About 20-40% of dogs are estimated to be clinically obese.
According to the Cape of Good Hope SPCA, staff members were recently lost for words when one owner brought in his 22kg Dachshunds, also known as the wiener dog for consultation.
The SPCA said in a statement that Dachshunds usually weigh between 7 to 14 kg but Hansie who was brought in by his new owner was double that size. Hansie’s previous owner had recently passed away at the age of 94 and the first thing the SPCA suspected was the owner must have constantly fed him because the owner suffered from Dementia and Alzheimer’s.
The SPCA said further that Hansie’s mobility, therefore, he was unable to walk freely, however, after his first consultation, he has reportedly lost a few kilograms. He will also remain in veterinary oversight during his weight loss journey.
According to Dr Stehan Spamer, managing obesity in pets is achieved through a combination of dietary management, frequent exercises and behavioural changes. Spamer said further that it is also important to note that this is a multifactorial condition.
” Important factors to consider is the type of diet and the amount of food fed for the target weight and not the current weight,” Spamer explained.
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Picture: SPCA
