Studies suggest that 60% of pets in the United States are overweight, leading to a variety of health problems for our four-legged friends.
Being overweight results in greater stress on the joints as well as the heart, making our pets more prone to injury and surgery, and shortening their lives.
Chubby Cavalier puppies are cute, but being heavy early in life can lead to obesity in an adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Weigh your pet regularly. At home, weigh yourself first. Then, holding your Cavalier in your arms, step on the scale for a second time.
The difference between the two measurements is the weight of your dog.
Adult Cavalier Spaniels generally weigh 13 to 20 lbs but keep in mind that every dog is different.
How can you judge whether your Cavalier Spaniel is at a healthy weight?
Take a good look at your dog (from above, i.e., an “aerial view”) and follow these guidelines:
Thin
If your dog’s ribs are noticeable to the eye and too easily felt, and if his waist below the ribs is pronounced, then your pet is too thin.
Ideal Weight
You won’t generally see your dog’s ribs if he is at his ideal weight, although you should be able to feel them through only a slight layer of fat over your dog’s ribs.
Your dog should have only minimal abdominal fat, and his waist should be noticeable.
When looking at your pet from above, he’ll have a pleasing hour glass shape.
Overweight
If your Cavalier is overweight, you won’t be able to see his ribs or easily feel them because of the moderate layer of fat over his ribs.
His waist will not be particularly noticeable due to more than necessary abdominal fat.
Obese
In a fat Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, you won’t be able to see or feel his ribs at all.
Abdominal fat will be heavy, and your dog won’t appear to have a waist as his abdomen will be distended.
Avoiding an Overweight Cavalier
The best medicine is always prevention. Your goal should be to keep your dog from becoming overweight in the first place.
Whenever you notice your pet starting to look a little “chunky”, it’s time to adjust his eating routine.
- Exercise is very important to your dog’s health. Take your dog for a few extra walks every day.
- Cut back on the number of treats you give him, and substitute lower-calorie alternatives.
- Switch your Cavalier to a dog food specially formulated for overweight dogs.
- Take him to see your vet and rule out any medical condition that could be responsible for your dog’s obesity.
The food portion guidelines you find on the label of your pet food are only a starting point.
Be aware that the pet food manufacturer doesn’t know how active your dog is or how many treats you give him during the day.
Pet owners need to customize the amount of food to each dog’s situation.
If you need help determining the best diet for your pet, here is a comprehensive Cavalier King Charles Spaniel feeding guide.
Yet, if you’ve tried everything and your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is still fat, you should probably call your local veterinarian for more analysis.
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