Petfinder Article

Even Your Dog Should Maintain a Healthy Weight

Just about every time you turn on the television these days you hear something being said about obesity, and how detrimental it can be to your health to be overweight. Well, we know that is true for us humans, as we look around and see all of the overweight people suffering from heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even joint problems, but did you know that it is also true for your dog as well? Every extra pound that your dog has on his frame increases his risks of his health being impacted, so it really is important that you focus on the weight issue, and take care of it, sooner rather than later.

You should also know that when dogs gain weight, it doesn’t have the same impact on them as it does on you, it is worse. For example, if you gain a pound, other than maybe your clothes not fitting just right, odds are that one pound isn’t really going to do a lot of harm. However, that same pound when gained by your dog could be a potential problem, as dogs weigh less than humans, and that pound would be a greater percentage of your dog’s overall weight than it would be of yours.

Your dog’s longevity could be severely compromised by being overweight, not to mention the numerous health problems that the extra weight could cause. True, chubby dogs and chubby babies are cute, but they are definitely not healthy. As a loving pet owner, it is your job to make certain your dog doesn’t become overweight, through exercise, nutrition, and seeing the vet on a regular basis.

You should look at your dog, and if you start noticing that your dog seems to be chubbier than usual, or his tummy rounder, then it might be a good idea to see the vet. This way, you will get an accurate number of how much weight your dog has gained, and your vet can tell you what to do about it. Vets typically have weight and growth charts for their patients, just as pediatrician’s have for their patients. Your vet will compare the information gathered from dogs of the same breed, and will let you know whether or not the extra weight should be cause for concern.

Since you are the one who feeds your dog, then you are ultimately responsible for your dog’s obesity. Odds are, you are allowing him to eat way too much, or either feeding him the wrong types of food. If you haven’t been over-feeding your dog, then you should find out who in your house is. Whatever it takes, you have to fix it, even if it doesn’t make you popular with the other members of your household!