Just as with humans, one of the biggest health problems today for dogs is obesity.  Many owners think their pudgy dogs are adorable, when in fact they are extremely unhealthy.  Overweight dogs can develop the same kinds of problems that overweight humans can, such as diabetes mellitus, which can be very tricky to treat.  Obesity can also reduce your dog’s life expectancy.

If you are not sure if your dog is overweight, there is a very easy way to do so visually and by touch.  A dog of normal weight should have an indentation at his waistline, and his ribs should be easily felt under his skin.  An overweight dog will not have a waistline and there will be a thicker layer of fat over his ribs.

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