What Foods Make A Dog Obese

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Monday, February 25th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

It seems that we have been talking about obesity in humans for quite a few years now. There is a concerted effort by health authorities and food companies to educate people to make better food choices and to get some form of exercise. The consequences of not dealing with obesity is a reduced lifespan and increased risk to numerous diseases and ailments like diabetes, heart disease and problems with hip and knee joints. And this increase in obesity seems to be mirrored in our closest companions, our pets. It is most common in cats and dogs and has the same potential to reduce lifespan as it does in humans. This article will discuss dog obesity and what foods make a dog obese.

To begin with, it should be pointed out that certain dogs are more genetically disposed to getting fat. This is the same as humans, as some people will seem to put on weight even though they try to eat sensibly and exercise whilst others can eat what they want and don’t seem to put any weight on. The same goes for dogs and certain breeds are thought to be more disposed to getting fat. Some of these breeds include the Labrador, Beagle, Basset Hound and the Dachshund. If you have a dog that falls into this category then you should be careful what you feed your pet and how much you feed it. Consult your vet if you are worried about a proper diet for your dog.

Many of the problems with dog obesity occur because people feed their dogs too much or feed them the wrong types of foods.

In terms of feeding them too much, this really depends on the type of dog and the level of activity of the dog. A toy breed of dog will eat a lot less than and working dog for instance, and the quantity of food will reflect this. As a rule of thumb, two meals a day is adequate for most dogs. The quantity of food will also reduce as the dog gets older and less active.

If you are still unsure of the right quantity to give your pet then monitor it’s weight and shape. For instance, a dogs ribs are a good indication of whether it is over weight, just right or under weight. Ideally the ribs should be visible with a thin layer fat around them. If they can’t be seen and you can feel rolls of fat around them when you touch your pet then it is overweight. If this is the case you should start to reduce it’s food intake and give it more exercise.

The second problem is giving the dog the wrong types of food. High on this list is human foods. Don’t feed your dogs biscuits or chips or any of the other things that humans shouldn’t really be eating but enjoy. Cut down on the treats and don’t feed it your scraps.

Ultimately controlling what goes into your dogs meals and regular exercise are the best ways to ensure it stays in a healthy condition.

To get dog food recipes that can improve the health and lifespan of your pet then Click Here!

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