The most frequent reason why your dog starts to gain weight is simple, as in most of people: they consume more energy than they spend. Some owners wave their arm at a well-intended warning that their pet has gained weight, stating that the dog is well-fed, as they say, therefore well-built as well. Unfortunately, obesity and heavier excess weight can cause major health issues to the dogs and even shorten the length of their lives.
The easiest way how to keep a dog in an optimal weight range is to grant them enough exercise and to stick with the right feeding rations. Beware of various rewards during training in the form of dog treats: even those contain calories and if the dog eats greater amount of these during every walk, it may be precisely those that are the cause of their weight gain. That’s why even in the case of rewards you should keep to reasonable amount or opt for the diet versions.
The risk of obesity may increase in the case that your dog or female dog are neutered. Some dog breeds even have a predisposition for excess weight – for example, Labrador owners will probably confirm that their four-legged friends sometimes do have too much of an appetite and in comparison with other dog breeds, this one has a greater tendency to become overweight.
How can you tell that a dog is obese or that they are suffering from excess weight? In case of an optimal weight, the dog should have palpable ribs and from the view from the side, their abdomen should be slightly tightened. At the same time, they should have a visible narrowing in the waist area. Upon the view from above, the shape of their body should remotely resemble an hourglass. But this is only a referential method to determine excess weight and that’s the reason why you should consult a veterinarian in case you have any doubts about ideal weight of your pet and if you’re pondering whether they suffer from obesity.
One of the most frequent definitions of obesity in a dog says that their weight is 15% greater than the optimum. However, the range of ideal weight may vary even by several kilograms in different breeds so it’s not possible to rely entirely on this principle. Besides, in case of crossbreeds, you won’t find any tables with ideal weight. That’s why, when assessing obesity, also the amount of subcutaneous fat is considered, that is, also the dog’s appearance that I’ve described above.
Same as in the case of us, people, dog’s metabolism may slow down with growing age.
That’s why many dogs that had been slender when young, grow fat only after their fifth year of age. Therefore, it is appropriate to purchase pet food that contains all the necessary substances for the correct functioning of their organism, but that has less calories than food for adult dogs.
Again, same as with people, it is true that the greater the excess weight, the worse and longer the process for the dog to get back in shape. Therefore, in case you have any doubts whether your dog is in ideal weight shape, rather consult a veterinarian and start with your dog’s weight loss as soon as possible. You will save yourself and the dog a lot of trouble. However, it is good to remember that you should start gradually, first with shorter – but more frequent – walks and then extend both their duration and length. Excess weight won’t disappear by a wave of a wand, but not even if you impose a tough training regimen on the dog. This could harm them in the end. More on how to go about it next time.
Food is one of the most basic needs of dogs as well as humans. How to make sure your dog has enough necessary nutrients? And if you opt for dry food, what options are there? And what to consider when choosing?
Most of us care about the contents of the packages with dry food but have you ever thought about the packaging itself? Do you know what is used for the packaging of dry food, how different are individual materials and what innovations can you find on...
You can recognize a Burmese cat mainly because of its silky fur and beautiful, deep gloss with typical signs of a colour that is not present in any other breed. Besides its glossy fur, this breed has also a great nature which makes these cats great...
Dachshunds, from smooth-haired, wire-haired and short-haired to long-haired, are popular companions and not only in the Czech Republic but in the world as well. And they are great companions! Even though they are quite stubborn.
Cats may bite from many reasons and if you would like to make this undesirable behaviour stop, it is important to understand why they do it. The fundamental thing is to eliminate the cause but we can also help with other things.
Do you like baking and you have noone to bake for? You probably haven’t thought about your dog companion. However, you might also make some tasty and healthy goodies at home for it as well. I’ll tell you how.
Only a few per cent of loss of water may cause serious problems for your dog. However, we often don’t pay attention to its drinking and underestimate its importance. When there is a risk of dehydration, do you know how to avoid it or recognize it?
Dry food with larger proportion of meat might not only have positive effects on dogs’ organisms, when processed well, it will also make happy even the pickiest gourmets that usually don’t like dry food. Thanks to a holistic approach, you’ll keep the...
The days are getting warmer and our dogs and cat starts to shed. This has a negative impact on your household with all the hair. Have you found a way to reduce the contamination with hair at least a bit and speed up the process of shedding?...
Do you also barely resist the temptation to cuddle a dog, no matter if yours or someone else’s? It’s no surprise, a new study shows that such contact with a dog is like a drug for human brain.
There are plenty of reasons why we get flat-faced dogs. For their specific appearance, great nature, loyal love to their owner... And maybe also for their need of constant attention that makes us feel well. The flat-faced dogs are simply cute....
Brown rats, mice and hamsters as well as other rodents are quite small pets and sometimes, we don’t even think about dealing with them being overweight. However, if we like our pets and we want them to be well and stay with us as long as possible,...
