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.
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carDog careAccepting responsibility of your new pet friend is truly... Read More
You may have heard that pets have been scientifically proven... Read More
The 6 Keys To Building A Life Long Partnership With... Read More
Glassily transparent, the lemon tetra (hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) could appear to... Read More
Part2: Does your puppy want to be crate trained?Yes! in... Read More
Would you like to save money and have a healthier... Read More
Many dog owners find themselves frustrated, deeply concerned and even... Read More
This is the story of my dog called Shandy. He... Read More
Tired of cleaning the cat box? Here are some tips... Read More
Buying a new dog is more than simply finding the... Read More
The treatment for heartworms is different for cats and dogs.... Read More
All dogs bark, it's their way to communicate a message.... Read More
Dogs are creatures of habit; and once they develop a... Read More
One we must regrettably share with our children for they... Read More
The idea of picking up a horse's hooves can intimidate... Read More
Contributed with the help of Karen L Overall of the... Read More
Of all the aggressive behavior in dogs dog bites is... Read More
As you likely know already, horses have at least 10... Read More
Quieting a barking dog is a quick and easy process.... Read More
Beautiful as they are, Boston Terriers have some genetic traits... Read More
More and more folks are looking to the Internet to... Read More
Unfortunately, there are a number of household items which we... Read More
1. Accidents and medical emergencies in the home happen frequently.... Read More
You may wish to consider a chinchilla as a possible... Read More
There are lots of ways a horse can go lame.... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..Can you comprehend a time when dog food, cat food,... Read More
The act of offering Christmas gifts is always enhanced if... Read More
The pet food industry, a billion-dollar, unregulated operation, feeds on... Read More
The idea of picking up a horse's hooves can intimidate... Read More
Pet's, any kind of pet can be a welcome addition... Read More
What's the best food for your Goldfish?Goldfish need food that... Read More
The cat backs up to the door, lifts the tail... Read More
Imagine being on a horse and he bolts. You pull... Read More
"You've created your own monster, you know", my mother said... Read More
Domesticated rabbits are one of the most popular pets, apart... Read More
On the surface playing Frisbee with your dog may seem... Read More
Dog clicker training is so much fun for both dogs... Read More
I really do not hope your are eating something, but... Read More
a) GrowlingIf your rabbit growls or grunts at you, she... Read More
June is Disaster Preparedness for Pets month ? but if... Read More
The city I live in just increased its fees for... Read More
Last summer, we added a new pet to our family... Read More
Who let the dogs out?Remember this song which gave birth... Read More
Dogs are a fantastic edition to any family but like... Read More
Which is the noisiest species of all? Nope, not the... Read More
Playing reinforces the bond between you and your cat.Playing with... Read More
Beaks, Bills, Face Knives, Beakers - whatever we want to... Read More
Dog obedience training starts even before you get your puppy... Read More
Why does one breed appeal to a person over another?... Read More
While a bird is an easy pet to care for,... Read More
Pet |