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).
Sometimes, one dog is not enough and it is better to have a whole pack. Especially if you breed drafting (or also pulling) dogs. Of course, the more dogs you have, the more care and issues it means, but it also means there’s much more joy for the...
The modern world is not only rich in material things but also in the number of dog breeds. There are quite a lot of them, Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) recognizes 360 different breeds. And they are not only different from each other when...
There are many ways to learn a new thing. One of the most pleasant ones for both the dog and its owner is positive motivation. Thanks to it, a dog learns new tricks in a simple and pleasing way and it also helps to develop a mutual social relationship...
Pregnancy is a difficult time for a bitch in all aspects. The body nourishes more organisms and it needs to be reflected in her energy and nutrient intake. A breeder, racer and sport cynology contestant, Jitka Duffková, gives advice on how to make...
You might be interested in this dog sport but you have many questions before you can decide to start with it. Will my buddy enjoy it? Do I have sufficient physical abilities? When should we start, isn’t it too soon or too late? This article and advice...
A healthy mouth is a very important part of the complex vitality of a cat and we shouldn’t neglect taking care of it. There are many oral diseases our furry friends can suffer from. What can you do to keep your cat’s teeth clean?
Korat is a very rare breed that isn’t very common even in Thailand – the country of its origin. Thanks to its beautiful, soft, silver-tipped hair as well as its special nature, it’s unmistakable. This breed definitely deserves some attention.
Have you ever thought about how the composition of the gut microbiota of your dog companion influences its mood, metabolism or immune system in addition to its digestion? Do you know how bacteria work in guts and how to keep the good ones inside?
Letting furious dogs with only one task – to detain and put you down – bite you is definitely not for everyone. But is it really as horrifying as it may look from the outsider’s point of view? Jan Böhm answers our questions about what it takes to be...
Snakes and scorpions are said to get out on Saint George’s Day. It has been a while since then, so it’s no surprise that we can see a lizard or a snake when on a walk somewhere or in our gardens. They already left their underground shelters designed...
The German Boxer can truly be called a versatile dog. With no doubts, it can be a family dog, a watchdog or a rescuer. It is also good at sports. A long-term boxer breeder, Ing. Michaela Martinů, can confirm that.
Bikejöring doesn’t mean that a dog simply runs next to a bike. The dog pulls the bike when doing this sport, it is similar to dog sledding. A famous Slovak musher, Marcel Dučák, will tell us what equipment you need for it, what dogs it is good for,...
