When talking about the health of our dogs, most of us think that weight gain is good for them. The majority of pet owners perceived that dogs who are obsessively eating were just having an increased appetite. Some might also believe that the more meals that our dogs can eat, the more nutrients they can get from it. However, several studies have proved that obesity is a major health crisis for dogs.
According to a 2018 survey conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, around 55.8 percent of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. Extra weight can cause a lot of health issues for your dogs such as canine diabetes, heart problems, hypertension, risk of urinary bladder stones and osteoarthritis.
You might be wondering… “how would I prevent my dog from such health issues?”, “How would I be able to prevent my dog from being overweight?” Well, here are some tips on how to prevent dog obesity:
Choose a gluten-free diet for your dogs.
Having gluten-free dog food in your pet’s diet helps to manage your pooch’s weight. Gluten-free treats have a high content of fruit and vegetable or good carbohydrates that help your dog maintain a healthy weight. Along with the natural ingredients, it makes the dog’s stomach full for a longer period.
Set a variety of activities to increase your dog’s exercise.
Try to take them out for long walks. Walks let them explore and appreciate their surroundings. However, if you want to enjoy your bond just by staying indoors, play fun interactive games with your dogs such as tug, swimming, hide and seek, find the treats, puzzle games and fetch.
Consult a veterinarian to help you make a nutritional plan for your dog.
When it comes to your dog’s feeding plans, homemade dog foods may be doing more harm than good. The best way is to check the labels of the dog food brands. Look for an all-natural recipe that is formulated by a board-certified Animal Nutritionist. Learn from the pet nutritionists for your peace of mind. Surely, you can never go wrong with experts who know more about dog nutrition.
As a fur-parent, we are much more pleased to know that our dogs were having good appetites rather than worrying about them being quiet and ignoring their food. However, as the saying goes, “excess of everything is bad.” So, we should always bear in mind to put just the right amount of nutrients that our pet needs.