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How To Help Your Dog Lose Weight For Health And Happiness
- 01/07/2017
How Do I Know If My Dog Is Overweight?
Before having your dog lose weight, you'll need to make sure that he needs to do so in the first place. You'll know if your dog is obese or overweight if he has a hard time moving around and has been becoming plumper than most dogs of his breed and age. If you can't feel his ribs or other bones around his body, then chances are that he's overweight. Same with looking at your dog from above. If he has no definite waist, then it's time to take action.
There is no exact weight all dogs share, as it varies between the breed and age of your dog. So it's best to have your dog checked by a veterinarian for the professional to determine how much weight your dog needs to lose.
If your dog continues to stay obese, then there are many health conditions he may end up having, such as decreased stamina, difficulty breathing, damage to bones, or even fatal diseases like diabetes or digestive disorders.
Changes In Diet
The two most important factors in helping your dog lose weight are food and exercise.
To learn more about what to feed your dog, you'll need to know how many calories your dog needs. You can find out through dog food calculators online or from your veterinarian, as it varies by breed and age.
You will then need to learn how many calories each serving of your favourite food has. Measure it accurately according to your dog's caloric needs and then feed your dog two to four small meals a day. You can use automatic feeders for that.
Choose food high in protein and avoid feeding your dog any human food or extra treats that bulk up on his weight. He has to eat less than what he's used to for him to lose weight!
Changes In Exercise
Exercise is also essential so your dog can burn the excess calories and lose the weight properly. Start playing fetch with your dogs once a day, or take him for a walk for half an hour a few times a week. You'll strengthen your relationship with him while he can shed the pounds quickly.
Allow the balance of rest and play. Let them sleep in their dog beds when they want to, but always make time for to burn the calories.
More Tips on How to Help Your Dog Lose Weight
Remember that your dog will have trouble losing weight on his own because he has no knowledge of whether or not he needs to shed the pounds. He'll use your help and support to do so!
So here are some tips to follow so your dog can properly make the transition to his meal plan and lose weight:
ü Make sure to change your dog's meal plans slowly, especially if you will be changing his food entirely. Incorporate the new food with old food until he gets used to the former. Also, gradually lessen his food rather than cut it out altogether.
ü Instead of treats, praise your dog through words and actions such as going out or giving him his favourite toys.
ü When making your dog's meal plans, be sure to accurately measure his food rather than guess the amount, so you know exactly how much he's eating for him to lose weight.
In Conclusion
When it comes to keeping your dog happy and healthy, you'll need to make sure that he eats the proper types of food and gets enough exercise for him to maintain the appropriate weight for him to move around better and avoid any illnesses in the long run.
I hope that this article on how to help your dog lose weight helped you become more knowledgeable about the things you need to do for your dog to maintain a healthy weight for him to live longer and with happiness. So what are you waiting for? Try these tips on helping your overweight dog shed the pounds today.
If you have any questions or would like to share your tips on helping dogs lose weight, then comment down below. I would love to hear what you have to think.
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