3 Ways To Tackle Weight Gain In Dogs
As your dog gets older, they are more prone to weight changes. If they experience sudden weight loss, that could be a sign that they have something seriously wrong with them and you should get them to the vet right away. Weight gain is an issue as well, but it’s a lot more common. When your dog gets older, they will be less active, and that means they will gain weight a lot easier. If left unchecked, it can increase the risk of disease and lead to joint problems. That’s why it’s important that you start making changes to their lifestyle as soon as you notice an increase in their weight. These are some of the best ways to help your dog lose weight.
Choose The Right Food
The most obvious reason for weight gain is that your dog is eating the right food. People assume that big dog food brands will be good for your dog, but that isn’t usually the case. In reality, they’re packed full of additives and they are not giving your dog the nutrients that they need. It’s important that you ignore any of the brandings on pet food because the guidelines are so relaxed. Instead, you need to look at the ingredients list and decide for yourself whether it’s healthy for your dog or not. You are looking for food that has a shortlist of ingredients, and the ingredients should be foods that you recognize. If there are loads of ingredients and you don’t know what any of them are, that food probably isn’t good for your dog.
If your dog is gaining a lot of weight, you should look into specific foods for weight loss. If you buy the best dog food for overweight Dalmatians, for example, it will have the exact balance of nutrients for that breed to lose weight and still get everything that the dog needs. These specialist foods are the best way for you to change your dog’s diet and help them lose weight.
Increase Exercise
Even if you get the food right, your dog might not be losing weight because it doesn’t get enough exercise. It’s vital that you take them on regular walks and if they are still gaining weight, you need to start making the walks longer. It’s also important that you give them the opportunity to exercise at home as well, so make sure that they have access to an outside space. This can be tough when living in an apartment with a dog, but if you get them some good toys that they can chase around, you can still exercise them well.
Speak To The Vet
If you have changed the diet and exercise routine, but your dog is still gaining weight, you need to go to the vet right away. There are some health conditions that cause weight gain in dogs and it’s important that you rule these out, so get them checked over by the vet right away.
Weight gain can put your dog’s health at risk, so it’s important that you do something about it as soon as you notice a change.
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