If you are not sure why your dog is obese, and continues to gain a little weight each year, think for a few minutes about what the dog is eating on a daily basis, and how much exercise the dog is getting.
Are you feeding your dog a food that is recommended for the breed? Consult with your veterinarian to get a clue about the foods your dog should have if you are not sure.
Funny thing about pets: They can't feed themselves more dog food than you give them. A canine that suffers from obesity is being fed too much by a human, plain and simple. So what have you been feeding your furry friend besides dog food? Hopefully no table scraps, because you know that is not allowed.
How about treats for your dog? Are you feeding the dog several treats each day, when the vet suggested one or two would be enough?
What difference does it make if the dog is fat anyway? Don't you think it is still a great pet? Well, what about illnesses that plague dogs when they are overweight? No one wants to deal with these. They are terrible for the dog to deal with, and can be very time consuming for you, not to mention expensive.
How about exercise? If your pet is home alone all day, d
o you make sure it gets exercise when you return home? Funny thing about exercise and obese pets: It is often noticed the humans who owns an overweight dog will usually have weight issues, and be in need of exercise, too!
Here are some simple things you can do to help your dog escape obesity:
If you need to change your obese dog's food, do that first. Once you have done this, some think splitting the dog's daily ration in two helps the dog feel less deprived. Or is that the owner? The votes are not in yet on that.
Avoid too many treats. Think about giving your dog hard toys to chew on while you are away from the home. To appease you, give the dog one treat a day that is a little harder for it to chew than a biscuit. Split this in two if you think you need to.
Exercise is next, and the subject most like to avoid. Try to take your dog outside for 10 minutes at a time in the beginning. Throw a Frisbee or a ball for a few minutes, and enjoy watching you dog get some much needed exercise. Next, add some walking, again just 10 minutes or so to begin with. You will begin to notice your dog is having a good time, and you may also. As your dog begins to slim down, you will begin to tone up! And this could mean you will both have a longer healthier life. Go for it!
