Puppies. There is no denying how cute they are with their soft, fluffy fur, waggy tails, and big soulful eyes.
It doesn’t matter how old they get. They will always be your adorable, little, treat-begging balls of fluff.
And how can you say no to extra treats with those big puppy eyes looking at you?
It’s hard. But with canine obesity on the rise, it’s important for pet owners to understand the implications of feeding their pets one too many treats.
And if your pet’s already obese, now is the time to discover new ways to get your pet on the road to health and happiness.
If you fall under the category of having a pet that’s already obese, you’re not alone.
54% of pet dogs were found to be obese in 2015. And that number is only predicted to increase as we wrap up 2016.
Believe or not, certain breeds of dogs are prone to obesity. See if your pet makes the list of breeds:
- Basset hounds
- Dachshunds
- Scottish Terriers
- Beagles
- Cockerspaniels
- Labradoors
- Rottweilers
And if your dog is on the list, or is already overweight, he is more likely to develop major health problems due to excess weight. Here are a few problems those extra pounds can cause:
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Decreased life expectancy
- Cancer
The good news is that even an obese pet can be put back on the path to health, happiness, and weight loss.
To keep your pet from becoming overweight, or to help your dog lose a few pounds, I recommend doing the following things:
Exercise
Daily exercise is a must.
Take a walk around the block, visit your local dog park, or play a game of tug-o-war in your living room.
If your dog is “dog friendly,” find her a playmate to run and burn off steam with.
There are many ways you can get your pet the exercise she needs.
Not only will exercise and playtime help your pet burn calories, but it’s also a great way to bond and spend time with your pup.
And there’s nothing your dog loves more than simply spending time with you.
Limit Treats
All pooches deserve a treat from time to time, but that doesn’t mean they need to eat treats every day.
Many pet parents get suckered into feeding their pet treats every time they do a trick or look sad.
But there are many other ways you can show your pet affection besides food.
The next time your pet deserves a reward, give him a belly rub or his favorite toy to play with.
Express your love with words and a pat on the head. Trust me, your canine companion will understand he is being rewarded.
Restrict Calories
If your pet gets daily exercise and is already limited on treats, the simple fix might be to just restrict calorie intake.
If your pet normally gets one cup of food, morning and night, try cutting it down to three fourths of a cup, morning and night.
A simple decrease in your pet’s breakfast and dinner calorie intake can help your pooch shed the unwanted weight.
Note: Be sure to talk to your vet first before changing your dog’s diet. It’s possible that your pet’s obesity issues stem from other health problems.
At the end of the day, it’s important to pay attention to what you feed your pet, along with how much of it you feed.
That’s why I recommend The Original CrockPET Diet®. This easy-to-use diet plan for dogs allows your to cook healthy, well-portioned meals that are packed with nutritious ingredients.
Check out what one of our Original CrockPET Diet ® users had to say…
“Rio has struggled with her weight for years. She’s always been an active dog, but couldn’t shed the excess pounds. We tried everything -expensive medical tests, less food, supplementing treats with carrots and other veggies, and changing her food. We thought it might be because of the grain-based food we fed her, so we switched to a grain-free food. That still didn’t work. In November 2015, she weighed 75.60 lbs. We started feeding her the CrockPET Diet in February this year. On August 20, she weighed 63 lbs! She’s back to normal weight. The best part is that she looks younger and is acting like a young pup again. Her energy levels are higher than they’ve been in years, and she doesn’t seem hungry anymore. Thank you, Dr Ruth and The CrockPET Diet®!”
-Gigi Coombes
Gain control of your pet’s health with The Original CrockPET Diet ®.
