Obesity is one of the most common issues affecting Vizslas. Vizslas make great dogs in many different ways. They are characterized by their lean and muscular build which begs the question, do you have an overweight Vizsla?
You can identify an overweight Vizsla by checking their body, their breathing, their ribs, tail base, demeanor, and personality.
This article will cover all the information you need to learn to identify an overweight Vizsla and how to prevent obesity in them.
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Identifying an Overweight Vizsla
Vizslas are physically fit due to their high levels of energy and physical activity. Hence, it is possible for them to have become overweight as a result of the poor diet and lifestyle that their owners have given them.
There are various methods for figuring out whether your Vizsla is overweight. Knowing this is essential for assessing your dog’s physical fitness and preventing any potential health issues.
Check the Vizsla’s Body
This is the easiest and most obvious approach to identifying whether or not your Vizsla is overweight. We all know that Vizslas have slim but muscular bodies.
Check your Vizsla’s build closely to see if it has put on weight. It is wise to start making changes to your dog’s food and exercise routine if you notice that its shape is becoming more rounded or oval as a result of weight gain.
You can also find further signs of your Vizsla’s obesity by viewing its body from the side.
You will be able to tell if its stomach is swinging or if its waist is not lifted from its natural angle. In this situation, you ought to give your dog a healthy and more planned diet.
Assess Your Vizsla’s Breathing
Rapid breathing is a common indication of being overweight. It is typical for dogs to experience breathing problems when their weight is higher than it should be.
As soon as your Vizsla runs, leaps, plays, or engages in any other physical activity, you’ll find that he has some breathing issues. It will struggle to recuperate from the effort put forth in those circumstances.
This is one of the most obvious signs of an overweight Vizsla as this breed is known for its intense physical activity and high level of performance. They usually don’t get tired easily.
Examine Your Vizsla’s Ribs
Feeling our dog’s ribs is a great technique to determine whether or not it is overweight. We all know that a dog’s ribs being visible is a good indication of its fitness level.
On the other hand, if you touch your Vizsla’s body and do not feel its ribs, it probably weighs a few more kilograms because of its high body fat content.
Vizslas often have very little body fat, and because of their natural build, you should be able to feel their ribs. Other bones in its body, including those in the legs, shoulders, hips, and spine, may also be the same way.
Examine Tail Base
You can also tell if a dog is overweight by looking at its tail. Dogs typically have a little fat at the base of their tail. But you still should be able to feel its bones there. If you find yourself unable to do that, your Vizsla has clearly put on weight.
Observe Your Vizsla
One of this dog’s most defining characteristics is its demeanor and personality. Vizslas are renowned for being loving, joyful, lively, and active dogs. Because of this, it is extremely uncommon to see a dog of this breed who lacks energy.
In most cases, an illness or disorder—in this case, being overweight—causes them to be lethargic. It is likely that your Vizsla doesn’t feel like doing anything because you haven’t provided it with a healthy and active lifestyle.
In such cases, your dog may spend a lot of time sleeping and have a lot of difficulty walking, running, jumping, breathing, etc.
You must feed your pet a diet with wholesome, nourishing food along with following a regular activity schedule. Your Vizsla will be able to live a better lifestyle this way.
Causes of Obesity in Vizslas
There are two primary causes of obesity that we should be aware of in order to safeguard our Vizsla from the condition.
Lack of Exercise
As we’ve already stated, Vizslas require daily exercise. In fact, you should schedule at least two one-hour exercise sessions every day for your pet if you have this breed or any breed of dog, really.
Lack of exercise might cause your dog to become overweight and develop other health issues. Vizslas require our help in getting their fill of daily physical activity, whether it be through games, strolls in the park, or anything else.
Poor Nutrition
Poor diet is likely what’s causing obesity in your dog. Many dog owners are unsure about what the best diets for their pets are, especially when it comes to Vizslas who require a diet rich in vitamins and nutrients.
It’s likely that your dog may start to gain weight if you feed it unhealthy foods that are high in fat and carbohydrates.
Even if you give your dog appropriate amounts of food, they could still gain weight if the diet is not well-balanced. Feeding your dog nutritious foods that complement his workout regimen is important.
Common Health Problems Linked to Obesity
Bloat
Bloat is a condition in which the stomach twists on itself, shutting down blood flow. It is more common in overweight Vizslas. A dog who was healthy one minute may pass away a few hours later due to bloating.
Bloat in overweight vizslas manifests as restlessness and pacing, drooling, pale gums, lip licking, wanting to vomit but failing, and signs of pain.
Bloat requires immediate surgical intervention, and dogs who have bloated once will bloat again. Therefore, it is preferable to opt for the “stomach tacking” surgery, which will prevent the stomach from twisting in the future.
Lipomas
Lumps, bumps, and skin tumors are a regular occurrence in dogs, but Vizslas are a breed particularly susceptible to specific malignant forms of tumors.
This means that as your Vizsla ages, you will need to keep a very close eye on its skin because you never want to miss a potentially harmful bump as it develops.
Even though not all bumps on your Vizsla’s skin can cause serious issues, you should take them seriously until they have been ruled out and declared benign.
Even the most experienced veterinarians cannot tell if a tumor is dangerous just by looking at it; instead, they need to follow diagnostic procedures to establish how dangerous a lump is.
Managing an Overweight Vizsla
Most owners face a problem with managing the weight of their obese Vizsla. While it’s not difficult to control your Vizsla’s weight, you do need to pay attention to their nutrition, exercise routine, and general health.
Therefore, there is no need to overdo the “weight management” portion. But if you know how to do it properly, it won’t hurt either.
You can control your Vizsla’s weight by doing the following:
Watch Their Daily Dietary Schedule and Needs
Because Vizslas are prone to obesity, it’s important to keep tabs on what they consume daily and how active they are.
To decide whether your dog needs to burn more calories or engage in more exercise to reduce weight, you can look up the recommended daily exercise times for the relevant weight range and age.
Cut Down Treats
Don’t give your Vizsla additional treats if you find that they are starting to gain weight to avoid any health issues.
By limiting the number of treats you offer your Vizsla each day and providing them with high-quality food, you can also promote good eating habits in them.
Keep Your Vizsla in a Healthy Environment
Keeping your Vizsla in a healthy environment can help to keep them slim and prevent them from gaining weight.
Examples of such healthy practices include providing them with lots of toys, not letting them eat treats off the ground, and keeping their water dish filled with fresh water at all times.
Consult Your Vet
If your Vizsla is overweight, consult a veterinarian so he can guide you about how to help your Vizsla lose weight.
Depending on your dog’s size, age, health condition (such as diabetes), exercise level, and more, your veterinarian can help you decide what kind of food is best for your Vizsla and how much of it they should be getting.
The advice from the vet will also change depending on whether your dog is able to lose weight or not.
Conclusion For “Do You Have an Overweight Vizsla?”
Vizslas are fantastic dogs in so many ways, but because of their overeating tendencies, they become overweight, which leads to more serious health conditions.
Exercise and a healthy diet can help control weight and prevent obesity in these dogs.
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For more information about the Vizsla Breed, check out the video below:
