We all love to see roly poly cute little bundles of pup that are definitely overweight and super delightful because of their roundness. Endearing as that might be to the vision; it is actually a symptom that should be dealt with immediate effect. Being overweight or obese is a breeding ground of several diseases just like the way it is with humans. We at Waggfluence care for you and your pet and that is why we are here to talk about pet obesity, its reasons and how to deal with it.

DIAGNOSIS

For you as a new pet parent, it might be difficult to ascertain whether your dog falls into the bracket of an overweight one. A simple exercise is to feel around their ribs and spine. You should be able to locate both with only a thin layer of fat separating the skin from the bones. If you can’t find the ribcage, you have an overweight dog. Alternatively, you may ask your vet to evaluate your pooch’s size at every check-up. Since different breeds of dogs weigh different at various stages of their growth, ask your vet about their optimal weight when it reaches maturity. As a rule, 15% above that weight is obese and between normal to this range is overweight.

REASONS

Like humans, genetic reasons are the first possibility for an overweight dog. A lot of breeds are prone to get overweight with age more easily than other breeds following the same lifestyle. The next most probable reason is YOU. A lot of it relies on the fact about how much you love to pamper him with treats or overindulgence with people food just because you find it difficult to say no to him. For you, food says a lot about love and you want to give him the most of it. Sometimes, the meal portion that you are giving him might be more than required and as a result you are overfeeding him to obesity. Even with the right amount of diet, it is important to keep count on his calorie intake and thus the quality of food you are feeding them. Does it contain fruit and vegetable content which has low calories but more nutritional value? Is it low on sugar and fat content?

MAKING THE SWITCH

Difficult as it may sound, making some changes is what is required to make things right. Cut down on treats with immediate effect and discourage your neighbors, family and your dog walker from rewarding him with one. If you have to, give him treats that are low in calories like fruitables pumpkin and apple mix dog treat or banana bread dog treats. Another way is to cut down meal portions slowly and gradually. Include some fitness regime for fun and exercise both. Take him out running and jogging. While at home, engage him in an activity that is both fun and workout. You may get him snuffle mats like Waggfluence dog foraging snuffle mats that will make them sniff and play around it for hours. Getting them toys like Waggfluence automatic dog tennis ball launcher will also engage them in fun exercises.

If there are no underlying medical reasons, your dog will respond to these and you will soon see a healthier version of him. Till then, be positive and leave to us for arranging the best pet supplies to you.