Putting an Overweight Dog on a Diet

Do you have an overweight dog that needs to go on a diet? Are you wondering the right way to go about doing this? Then you are reading the right information. We will cover how you can help your dog slim down safely.

Reasons for Your Dog Being Overweight

Before putting your dog on a diet you need to discover the reason for it being overweight. If your dog eats the right amount of food and you do not exercise it enough, you might not need to put it on a diet, rather just take it for a daily walk. Are you feeding your dog table scraps on top of their dog food? This is one of the main reasons for a dog to be overweight. People food is not always the best thing for a dog. Is your dog eating too much dog food? This one is easy to take care by simply cutting back a bit on the food each day.

Now dogs can suffer from Cushing's syndrome or hypothyroidism and other hormonal disorders that can cause your dog to become overweight. This will need to be treated medically as well as watching what the dog eats. Once you know why your dog is overweight you will know if the only thing you need to do to cure it is to put it on a diet.

How to Feed Your Dog on a Diet

Do not feed your dog table scraps at all even if it is not overweight. It needs low-calorie foods and your veterinarian can recommend the right ones. He might recommend a special diet that is low fat and high fiber and not sold in the stores. There are some natural diets that may also work.

Feed your dog once a day and take the food up when he finishes, rather than allowing the dog to nibble all day. Also only feed your dog the amount the veterinarian recommends. Even if the bag or can of food has feeding amounts on it double check with the vet before feeding.

Drastically reduce the amount of dog treats you give your dog too. Make sure they stay less than 10% of your dog's calorie intake. You might want to adjust what type of treat you are giving your dog too; making sure it is low calorie like the regular food.

Add Exercise

Add more exercise if you already exercise your dog. Start exercising your dog if you have not been. Just like with humans, a dog will more efficiently burn calories with physical activity. Take the dog for a nice walk and this way both of you will be getting in shape. Also a game of fetch or the agility course, are both ways of getting exercise for your dog. Whatever the activity do it regularly to help your dog lose weight.

Follow the above information and you will see that your dog will lose its excess weight in just a short time. Keep making sure your dog eats healthy and exercises to maintain the new lower weight too. Your dog will thank you.

Submitted By: Kelly Marshall