We love our pooches so much that we’ll often feed them as a way of showing our love, but we need to tread carefully. Doggy obesity is on the rise and can cause all sorts of health implications for your furry friend.
To identify if your dog is obese, try locating his rib cage, there should only be a thin fat covering around that area, if you can’t locate the rib cage, then your dog may be suffering from obesity. Also ensure your vet checks you dog’s weight during every check-up.
Just like humans, obesity in dogs can lead to diseases such as diabetes, cardiopulmonary disease and hypertension (high blood pressure). Not only will this affect the pooch’s quality of life, but it can also put a huge hole in your pocket in the form of costly vet bills.
To avoid obesity, portion control is always the key. If he’s hungry most of the time, you probably feed him too often. If your dog is in this state, you can start by not giving into begging. Be firm and only give him food during allocated meal times. If doing this does not help, it could be because of the type of food your dog is eating, it may be high GI or have a high fat content for example. Consult your vet for the right food for your canine. Lastly, exercise is paramount. Not only will this strengthen the bond between you and your pet but also it will almost certainly help to improve his health. If you think you’re too busy to make time, why not consider hiring a dog walker to do this for you!