A dogs natural survival instinct is to scavenger and hunt for food, thus the constant sniffing through your garbage can, begging at the table, and the attempts to steal the steak off the grill. (Yes, this behavior can be annoying but also can be corrected with training.) Although we may feel what we put on our dinner plates is nutritionally sound, and for us, maybe so, but for your dog, not so much.
Some dogs on the other hand are allowed to eat all day long. This constant eating of course can quickly lead to doggie obesity. If you are a overly generous dog owner and give doggie treats just because several times through out the day, this only adds to the weight issue. A quick way to check your dogs “fat level” is to run your hand along side of your dogs rib cage. You should be able to feel a defined outlined of your dogs ribs but not so much that the ribs are too prominent. Overtly prominent ribs are a sure sign that your dog is underweight. If there has been a sudden change in your dog’s weight, have your dog checked by your vet. When dogs get sick, they may gain or lose weight.
It is important to have your dog checked out by your vet whenever you see a change in their eating habits. If the reason for weight gain or loss is not due to an illness, your vet will recommend a dietary plan and possibly an exercise program to get your dog back on track. Overweight dogs are at risk of diabetes, heart problems, cancer among a mess load of other issues. Underweight dogs are at risk of decreased reserves of fat and energy, poor healing ability, lack of ability to fight infection as well as a mess load of other issues as well. Always check with your vet what is the appropriate feeding schedule and amount for the breed of dog you have. There health is dependent on it.
The main purpose of Doggie-Corral.com is to provide dog owners with an entire line of dog supplies needed to care for their beloved pets. We ship to the entire United States and provide a one stop shopping experience. We offer dog-training aids, dog insurance, health care essentials, dog apparel (e.g. dog shirts, Dog Pro sports apparel, dog boots, dog coats, dog College Sports apparel, dog blankets, dog sweaters, dog pajamas),dog beds, plastic and wood doghouses, dog crates and kennels, dog toys, dog chews, dog treats, dog and puppy foods, dog grooming products and more. Feel free to check us out at Doggie-Corral.com.
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I used to leave food and water in my dogs bowl at all times thinking that he would only eat if he was hungry. I learned pretty quickly that dogs will eat even when they aren't hungry. My vet clued me in on what a good diet for a dog was. I used to give him table scraps but no longer do that either. It's not always good for them.
ReplyDeleteMy dogs are my constant companions and I want the best for them. Shopping at the Doggie-Corral helps me do my job.
ReplyDeleteMost people don't understand how detrimental extra weight is to a dog. If you love your dog, feed him the right type of food and make sure he gets the exercise he needs.
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