If you are a proud dog owner who often gives yummy rewards to his or her furry friend, you should know the problem of dog obesity. It is not casual but a serious issue that should be taken seriously. An overweight dog is unhealthy, so you must know how to prevent obesity in dogs.
Obesity is a big problem both in cats and dogs. It has been observed that most dog owners overfeed their pets and take them for regular exercise. This ultimately leads to overweight dogs. When a pet gets overweight, it gradually loses interest in regular physical activity. As per estimation, around 56 percent of dogs and 60 percent of cats are overweight, resulting in various health problems.
Obesity is caused by severe health problems and not only due to lack of exercise and poor diet. Excessive weight gain is also related to hormone problems such as cat acromegaly and hypothyroidism in dogs.
These types of hormonal issues cause excessive weight gain without eating much food. No matter what is the cause of obesity in dogs and cats, it may lead to severe health problems if untreated. Obesity creates a significant impact not only on the quality of life but also on the life span.
Dogs suffering from the problem of obesity develop joint-related issues such as loss of mobility, arthritis, etc. Besides these, it creates several other problems, such as breathing problems, fatigue, inability to exercise correctly, etc.
Here, in this content, you will learn some valuable tips that can help prevent obesity in dogs. So, let’s now check out the points below –
1. You Must Know How Much Food Your Pet Requires Per Day
If you are a pet owner, one of your responsibilities is to go through a handy chart that clarifies how much food you need to serve your furry friend. If you need clarification, it's better to ask a pet professional. Different types of animals require other nutritional food based on age, size, breed type, and activity level. For example, a growing puppy requires more calorie-based food than an 8-year-old dog. Prefer to consult with a veterinarian regarding how many calories your dog needs per day and try to stick to it.
2. Avoid Giving Table Scraps to Dogs
You should not allow table scraps from your dog. It is considered a type of bad behavior. Besides this, human food and pet food are different. Many human foods may cause serious illness in dogs and threaten their lives.
Onion, grapes, and chocolate are some harmful foods to pets. It should be your knowledge that not all human foods are safe for dogs; therefore, you should prevent your dog from eating human food.
3. Exercise Your Pet Daily
You should take time from your busy schedule to take your dog out for daily exercise. The time you give to yourself to be in shape, you should make the same effort to maintain your dog’s health. Your dog’s health will get many benefits from a daily workout session. At the same, they will engage in various playful activities.
You can use your yard to enjoy playful activities with your furry friend. To ensure its protection, you can install an invisible dog fence. It is a valuable thing. The invisible dog fence cost is low but provides excellent protection for your yard and pet. Daily exercise has another benefit; it helps keep your dog active and prevents boredom. This helps in improving the quality of life as well as metabolism.
4. Give Healthy Food in a Specific Amount
As a pet owner, you must tightly grip your pet’s treats. Don’t serve them food in massive amounts. Try to maintain the quantity each time you provide them with food. Before buying pet food, check the labels for high-quality ingredients and feeding information.
You should also be aware of the type of food you are giving to your furry friend. Some foods are calorie-based, so these types of food should be given one or two times per day.
You can also give your garden fresh items as an alternative to such calorie-based. String beans and raw carrots make good treats, and they also help to prevent obesity and keep your furry friend healthy.
5. Take Your Furry Friend to a Veterinarian regularly
If you want to keep your furry friend's health fit and well, you must take your dog for a regular health checkup with a veterinarian. As per the views of pet experts, you must prefer to take your pet for a check-up every six months. If you think your pet is gaining weight, your veterinarian will examine it to determine whether it has developed thyroid-related problems.
It is essential to address the issue of obesity if your pet is carrying excess weight. Being overweight creates severe joint-related problems that cause stress on joints and injuries to ligaments. If obesity is untreated for a long time, it may lead to a prediabetic condition and urinary problems.
For dogs with specific health concerns, such as liver disease, it's essential to maintain a balanced diet. You can find valuable information on dietary considerations for dogs with liver disease in this informative article on diet for dogs with liver disease.
