Many fur parents shower their pets with love through treats and snacks, sometimes too much, and often the wrong types. Sometimes we overfeed them during their meals since we’re not sure how much to feed, or we are carried away by their cute, begging eyes. And if this keeps up for a long time, your pet might become obese and risk developing multiple health problems.
Fortunately, a few simple adjustments can help maintain your pet’s weight in the healthy range.
How to Keep Your Pet’s Weight in the Healthy Range
If you believe giving your dog too many treats, snacks, and foods is the best way to make them happy, think again. When your pet becomes overweight and suffers the consequences of developing various health issues, this will only give them struggles and cost you large sums of money in their treatment. This is where the importance of maintaining a healthy weight comes in.
Here are five ways to do so:
1. Weigh Them Regularly
When you take your four-legged friend to a Westside veterinary clinic for regular vaccinations and parasite prevention, don’t forget to weigh them. Keep a record of their weight each time you do so you can monitor if they’re gaining or losing weight. Doing so can prevent minor problems from becoming severe. Don’t hesitate to ask the vet if you’re unsure of your pet’s supposed weight. They can give you advice and suggest tailored adjustments to maintain a healthy range for your pet.
2. Keep Them Active
Keeping your companion active is as important as their nutritional diet. Regular walking is the easiest activity to keep your dog active. It helps exercise their body, enhance muscle tone, reduce boredom, and provide mental stimulation. Other than walks, try jogging and playing fetch with their favorite balls. You may also schedule regular visits to the dog park or have fun in your backyard.
Always observe moderation when doing activities with your pet. If your dog accidentally fractures one of their legs during an exercise, stop the activity immediately and take them to facilities like Westside Animal Emergency Clinic to address the situation.
3. Adjust Seasonally
If your dog is more active during the summer and stuck inside the home every winter, adjust the amount of food you feed them accordingly. If your dog is less active in wintertime and you don’t balance their meal portions, they may put on more weight, so it’s important to adjust their diet depending on their active season.
If it’s wintertime and you’re worried about your inactive dog, there’s usually nothing to be afraid of. But if you suspect an unknown underlying condition, take them to the vet laboratory to be diagnosed and treated immediately. You may click this link to see their diagnostic services.
4. Improve Their Environment
A boring environment can cause your pet to become inactive and gain weight. Cats and dogs are clever animals who’ll enjoy food puzzle toys, treat balls, and chew toys that can keep them moving and stretching to strengthen their muscles and maintain a healthy weight.
5. Skip the Table Scraps
Not all human foods are safe for canines, so regularly feeding your dog with table scraps can be a dangerous and worst thing to do. Top-quality dog foods are nutritionally balanced, so it’s the more recommended diet to feed them. Feeding them too much human food may cause nutritional deficiencies. If you like to share your food with them, make it an occasional treat and consider the healthier options.
To End
Dogs on a diet may still beg for food even after you feed them. Try petting them, giving them affection, or taking them for a walk instead of feeding them more. Doing so can help remove their idea of getting attention by begging for food, and your love might satisfy their cravings. If this doesn’t work, divide your dog’s allotted daily food into smaller portions. This may help keep them satisfied than giving them their meals in one go.
