Obesity in dogs is a growing problem, which can cause many problems including heart disease, joint problems, and diabetes. Almost half of dogs in America are fat, especially beagles, dachshunds, basset hounds, and Labrador retrievers. Before your dog reaches the point where they need insulin shots, you can slim them down. It will take almost a year, but it's worth it.
Even puppies shouldn't be overweight ? all dogs need to be slim, not fat, to be healthy. A dog is at the right weight if you can feel the ribs without excess fat covering. From the side, the dog's belly should be tucked up, and from above, there should be a noticeable waist in front of the hips. When you feel his ribs, they should be shallow indents which you can count, although you shouldn't be able to count them just by looking.
A major cause of overweight dogs is feeding them table scraps. While it is fun to feed your dog leftover food, there are serious consequences. One is, of course, that the dog will become unsure of who is the alpha in the family. The alpha is the one who eats first, and if the dog is being fed before or during the meal, the hierarchy of the family becomes unclear. Also, table scraps may not provide the right nutrition for a dog. For example, many dogs fed table scraps can get vitamin A toxicity, and excess protein and phosphorus. If a dog is fed exclusively table scraps, they usually won't get enough calcium and can get over-activity of the parathyroid glands.
To reduce the weight of fat dogs, one option is to just keep to the same feeding schedule, but feed the dog less, starting by feeding the dog only ? as much as you do now. This option, however, can produce a dog that whines a lot, so many owners can add bulky vegetables to the food. You can also get special low-calorie foods, which are high in bulk so the dog feels better fed. Dogs don't usually like low-calorie foods, but they will eventually eat it and get used to it.
Another option, which can keep the whining down, is to change the feeding schedule to twice a day instead of once a day. Never leave food out all day long. Treats need to stop being given, but instead of a treat, overweight dogs can be fed one of the two small meals. If you really want to give your dog a treat, use a carrot or an apple.
A balanced dog food is at least a quarter protein and 1600 kilocalories of energy per pound, but if the dog is not active, overweight dogs will need less food. For canned dog food, the calorie intake is measured at 500 calories per pound, although if the dog food is all meat, it's 600 calories a pound. For dry food, 1500 calories per pound, and semi-soft or moist food is 1350 per pound. So if a dog weighs less than 11 pounds, feed them about 4 ounces of dry food a day. Up to 22 pounds, feed 5 ounces, 22-50 pounds gets 11 ounces, 55-75 pounds gets 17 ounces, and 75 pounds or more get 35-30 ounces of dry food.
All these calculations don't necessarily work, though, as each dog metabolizes food differently and has different activity levels. Remember, a dog doesn't have to eat every day, and can go up to five days without eating. Also, spaying or neutering the dog does not cause obesity.
If your dog only nibbles at the food, don't be fooled. Nibblers tend to eat more in the long run than gobblers, and thus gain weight quicker. And if the obese dog is picky, the dog will eventually become accustomed to the healthy food, it may just take a while.
Once your dog is on a diet, keep track of the dog's weight. If the obese dog has lost even a little weight over two weeks, you're on the right track.
Walks should be given regularly (a couple times a day), but don't overdo it at first if the dog is really fat. Moderation in everything is the key to seriously overweight dogs. The goal should be double the amount of the walks your dog is getting now. Once your dog is trim, though, it's good to walk your dog a lot ? most dogs don't get enough exercise.
what type of little dog is best for me? HTML is what type of little dog is best for me? and the site provides advice and tips for selecting the best type of small dog, rating barkiness, intelligence, health, and even cuteness level.
tidy up service Glenview ..Pets are family members and should be treated as such.... Read More
The West Highland White Terrier or Westie, has it's origin,... Read More
June is Disaster Preparedness for Pets month ? but if... Read More
Did you know that more than one million north americans... Read More
Many people feel that taking the time to train their... Read More
What is Canine Distemper?Canine distemper is a highly contagios disease... Read More
Pet friendly vacations and travel planning make sense -- after... Read More
Without agility, the most muscular person in the world couldn't... Read More
Many people want to make sure their family pet has... Read More
What happens when we die? In our society, death is... Read More
Buy or Adopt - That is the question.If you intend... Read More
Dog bite injuries are alarmingly the most common condition that... Read More
The city I live in just increased its fees for... Read More
So you want to keep discus fish or are already... Read More
In horse training or natural horsemanship, Approach is nothing more... Read More
Pet's, any kind of pet can be a welcome addition... Read More
Distemper: Spotting This Dog Killer Before it's Too LateCanine distemper... Read More
Having a dog is a little like having a baby.... Read More
If you have ever tried to take a picture of... Read More
Which is the noisiest species of all? Nope, not the... Read More
You may have heard that pets have been scientifically proven... Read More
Is your dog one of those that pulls at his... Read More
PROBIOTICS - The Good Bacteria - Does your pet have... Read More
"Magoo was a big, playful Labrador retriever who often got... Read More
For heat dissipation and body cooling, a horse trotting at... Read More
full-service cleaning Mundelein ..Bringing home a new puppy, ushers in a wave of... Read More
Many parents know that the best way for children to... Read More
Dog Shock CollarsDog shock collars are a touchy subject among... Read More
Let's take a look at the different stages, but before... Read More
I have encountered folks who have complained to me about... Read More
Goldfish HealthcareYou would think that it's unfair that such a... Read More
As with every training tool used to modify a behavior... Read More
Teaching your dog to heel is one of the most... Read More
If you are keen on breeding Goldfish, you should know... Read More
The most common dog problems:Dog Owner's commonly ask me the... Read More
Talk to the animals?Yes.And what's more, they talk to us!If... Read More
They say the eyes are are the gateway to the... Read More
Mabeke is a young gorilla who was born in captivity... Read More
The performing of dog tricks, while not a necessary part... Read More
Our dogs are now, more than ever, a very important... Read More
Shy dogs are more common than most people think, but... Read More
Introducing your puppy to the crate should be an easy... Read More
Which kind is your pet? The pooch who is the... Read More
Training your dog to "sit" is probably the first thing... Read More
Your dog's dental health is so important for his total... Read More
My dad was an avid animal lover. We grew up... Read More
Obesity is one of the most important health concerns facing... Read More
Buying a new dog is more than simply finding the... Read More
Annual Vaccinations for Your Dog?Are they really necessary? - In... Read More
A dog crate is a necessity for your dog, through... Read More
Pet |