There is a great inequality of opinion regarding weight gain in dogs that have been sterilized, both inside and outside the veterinary and nutritionist world. Many claim that their dogs started to gain weight after being spayed or neutered.
Perhaps that is the reason why specific low-fat feeds have been created for sterilized dogs, to prevent them from gaining weight even if they eat the same amount of food. However, you will be surprised to know that sterilization is not the only culprit for your dog to gain weight … you are also partly to blame.
Choosing a quality feed that contains no more than twenty percent fat is almost essential.
Is it true that spayed or neutered dogs gain more weight?
Although large voices within the veterinary world relate the increase in weight of the sterilized dogs with the hormonal decrease caused by the castration itself. The truth is that there is not yet a study that scientifically shows that there is a direct relationship.
Castration in dogs is usually performed between nine months and a year and a half of life, before they begin to develop testosterone (in the case of males) or estrogens (in the case of females).
Curiously, it is at this age that the dog stops growing and begins to mature, which in humans could be considered adolescence. The dog will not devote as much energy to building muscle or bone mass, however it will continue to eat more or less the same amount.
This is where the mistake lies, dogs need to increase their level of exercise, if they do not start to accumulate excess fat, to put on weight. However, many people prefer to think that their dog is gaining weight because it has been castrated, without paying any attention to the level of fats it ingests or its daily physical wear.
What can I do to prevent my sterilized dog from gaining weight?
Obviously the first thing we should look at is their diet. A dog with a
normal physical condition and routine wear and tear, that is, some walks and / or games, you do not need a diet rich in fats as it would be required by a working dog or a large amount of daily exercise, for example.
In addition to choosing a feed with a moderate level of fat, we must begin to
exercise with our dog. Dogs need to expend energy on a daily basis to
avoid the accumulation of fats, in addition to being very healthy for your health.
Going for a run with our dog, having him accompany us when we are skating or cycling and even going to dog parks to run and play with other dogs or simply throwing the ball at him, is an excellent option to exercise our dog.
And finally, avoid falling into the temptation of giving your dog pieces of your food. Everybody
We know that they love to take a piece of our food, but this is undoubtedly the worst habit that we can take, since it is what makes a dog fat the most.
My dog cannot exercise and it gets fat What can I do?
If for reasons of size or due to some type of physical illness your dog cannot do physical exercise, then you should focus on not giving him more calories than he really needs.
Try to find a light feed with a very low level of fats and carbohydrates, focus your
feed in two single doses a day and do not exceed the minimum amount recommended by the manufacturer depending on the weight of your dog.
Completely forget to give your dog human food except for the fruits that
It feels good, usually apple, pear or watermelon. Bananas by contrast make you fat, so they are not recommended in these cases.
Go for a walk more than usual, mainly after meals always and
when it’s not too hot. This will prevent your metabolism from starting to accumulate calories after digestion. Although remember that a dog that has just eaten should not get tired, that is, you can walk but do not run it.