Introduction
Last week, I was shocked to find that my dog Rover had seemingly gained a significant amount of weight overnight. One day he looked like his happy, healthy self and then the next morning I could clearly see he looked larger around his belly and hindquarters. It was very concerning because Rover is usually so active and has never had any issues with rapid weight gain before. I knew something must be wrong for him to suddenly put on extra weight literally overnight. In this article, I will document Rover’s sudden overnight weight gain, the steps I took to diagnose the cause, the treatment plan prescribed by my vet, and how Rover is doing now.
Describe Your Dog
My dog’s name is Buster and he is a 3 year old Labrador Retriever. Labrador Retrievers are one of the breeds most prone to being overweight and obese according to sources like https://www.napo.pet/blog/7-breeds-most-prone-to-being-obese. Buster’s normal weight is around 65 pounds. He is a happy, energetic dog who loves to play fetch and go for walks. Before this sudden weight gain, he had a slim, athletic build typical of the breed.
Your Dog’s Typical Diet
Before the weight gain, I typically fed my dog 2 cups of Hill’s Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley Recipe dry dog food twice a day, which amounted to 400 calories per cup, so a total of 1600 calories per day. According to the Basic Calorie Calculator for Dogs and Cats from The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center, a dog of my dog’s weight, breed, and activity level needs around 1200 calories per day for maintenance (https://vet.osu.edu/vmc/companion/our-services/nutrition-support-service/basic-calorie-calculator). Therefore, her previous diet provided about 400 excess calories per day. I selected this brand and recipe because it is formulated to meet nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials and recommended calorie intake for my dog’s ideal body weight.
Day Before the Weight Gain
The day before I noticed the sudden weight gain, my dog seemed to be acting normally. He ate his regular two cups of dry dog food in the morning and evening. He wasn’t demonstrating any changes in appetite. We went for our typical 30 minute walk in the morning. In the afternoon, he played fetch in the backyard for about 20 minutes. He was energetic and playful, with no signs of lethargy or illness.
That evening, I gave him a dental chew after dinner as usual. He didn’t have access to any table scraps or other human foods. I didn’t notice him getting into the trash or any other scavenging behavior that day. Before bed, he seemed happy and healthy. There were no unusual events or changes in routine in the 24 hours before I noticed his sudden weight gain.
Discovering the Weight Gain
It was a typical morning when I went to feed my dog, Buck. He’s usually eager for breakfast and races over to his bowl when he hears the kibble pouring into it. But on this particular day, when I called him for breakfast, he lumbered over much slower than normal. That’s when I first noticed something was off.
As Buck started eating, I took a closer look at him. His stomach sagged low and swung side to side as he moved. His waist was no longer defined and had widened significantly. I ran my hands along his sides, feeling that he had gained a considerable amount of weight overnight. I was shocked at how drastically different his body felt compared to just the previous day.
I racked my brain trying to figure out how Buck could have packed on so many pounds so quickly. He hadn’t been behaving differently or acting sick in any way. The only major change was this sudden weight gain that seemingly occurred overnight. I knew I needed to get to the bottom of what was causing this to happen.
Potential Causes
There are a few potential reasons why a dog may experience sudden weight gain overnight or over a short period of time. Some of the most common causes include:
Medical conditions – Certain medical conditions like hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease or insulinoma can cause sudden weight gain in dogs due to effects on the metabolism or appetite. According to dogseechew.in, “Hypothyroidism is one of the most common hormonal disorders in dogs that causes unexplained weight gain.” It’s important to have the vet run tests to rule out any underlying medical conditions. [1]
Overfeeding – Eating too much food is one of the most obvious causes of weight gain in dogs. Per vetster.com, “The most common cause of rapid weight gain in dogs is overfeeding.” This could happen from getting into the trash, stealing food, or being fed extra treats or table scraps by family members. Carefully monitoring food intake is key. [2]
Lack of exercise – If a dog suddenly becomes less active due to injury, illness or lifestyle changes, the drop in exercise can lead to rapid weight gain. According to webmd.com, “Dogs that aren’t getting enough exercise can gain weight quickly.” Ensuring the dog maintains an active exercise routine is important. [3]
Vet Visit
I took my dog to the vet after noticing the sudden weight gain overnight. The vet did a full exam and took blood tests to look for any underlying medical causes. After reviewing the test results, the vet determined my dog’s thyroid levels were low, indicating hypothyroidism was likely causing the unexplained weight gain.
