A dog that is too fat has to carry too much weight on its four slender legs. It even has a life expectancy reduced by around 20%. Your overweight dog urgently needs to lose weight for its health.
How do you know if you and your dog really need to lose weight?
On the one hand, you can compare the weight of your dog with its parents or the current breed standards. Of course, this is a bit more difficult with mixed breeds. Basically, your dog is considered overweight if your dog’s weight is 10% over the ideal weight.
The consequences of obesity in dogs
Being overweight is a serious condition and should not be taken lightly in the truest sense of the word. It increases the risk of numerous diseases, such as:
- Heart problems and cardiovascular diseases
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Liver diseases
- Joint problems and arthritis
For human being, these diseases can be risky as well. If you also want to lose weight with your dog, you can take dietary supplements aside from exercising. Read protetox reviews consumer reports to see if this dietary supplement for weight loss is good for you.
Overweight dogs need gentle exercise
You’re probably already aware that if your dog is overweight, he should exercise more so that he can lose weight healthily and successfully. Unfortunately, overweight dogs often have little desire to do so. No wonder because with too many pounds on the ribs, movement is difficult. And you can see and hear that from your darling. He is breathing heavily, panting more, his eyes look stressed and with his eyes he is begging for the next break. Your exhausted four-legged friend may even sit down and refuse to move any further.
Use the gentlest possible movement sequences that do not overwhelm your dog. Jumps, for example, can even be dangerous if you are overweight. Bones, joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles are put under enormous strain and this can harm your darling.
A great combination for fat dogs: Walks with movement games
Appropriate walks and games with movement are other active helpers in slimming down. Always consider your dog’s fitness and stamina so as not to overwhelm him. You shouldn’t stop your exercise program when it’s very hot either. In summer it’s much more pleasant to be active in the cooler mornings or evenings.
You can combine walks and exercise perfectly. Let your great guy crawl under the park bench or slalom through concrete bollards or trees that are far apart. Your dog may even be able to climb onto a fallen tree trunk and balance over it. It’s fun and burns a lot of calories.