What Foods Make Dogs Fat?

Obesity in dogs is on the rise and is a serious health problem, according to Canismajor.com. Overweight dogs are more likely to suffer from disorders of the heart, lungs, joints, kidneys and liver, including osteoarthritis and diabetes. Since dog owners choose the foods their dogs eat, it is important for them to be aware of which foods will cause their pet to become overweight.

  1. Human Food

    • Essentially, there is no difference between people food and dog food, in fact, many dog owners feed their dogs a balanced diet of fresh ingredients such as beef, fish, grains and poultry. However, regular consumption of many calorie laden "human" foods will cause a dog to become obese just as they would a person.

      Cheese, butter, peanut butter, foods with sugar or processed white flour, baked goods and high-fat meat products such as bacon or some processed lunch meats will pack the pounds on to your pooch if they are regularly given as rewards or instead of healthier meals.

    Dog Food

    • Dog foods that are formulated for large dogs or puppies contain a higher amount of calories to meet the needs of those dogs. Adult dogs who continue to eat puppy food after 6 months of age, or smaller breeds who eat food formulated for large breeds will consume many more calories a day than they need.

      Not all dog foods are created equal. Some supposedly healthy foods have a high fat content. When purchasing food for your dog, check the label for calorie and fat content. Dry food formulated for adult dogs typically has 11 to 16 percent fat content.

      Feeding your dog in the correct amount is as important as choosing the right dog food. If overfed, your dog will gain weight from even the best-quality dog food.

    Specialty Foods

    • There are a number of homemade specialty foods that are sometimes used as alternatives to processed dog snacks or for feeding to malnourished dogs who need to gain weight.

      "Satin Balls," and "Mutt Meatloaf " contain ingredients such as hamburger, oatmeal, molasses, eggs, macaroni, rice and vegetable oil. These specialties can cause a healthy dog to become overweight if they are used as treats too often or given as a replacement for regular meals.