They’re Not Cute, They’re at Risk!

 Social media is flooded with pictures of chubby dogs labeled as 'cute' or 'adorable,' but have you ever stopped to think about the message they are sending? While these posts might get a lot of likes, they are also helping to normalize something dangerous - obesity in our pets. Today, we're diving into why this trend is dangerous and what we can do to promote healthier, happier lives for our dogs.

Obesity in dogs is becoming more common than ever, with studies showing that over 50% of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese and unfortunatelly the obesity is considered the most common and preventable disease in dogs. While a few extra kilograms might seem harmless or even cute, the reality is that obesity can lead to a lot of health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, joint problems, and a shortened lifespan.

Think about it - our dogs rely on us for everything, including their diet and exercise. When we allow them to become overweight, we're putting their health at risk. And that's something no pet parent wants.

Unfortunatelly social media has played a big role in normalizing obesity in dogs. We often see pictures of chubby dogs with comments like "adorable" or "so cute!" But while these dogs might look cute, they're actually at risk for serious health problems. By continuing to praise and normalize this, we're sending the wrong message.

We need to start changing the conversation around dog obesity. Instead of celebrating chubby dogs, let's focus on promoting healthy, active pets. Share success stories of dogs who have lost weight and regained their health, and encourage others to do the same.

The sad part of this problem is that it is completely preventable problem. Obesity can be relatively easily fixed by lowering the calory intake, which means feeding your dog with lower portions of food and by exercising your dog more. The ammount of exercise depends on a breed, but if your dog has a problem with weight, walk him more, play with him more, run, swim, hike… Any activity will help him.

Of course, some individual dogs will be prone to obesity more than others. There are some particular breeds known for being prone to obesity a lot. Those would include various Bulldog breeds, Pugs, Labradors, Bassets, Beagles or Rottweilers. But even these breeds can be in tip top shape – i am speaking from my own experience. This is a video of my previous Labrador and even though he had an appetite of a bear just waking from hibernation, he would literally eat non-stop, even than he stayed fit, lean and most importantly healthy and happy. Because i exercised him and fed him properly towards his needs.

It's not about body-shaming our or your dogs—it's about loving them enough to take their health seriously. By addressing obesity, we can help our dogs live longer, happier lives. Obesity is not normal, especially not in dogs, because they – unlike majority of people – do not choose to be fat.

Let's work together to stop normalizing obesity in dogs and start prioritizing their health.