Just like with people, being overweight can have a negative impact on a dog’s health. Preparing the right diet and amount of food to give them can sometimes be, however, like pure alchemy, and so your dog can start to become obese. If this is the case for your pet, there are a couple of tips to help you fight this condition.
A month ago I wrote how you can tell if your dog is overweight. As I promised, today I want to take a closer look at how we can fix this problem. We certainly don’t want to underestimate it. Whether for people or dogs, obesity is more common with advancing age and more pronounced in females than males. For prevention in these groups, we should be more rigorous in determining the correct proportion of receiving and expending energy.
In addition to restricting movement, being overweight affects the vitality of a dog, which can lead to the onset of various illnesses. These include inflammation of joints, ligament damage or hotplates in the spine, and the animals are also at risk from circulatory and respiratory problems or heart disease. The possibility of cancer and skin diseases also appreciably increase. Having an obese four-legged companion is nothing to shrug off.
When you notice your dog is obese and decide to tackle the problem, it’s best to first visit a veterinarian before changing their diet and regimen for a complete examination to rule out any damage to internal organs – obesity can be mistaken for the retention of fluid in tissues that accompanies heart and kidney disease or hormonal imbalances.
Again, just like with people, this problem in dogs needs to be handled individually. Generally, however, it requires a reduction in the intake of fats and carbohydrates (sugars and starches) and replacing them with indigestible fiber (this accelerates the movement of the contents of the digestive tract, thus reducing the absorption of sugars) and high-quality, easily digestible proteins (which in turn accelerate fat burning).
These days, there are lots of feeds aimed at weight reduction, generally designated as WEIGHT LOSS or LIGHT. Makers are also thinking of the increased risk of obesity in older dogs and so are adapting contents for seniors. Such food has a balance of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, so these do not need to be further supplemented. This balance and the desired results from it would be seriously undermined.
But don’t worry about your pet suffering from a diet, as the modified food is produced in both dry and moist form. Dietetic sweets without sugar and other stodgy substances are available and do not interfere with the diet when given reasonably.
Individuals, however, can vary in the degree of intensity of metabolism and utilization of food, so the portions of special feeds should be adapted to each dog. The quantity indicated on the product, calculated for the average dog, is a good starting point for determining it. Over time it’s not a problem to figure out whether to increase or decrease it. What’s important is to follow the new regime and not give in to those “puppy dog eyes”.
Of course, movement is part of weight loss. Gradually add to the frequency of walks and store of games and activities to play. But it’s really unhelpful to overwork a dog. Their bodies must get used to movement. Imagine you had to run a marathon every day (when you’re not an athlete).
Dog obedience is a big topic not only among dog owners, but also outside the community. A dog that does not obey the commands of his owner can be a big problem. Therefore, every dog should undergo at least basic training. The level of training then,...
Cats love fresh air. At least most of them do. However, not all of them have the opportunity to enjoy freedom in nature. Especially cats living in cities spend a lot of time indoors without the opportunity to run freely. That is why cat owners may...
It is a well-known fact that every dog likes to play. However, not all dog owners use the option of interactive toys. These toys, in addition to being fun and an outlet for energy, also offer the possibility of development. They have a positive effect...
Our pets are often members of our families, so it goes without saying that we want to give them the same privileges and comforts as anyone else. Although we couldn’t imagine it in the beginning, our canine companions follow us everywhere. On the...
We usually want only the best for our pets. That is why we often look for ways to improve their quality of life and make sure to support their health as much as possible. We feed them with the best on the market, include regular walks and activities...
In this next part of our series dedicated to dogfrisbee, an activity where the dog is thrown a disc, which he then catches and brings back, we focus on the discipline of Dogdartbee. This discipline comes from the Netherlands and its main essence is...
Like dogs, even cats may have therapeutic effects on patients. This treatment method is called felinotherapy and is suitable for both chronically ill patients, who may need help with coping, and those who suffer from long-term stress. Cats can bring...
Rabbits are popular pets, especially with children. They are cute and like to be petted. It’s good to know, however, that there is a wide range of rabbit breeds. There are even giant breeds, which require slightly different care than dwarf breeds. We...
There are a number of dog breeds that fall into the giant category. We may know and see a lot of them. How do these dogs differ from the mid-sized or even smaller breeds? And what do they need in terms of nutrition, raising and home? On this topic, we...
Sharing a home with a puppy is a great joy as well as worry. Especially if you have no previous experience with a dog or other domestic animal. Before getting a puppy, you should take into account a number of things, think about them carefully and...
Dogsled races are fascinating events. For the dogs and the mushers, these are challenging activities for which they need to prepare properly not only physically but also mentally. The races are not just about performance, but especially about stamina...
Thai cats originate from Siam, today’s Thailand, and came to Europe in the 1880s, then under the name Royal Cats of Siam. However, the whole process of recognition of the breed and its breeding is a complex matter. Around the 1930s, two currents...
