How to Tell if Your Pet Is Overweight

Making sure that your pet is a healthy weight is important for their health and wellbeing! Obesity is a nutritional disease that is defined by excess body fat and can have serious effects on your furry friend.

Symptoms:

· Weight gain

· Inability to exercise or play

· Excessive panting

· Lagging behind on walks

Problems associated with obesity:

· Heart disease

· High blood pressure

· Breathing problems

· Extra weight puts pressure on an animals joints, which can lead to arthritis.

· Extra skinfolds, which can lead to scratching and skin redness.

· Obesity can shorten your dog’s life up to 2 years! It will affect their quality of life as well by having a hard time waking up and moving.

Ways to prevent obesity:

Taking your pet to your veterinarian is the best way to give your pet the right treatment that can help them become healthy. Ask them what the ideal weight is for your dog according to their breed, age, and gender. You should be able to easily feel the ribs, but not necessarily see them, and to have a defined waist.

Exercise is not only essential for your dog’s mental health, but also their physical health as well. Take them out on a walk, visit a dog park, or play their favorite whether it’s fetch or Frisbee. It helps blood pressure, builds muscle, reduces the risk of heart disease, and fights depression.

 

You may not need to change your pet’s diet because usually the problem is the amount of food you give your dog. Don’t give them too many treats, they should be given occasionally and if you do make sure you subtract the amounts of treats given from their meal. Also, avoid table scraps! We all know how cute those puppy eyes are and how hard it is to resist therefore we advise you to send them to their place when you are eating.

Remember to keep track of your dog’s weight, this way you can see if the weight loss plan is helping them or not. This is also a great way to ensure that your buddy is at a healthy weight and continues to stay there.

With patience, time, and effort your best bud will be happier and healthier than ever, so keep up the good work!