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Much like their owners, more and more dogs worldwide are showing
signs of obesity. Besides limiting their enjoyment of life as a
dog, extra body weight can lead to to joint and heart problems,
shorter lives, and sometimes behavioural issues.
The easiest way to tell whether or not your dog is obese is to
examine his body. Try the following:
* Have him stand up, then stand above him. Does his body slope
inward at the waist?
* Run your hands over his sides from front to back legs. Can
you feel his ribs fairly easily?
* Feel the base of his tail. Are the bones easily detectable?
* Look at him from the side. Does his tummy slope upward as it
gets closer to his tail?
If you answered no to any of the questions, your pup is probably
overweight. If you answered "What waist/ribs/tail bones?" and
"Upward? Really?," your pup is probably obese.
The methods for treating obesity in dogs is fairly simple: eat
less, exercise more.
Eat less
* If your dog has a constant supply of food, remove it.
* Buy a food scoop with measuring lines and portion his food
based on the charts on your food labels.
* Create a feeding schedule and stick to it. Whether you split
the amount among two feedings or one larger meal, stay with the
routine and he'll adjust to it.
Be forewarned, though. Dogs are survival eaters and don't react
well when their food supply is threatened. She may suddenly,
start raiding the trash or taking food off of the counter.
Exercise more
It won't take any convincing to get your dog to exercise more,
just get the leash and head out for a walk.
Plan to spend an hour total every day walking. I realize that
it's hard these days to find the time. If you have kids, drag
them away from the TV and go for a family walk after dinner. If
you work out yourself, figure out a way to incorporate your dog
into your routine.
On the weekends, head to the park with a tennis ball or a
Frisbee.
Think of it this way: Would you rather see your dog running,
tongue out, tail wagging for 10 years, or that he lay around the
house for five?
How many people get to have a to-do list that includes "Play
with Dog"?
The right diet and exercise can make your dog more social, more
obedient, and more dedicated to you due to the extra time you
spend together.
Wasn't that the whole reason you decided to get a dog in the
first place?
About the author:
Russ Richer is a Dog Lover who has done extensive research to
care for his own Dog. You can get additional information on Dog
Health Care by visiting http://www.DogDayPets.com where you will
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