Keeping obesity at bay
You may wake up one day and discover that your lovely, svelte puppy has turned into an overweight dog. Oh no, how did this happen? Well, just as in the case of humans, it all comes down to diet and exercise. Puppies and young dogs tend to be more excitable and active, thus burning off the calories, but as your dog becomes calmer in his mature adult life, and a little less active, he may start to pile on the pounds. And this is the point where you need to do something about it.
First of all, let’s think about exercise. Has he been getting his daily walks? Have you been playing with him? If your dog is getting a little on the rotund side, it may be time to think about making that walk longer, or even trying to walks a day, if you can possibly fit it in.
Turning to diet, it could be that you have been overfeeding your dog. Perhaps, because he obviously loves his food, you have been overfilling his bowl a little? A few extra calories a day can really pile on the pounds over a long period. If you feel tempted to give him generous portions, you could think about accurately weighing out his alloted amount of food every day.
Another factor to consider is this: have other people been feeding him? A little questioning around the house may reveal that family members have been giving him treats and left overs – after all, he is so cute! A bit of family discussion, explaining the weight problem, may help to put a stop to this – as soon as people realise that the dog is struggling with a weight problem, they will feel less tempted to feed him a treat when he gazes at them imploringly. You could also muster some volunteers for the dog walking.
By the whole family paying special attention to your dog’s diet and exercise, you can all help him to stay slim and healthy.
Filed under: Dog obesity, Dog walking, General health, Diet & Nutrition
