Being overweight or obese is just as dangerous for dogs as it is for humans. It can cause numerous health problems and shorten the dog’s life. If your dog is overweight, it’s up to you to learn how to help your dog lose weight so he can stay slim and healthy! You owe it to your dog to make smart decisions for him.
1. Determine your dog’s ideal weight. You should be able to feel your dog’s ribs, but not see his ribs. When you stand over your dog and look down, he should have an hour-glass shape.
2. Feed your dog the correct amount of food. This should be determined by matching your dog’s food intake with his activity level (never drastically reduce a dog’s calorie intake).
3. Increase your dog’s exercise (safely). This can include a regular daily walk (or additional walks), playing in the yard with a ball or frisbee. Just a gentle, daily game of tug-of-war if your dog is elderly. Or maybe just a walk out to the mailbox and back to start if you dog is severely overweight.
4. Substitute with lower-calorie treats. Most dogs love veggies and fruit. Instead of high-calorie dog treats, try offering raw carrots or broccoli, a piece of an apple, blueberries. Also eliminate table scraps (other than vegetables).
This article was originally published on peoplelovinganimals.com
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