Dog Obesity

Dog Obesity – They Deal With It Too!

Given the choice, your dog would gladly eat out of the trash can, rather than eat his kibble. He would eat until his tummy was full, fall asleep, wake up and do it again. With that said, it’s up to us to help regulate their diet and keep them healthy. I know it’s hard to resist that adorable face and those begging, sad, hungry eyes but we have to be strong. Your dog doesn’t have the will power to resist foods that would cause weight gain, so you must have the will power for them. How do you tell if your dog is overweight? Well, if your dog’s body shape is similar to that of your coffee table, he or she is probably overweight.

Dog obesity can cause or accelerate many health problems such as respiratory problems for him on hot summer days. When the dog is way overweight, the chances increase dramatically that he will have a stroke and diabetes. Dog obesity can also put stress on their liver, lungs and kidneys … all around a bad deal for the dog. The key to dog obesity is prevention. As dog owners, we need to resist the urge to spoil them with human “junk food”. And, the reality is they don’t need it. Show you’re your love in a different way by playing fetch or taking them for a nice walk.

Fixing The Problem

How do you go about fixing your dog’s obesity problem? First, make sure you are feeding them a high quality food with all the nutrients they need. Don’t overfeed your dog. It’s best to use the recommended guidelines on the bag of food, as they’re there for a reason. Two cups of food may not look like much when you put it in the bowl, but resist the temptation to add another cup. They don’t need it.

It helps if you don’t make direct eye contact with your dog when they give you the “sad hungry eyes” look. If you can’t resist giving him the extra food that he wants but doesn’t need, he’s on his way to Dog obesity.

Another way that dogs pack on the pounds is when you allow them to graze feed or “free feed”. This occurs when you fill up a big bowl of food and let them have at it whenever they want. Over time, you will see an increase in your dog’s weight because dogs eat until they are stuffed. Then they’ll snack and eat some more until they’re stuffed again. As the dog’s owner, you are the one who is responsible for controlling how much food to feed your dog, not the other way around. Check out Jason’s Pack Laws training videos for more information.

Dog Obesity

As an owner, you should know what your dog’s ideal weight should be for both male and female. Her are some examples – German Shepherd, 75-95 lbs., Yorkshire Terrier, less than 7 lbs., Golden Retriever, 65-75 lbs. Each breed has its own ideal weight range. You should not own a 20 lb. Yorkie or a 100 lb. Golden Retriever. These dogs would be considered obese by any vet. Some breeds which are prone to dog obesity are: English Bulldogs, Beagles, Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, Dalmatians, Pugs and Cocker Spaniels. These breeds will need to be on a “tight leash”, as far as their diet is concerned. Here’s the point, Dog Obesity can be easily prevented and cured. It’s up to us, as owners, to keep our dogs happy and healthy. They will thank you for it later!

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