Fat Dogs: Healthy OR Not
Article by Ricardo Lumbardo
The Danger of Obesity in Dogs
Obesity in dogs is a common problem, which may come as a surprise to many dog owners. One of the top reasons, however, why obesity in dogs became common is that dogs cannot control their own weight. They rely on their owners for that. So if you, as a dog owner, do not pay much attention to your dog’s weight, the next thing you do, you might see an obese dog having difficulty moving around. And since your dog’s eating habits and the amount of food it is given depends entirely on you, if your dog gets obesity, it means that it is you who actually has a problem. Preventing obesity is easier than trimming your dog down to a normal weight. So as much as possible, you should try to pay attention to your dog’s weight as much as you can. A fat dog may look cute or funny, but when your fat dog starts suffering because of the extra weight, you will have a bigger problem. Obese dogs are in greater danger of suffering from various types of dog diseases than healthy dogs. Dog obesity is also closely associated with the shortening of your dog’s overall life span. Thus, if your dog is beginning to look round, it’s time to start worrying. It doesn’t really take that long and that much food for your fat dog to become an obese dog.
Solving Your Dog’s Weight Problem
When you decide to try and solve your fat dog’s weight problem, you are doing it a huge favor. So make sure that you are serious about it in every way. Consult your veterinarian for how much weight yourdog needs to lose. In obese cases, you would need a veterinarian’s help. But if your dog is just a bit on the heavy side, you can do the weight control on your own. It’s pretty much like weight control for humans. Here are some things you can do. Avoid dog biscuits that come in larger sizes. In training, don’t use treats as incentives every time. Try to come up with various options. The same goes for other occasions as well. For example, your dog does something you liked. Your dog is being good. Your first instinct may just be to feed him, which is wrong. Consider other forms of reward, those that won’t cause obesity in your already fat dog. Also, it is a common practice to give unwanted leftovers and table scraps to your dog. If your dog already has its allocated doggie meal, every piece of table scrap is already something, especially to an already fat dog. If you expect that there will be leftovers that will most likely go to your dog, lessen the amount of dog food that you give your pet to eat.
What Else Do You Need to Solve Your Dog’s Weight Problem?
Your dog is cutting back on food. There is one more thing to do. Your dog needs to burn calories as well. This can be done through exercise. But dogs, no matter how intelligent they are, cannot simply exercise on their own without any guidance. What this means is, self-control, in terms of what food you give to your dog, is not all that you need. You also need to be committed to the task, and allot enough time to take your dog out for a regular exercise session. Don’t worry. Surely, the exercise is going to do both you and your fat dog a lot of good. With the proper diet and the right exercise, your fat dog can eventually turn into a healthy dog. If your dog, however, has a serious dog obesity problem, then treatment is going to take a bit longer.
About the Author
To learn more about American Bulldog and to find other high quality breeds, please visit http://www.11-peaks.com.
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