How To Help Your Dog Maintain a Healthy Weight

ByWowThankYou

There are many reasons why you might be struggling to help your dog maintain a healthy weight. For example, your dog might be suffering from an illness that causes them to lose weight, their joint problems might make it difficult for them to stay active, or they might simply be greedy and have heart-melting puppy eyes. Whatever reason your dog is suffering from weight problems, there are solutions out there that can help you improve your pet’s health and wellbeing.

What To Do for Overweight Dogs

The most common weight problem that dogs experience is being overweight. There are many reasons why your dog might have become overweight. For example, they might have suffered an injury that causes them to struggle with mobility, they might spend a long time alone in the house being inactive, or they might simply be a little bit greedy.

While it might not seem like a big problem, overweight dogs are much more likely to develop certain health conditions. For example, overweight dogs are prone to joint issues and artists, limiting their ability to run around and play. In addition, being overweight puts strains on a dog’s internal organs and increases the chances of contracting heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses.

If your dog is overweight, there are many things that you can do to help them to slim down:

  • Diet

You should monitor your dog’s diet to help them lose weight. Firstly, you should cut down on the amount of food you are feeding them. If you are worried about underfeeding your dog, consult the portion guidelines to find out how much food is suggested for a dog of your size. You could also switch to a diet that is a low carbohydrate and high in protein.

  • Limit Treats

It might be tempting to give your dog lots of treats, but this can really add up and impact their health over time. Instead, you should limit treats to one or two a day and make sure that everyone in the household is agreed on this.

  • Regular Exercise

Exercise is as important as diet in terms of keeping your dog healthy. Not only does exercising reduce weight gain, but it also increases muscle strength, metabolism, and happiness. You should check to make sure that you are giving your dog enough exercise for their breed, age, weight, and size.

  • Take Them to The Vet

You should take your dog to the vet regularly so they can monitor their progress, suggest ways to improve their weight loss, and check on their overall health and wellbeing.

How To Help Your Dog Gain Weight

Whether your dog is a fussy eater or has lost weight due to an illness, seeing your dog skinnier than it should be is never a pleasant sight. Luckily, there are things that you can do to help your dog put on weight. If your dog is underweight, you should visit the vet regularly for check-ups and advice.

  • Add a Weight Gain Supplement

A weight gain and gut supplement for dogs from Buddy and Lola is an easy way of increasing your dog’s calorie intake. Since all you need to do is sprinkle some powder onto their food, this is a quick and effective method for even the pickiest eaters.

  • Increase Meals

Feeding your dog smaller meals throughout the day increases the opportunity they have to eat. Leaving your dog to free feed means that they can eat when they choose, which usually results in weight gain.

  • Offer More Snacks

Supplementing regular meals with snacks and treats is a great way to help increase your dog’s calorie intake.