How to Put Your Dog on a Diet - No Need For Diet Dog Food

[Lester Richards]

Putting your fat dog on a diet can help prevent chronic illness and
early death in your dog, and will increase his enjoyment of life.
Keeping your dog fit and healthy can also help you avoid expensive vet
bills that will inevitably result when a fat dog becomes ill. There
are several illnesses for which overweight dogs are at increased risk.
Health Risks for Fat Pets There are a number of health risks for
overweight dogs, including atherosclerosis and diabetes. These are
serious illnesses that could result your dog's early death, or may
require expensive prescription medications. An overweight dog may also
have difficulty in breathing because his heart and lungs must work
harder than those of his leaner peers. Arthritis is more common in fat
dogs, and if he requires surgery for any reason, anesthesia will
present a greater risk for him. Finally, during the summer months
especially, he may not be able to eliminate excess heat from his body.
This could result in heat stroke, since dogs cannot throw off heat by
sweating like humans do.
How Can You Help Your Fat Dog Lose Weight? Use the following tips to
help your dog trim down to a normal weight:
1. Carefully monitor how much he is eating. You might not realize that
he is unintentionally being fed by multiple family members. When he
trots over to his empty food dish, they may assume he wasn't fed when
he's actually coming back for seconds.
2. Limit treats and table scraps. It's fine to offer an occasional
treat, but if he is getting these several times a day, plus table
scraps to boot, his caloric intake may be significantly higher than
what he needs to maintain a healthy weight.
3. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise. Take him for a daily walk. He
may be resistant, because his excess weight might cause him some
discomfort. Try to make it fun, and don't take him out in very hot
weather. Since the extra weight he is carrying will make it more
difficult for him to cool off, you won't want to risk him getting heat
exhaustion.
4. Consult with your vet. Talk to your vet about your dog's condition.
Your vet can help you come up with a personalized diet and exercise
plan for your dog. He will be able to recommend an ideal weight for
your dog's build and breed.
This consultation will cost you far less than what you'll pay if your
dog develops a chronic illness; if you have pet insurance, the cost of
visit may be covered.
Just like it is important for humans to maintain a lean weight, a
dog's weight also impacts his health. As a dog lover and a pet owner,
you should take steps to prevent your dog from gaining weight, or help
him lose it if he's already overweight. While your dog is the primary
focus, his excess weight could also result in hundreds of dollars in
vet bills. Avoid the health risks and the expense by helping him stay
healthy and fit.

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