Are You Contributing to Your Dog Being Overweight?
Maybe you just love giving your dog treats for no reason. Perhaps you are both on the same eating schedule. Maybe you even share your dinner with your pup after one look at those pleading eyes. As much as you are doing everything out of love, you may be doing more harm than good with these methods. You don’t have to wait until your dog absolutely cannot make it through the dog door before you do something about the developing weight problem.
Assessing Weight
Different breeds have different common weight goals. Do a bit of research, or ask your vet about a good weight for your pup. Then, start weighing your pup on a regular basis so you can see how close he or she is to the target weight. You can do this at the vet’s office, or in your own home. Just make sure you always use the same scale so that the results are accurate when it comes to measuring loss and gain. If your pup has any kind of dangling pouch, you can’t feel his or her ribs, or he or she seems to waddle when he or she walks, there is a weight problem.
Monitor Your Behavior
You are the main food source for your pup. This means it is your behavior that needs to be monitored, not your pup’s. You don’t have to give a treat just because your pup stands by the box and whines. You don’t have to feed your dog from your plate. In fact, that may be one of the most unhealthy things you can do. Human food is not always good for dogs, but feeding your dog off of your plate also means your pup is likely to beg your guests when they eat as well.
Exercise Together
Weight loss is not just about eating right. It is also about getting the appropriate amount of exercise. You want to show your dog love and attention, but snacks and treats are not the healthy way to go about it. What your dog loves even more than food is spending time with you. Instead of reaching for a snack, reach for the leash and take your pup for a walk. Play fetch with a ball in the park or create fun obstacle courses at home. All of these things can contribute to the overall well-being of your pet.
When you do want to feed your dog snacks, opt for healthy choices like rice cakes. Vegetables are another good choice. Avoid fatty foods and sugars, and put more focus on healthy foods. Otherwise, you could be causing your pet to not just need a bigger dog door, but to need medications and treatment for things like respiratory issues, Type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis issues as well. All of these things can impair movement and reduce the quality of life of your dog.
Since these are the very things you as a loving pet owner want to avoid, take action now. You might realize just as many benefits from these changes as your pup does.