The vet explained that hypothyroidism is a common condition in dogs that affects the thyroid gland and can lead to a slower metabolism. With a slower metabolism, my dog was not burning calories efficiently and the excess calories were being stored as fat, causing the rapid weight gain. The vet said this explains why my active dog who ate a consistent diet suddenly gained weight for no apparent reason.
To confirm the hypothyroidism diagnosis, the vet recommended doing additional testing such as an ACTH stimulation test and free T4 test. Once diagnosed, she said hypothyroidism can be managed with daily oral medication to replace the missing thyroid hormones. Along with medication, she suggested adjusting my dog’s diet to a weight management food recommended for less active dogs. With proper treatment and a regulated diet, the vet assured me they can get my dog’s weight back on track.
Treatment Plan
After examining my dog and running some tests, the vet determined the likely cause of the sudden weight gain was hypothyroidism. She recommended starting my dog on thyroid medication called Levothyroxine to help regulate his thyroid hormone levels. The vet stressed the importance of closely following the medication instructions and getting my dog’s thyroid levels rechecked in 4-6 weeks to see if the medication dosage needs to be adjusted.
In addition to the thyroid medication, the vet gave me strict instructions to put my dog on a weight loss diet to help him shed the extra pounds. She suggested switching my dog to a high-protein, low-calorie dog food made specifically for weight loss. I was advised to cut back on treats and table scraps and limit my dog’s food portions based on the recommended amount on the dog food package for weight loss. The vet also said I should start giving my dog more exercise through longer or more frequent walks and play time. She explained getting my dog to move more would help burn calories and aid the weight loss process. I left the appointment feeling I had a good plan to help my dog lose the unhealthy weight gain and regulate his thyroid levels.
Implementing the Plan
After getting expert advice from the vet, it was time to put their weight loss plan into action for my dog. I carefully followed the vet’s recommendations to transition my dog to a new weight management dog food. This food contained fewer calories and higher fiber to promote feelings of fullness. I gradually mixed the new food with my dog’s old food over the course of a week to avoid digestive upset.
In addition to the diet change, the vet advised increasing my dog’s activity through daily walks. Starting slow, I began taking my dog for 20 minute walks, working up to longer walks over time. To avoid overdoing it, I kept a close eye on my dog for signs of soreness or fatigue. The vet stressed the importance of consistency with the new feeding and exercise regimen. I made sure to stick to scheduled meal times and exercise sessions.
It was challenging at first, but after a couple weeks my dog adjusted to the new routine. I weighed my dog weekly to monitor their progress and provide updates to the vet. With persistence and patience, I saw the weight start to come off. It was rewarding to see my dog get healthier thanks to implementing the vet’s specialized weight loss plan.
Results
After implementing the vet-prescribed diet and exercise plan for 2 months, my dog lost over 10 pounds. He is much more active now and has a lot more energy during our daily walks, often pulling me along eager to explore. His mood and attitude have greatly improved as well. He seems much happier overall.
I’ve continued monitoring his weight weekly, and he has steadily lost about 1 pound per week on average. His ideal weight is 70 pounds, and at his last weigh-in he was just under 80 pounds. So we still have some work to do, but the vet is very pleased with his progress so far.
The vet says once he reaches his target weight, we will re-evaluate his diet and exercise plan to maintain a healthy weight long-term. But for now, we are staying focused and sticking to the plan.
Seeing the change in my dog’s health and happiness has been so rewarding. His weight loss journey has improved his quality of life tremendously.