Dog obesity is a serious issue for any pet owner who wants to own an animal. The problems that overweight dogs have can create big problems, including serious health issues and difficulty moving about. Yet, 84 million dogs and cats in the United States are overweight and obese. Add to that the idea that the FDA has approved dog obesity medications to give dogs when they are overweight; the world is facing a real crisis.
Experts have pinpointed a few basic problems that cause most dog obesity. The number one would be that dogs are overeating and eating table scraps. As cute as it might be to feed your pet at the table, resist if you want to help their health. Human food just can’t be handled properly by dogs, nor does it really provide the nutrients that they need for their health needs.
Another reason dogs are seriously overweight includes lack of exercise. Try to make sure you get out often enough to keep your dog fit. These days more and more dogs are indoor pets, leaving the time outside to be brief bathroom breaks. Try to increase walk frequency if you think that your dog might be putting on weight.
One of the best ways to address dog obesity is to look at your own lifestyle. Since Fido follows his master, there can’t be anything changed without the owners starting first. Make sure you make time for a walk every day. Try to get the rest of your family to agree not to feed the dog food from the table. Have your dog eat only from his source of food and regulate it. Based on how heavy your dog is, feed accordingly and wait to see if your dog appears hungry before feeding more.
If you think that your dog might be facing an obesity problem, you really need to consider taking some steps to correct it. The first step always needs to be taken by the owner.
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As well as writing pet care advice, Taylor Martinerin also writes about picking a proper large dog bed, such as a waterproof dog bed.
