Known as man’s best friend, it’s obvious why millions of us have furry friends in our homes. Whether you’re a fan of the small breeds or like something a little bigger, we get that your dog is part of the family and something you love more than anything else in this world. However, unfortunately, your bursting love for your pooch can come at a cost to their health.
If you’re feeding your dog the wrong foods or always giving into their puppy dog eyes with treats, they can quickly put on weight and become obese. Just like with humans, being overweight comes with its health risks. If you’ve noticed your canine companion is looking a little fuller, here are some essentials on how to help them lose weight and live their best life.
Change Their Diet
As you would expect, the number one thing that’s causing your dog to put on the pounds is their diet. It’s time to take a good look at what you’re feeding your pooch. Now may be a good opportunity to start feeding your dog a diet made with real, natural ingredients, like beef, lamb, and chicken. Applaws specialize in natural pet food. Their products are brilliant for promoting heart health, boosting energy levels, and making your dog’s coat shiny.
Incorporate More Exercise
There’s nothing more enjoyable than going for a walk outdoors with your pooch by your side. You’ll have a hard time finding a furry friend that doesn’t love walkies. Walking is an excellent exercise for the both of you and can truly help in keeping your pooch at a healthy weight. There are other activities your dog can try too, like swimming. If they like being in the water, swimming is very easy on their joints, which makes it a great exercise for senior dogs too. Just make sure your pooch is getting enough physical activity each day.
If you can’t find the time needed to meet a dog’s exercise needs, hiring a professional dog walker in Brooklyn provides an excellent solution. This ensures that dogs receive their regular walks, even when you’re busy or absent.
Provide Plenty of Fresh Water
What you may not realize is dogs may turn to food when they’re actually thirsty instead. For that reason, it’s essential you keep your pooch’s water dish topped up with fresh, clean water. You also need to keep tabs on signs of doggy dehydration. Good hydration has plenty of benefits for your dog, such as a shinier coat and softer skin.
Cut Back on Treats
We get it, you love to give treats to your dog. When they’re constantly pestering you for one, it can be all too easy to give in to their demands. However, too many treats aren’t good for their waistline. You need to learn how to say no! If you’re struggling with this, there are healthy treats you can hand to your dog like apples, carrots, and green peas, rather than giving them leftovers from your plate.
Many of America’s dogs are considered overweight. While we’re not saying a few extra pounds is an immediate death sentence for your pooch, carrying extra weight can diminish their quality of life. As a dog owner, that’s the last thing you want to hear. Thankfully, there are plenty of actions you can put in place today that should help in supporting your pooch to lose weight.
