Canine obesity is a common issue most pet parents need to control and manage. As humans, we tend to connect food with happiness and love. Since we want to express love to our precious pets, we feed them.
However, this kind of love often ends up being excess calories, causing our dogs to be overweight. Now that you’re worried about your obese pet, you may think about how to slim them down. To help ease your concern, we will discuss some simple yet efficient pointers to slim down your obese pet.
How to Help Your Pet Lose Weight
Overweight canines might look cuddly and very charming, but that excess weight they’re carrying with them is bad for their health. Obese dogs are at risk for major health issues like decreased liver function, diabetes, skin problems, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Cancer is not only terrifying for people but also for pets.
Slimming down your overweight dog will save you a trip to vet oncologists if your pet contract cancer. You may visit websites like huntersville.carolinavet.com for comprehensive details about pet oncology. To prevent all the possible health conditions caused by being overweight, here are five useful pet weight loss tips to get your obese canine in shape.
1. Replace treats with veggies
Canines enjoy getting occasional treats. However, many dog treats in pet shops contain a lot of sugar and fat that is not great for your furry companion’s health. This is why feeding veggies as snacks to your pooch is better than treats. Dog-friendly veggies like cucumbers, green beans, and carrots have great nutritional content and are low in calories. These are an excellent replacement for treats and a healthier option as well.
2. Measure your pet dog’s food consumption
Measuring your pooch’s kibbles every time you feed them helps you control their calorie intake, which can help avoid weight gain. Always use a dry measuring cup to guarantee you give your furry buddy the right amount of kibbles they need per meal.
3. Know your pet’s weight and condition from the veterinarian
When you take your canine for a wellness visit, ask your veterinarian to examine your pet’s body weight and condition. For example, ask if your dog is too fat, thin, or just right. When the vet informs you of your pet’s body condition, they will make a strategy to maintain it or help them have ideal body weight.
Obesity is a usual problem among many species of animals, from rabbits and reptiles. Like felines and canines, reptiles and hamsters need veterinary care for a much better quality of life. Frequently taking them to a hamster vet is necessary to guarantee their health remains in good condition.
4. Exercise them daily
Take your dog for longer and frequent strolls, or get them into sports like agility, nose work, or fetch. If the weather condition is not possible for outdoor exercise, doing indoor activities like building an agility course in the home or playing hide-and-seek is also good. Furthermore, you may try canine exercises to enhance your dog’s balance and muscle strength.
However, keep your workouts in moderation to avoid accidents or injuring your beloved pet. Contact a vet surgeon instantly if you suspect fractures or strange movements in your pet after a rigorous exercise. You may search the web for “vet surgery near me” if you’re looking for animal surgeons to hire.
5. Feed them a high-protein diet
Not all pet foods have the same amount of ingredients. So if you want your pet dog to lose weight, feed them foods that are high in protein as it is more filling and keeps their bones and joints healthy. When selecting dog food, ensure it doesn’t contain artificial additives or excessive fillers.