Sleep well, eat well, drink plenty of water and exercise frequently. Sounds like a great health tip for you doesn’t it? But did you know that your puppy also needs to take care of itself? Canine obesity is a very serious matter and still largely ignored by dog owners, who consider it “cute” that their pets are chubby, as if feeding the dog in excess was an act of love.
In the next few lines, we’ll help you get to know this subject better and what to do to avoid or treat your friend.
Causes of canine obesity
Firstly, it is important to draw attention to one of the main causes of the problem. Unlike humans, who have discernment to decide what to eat and what to avoid, dogs feed on what is served to them, that is, as a rule, the owner ends up being the main cause of canine obesity.
The owner takes into the life of the animal many of the vices that he himself commits on a daily basis. That sweetie, that out-of-hour cookie that looks like a gesture of affection may be shortening the dog’s life span. It is estimated that around 30% of domesticated dogs suffer from obesity here in Pak.
Another factor that greatly increases your friend’s chances of getting fat is neutering. Although important for controlling the number of animals, this procedure makes the dog less active, which can contribute to weight gain. Therefore, the feeding of these animals needs to be special. The big feed brands work with a specific line of products for neutered animals.
How to find out if my dog is obese?
A simple look from the owner is very subjective to define whether or not a dog is overweight. There are breeds where the most “full” appearance is normal, so this does not define the health status of the dog.
Some signs are quite important, such as difficulty walking, lack of desire to participate in the games they normally love and not answering the call for a walk, their favorite time, may indicate that something is wrong with your friend.
However, for an exact definition of whether or not it is obesity and what level it is, a veterinarian should be consulted immediately. It is through examinations with measurement and some mathematical formulas that the professional can give the accurate diagnosis.
My pet suffers from canine obesity, what do I do?
Well, first of all, it’s essential that you accept the diagnosis given to your friend and commit to changing that situation. Normally, we start by giving less caloric food to the dog. Understand that it is not to reduce the amount that your dog is used to, as veterinarians say that when a dog gets used to a certain volume of feed, he tends to always eat this volume, so the tip here is to reduce the caloric value of it .
Continuing with the treatment, the indication is to make your dog eat more often during the day, dividing the normal volume of food into more stages.
You know that sweetie, the little piece of your snack or the biscuit out of time? No way. The tip here is to follow the diet strictly.
Make it a habit to always hydrate your dog. By the way, this tip works for you too. How about doing it together with your friend? Join this practice, a regular exercise routine, such as a walk or even a light run. All with vet supervision, right?
By following these steps, you will notice that your pet’s health will improve with each passing day and the time you will spend together will be longer and of better quality!
