How can you help your dog lose the extra kilos?
Dogs are prone to weight gain just as their owners. Generally, dog owners offer them untimely food or do not keep a check on their exercise and physical activity; thus, your fluffy fido tends to gain extra kilos.
It is pretty evident in some breeds, whereas, in others, you need to look out for signs signalling obesity.
One of the simplest things to kickstart the weight loss journey of your furry friend is to replace the second meal with green beans, apples, or fresh chopped carrots. Along with the minor changes, you can do a few other things to help your dog lose excess weight and get into shape.
Being on the heftier side of the weighing scale can be alarming for dogs, leading to severe medical conditions. So, start the journey today! Read on to know more.
Food quality is the key
The key to enabling a dog to lose weight is to feed him whole food with low carbs. However, dog food and treats these days are ultra-processed; thus, they are full of carbs. Therefore, it is essential to check the food quality.
You should read through the dog food’s ingredients, including bully sticks. It is your responsibility to know ‘what are bully sticks made of‘ before feeding them to your dog. Treating your furry friend with healthy dog treats and food is an excellent way to maintain their holistic health.
In addition, feeding quality food helps keep the dog feeling whole, thus, reducing cravings. Therefore, always check the ingredients and ask for low-carb dietary items for your flurry fido.
Increase their exercise but with safety
Whether humans or animals, no weight-loss journey is complete without exercise and workout. So, experts suggest boosting your dog’s physical workout routine while keeping safety in mind.
Two times a day, a minimum of 20 minutes of physical activity is recommended for 4-pawed friends. However, some breeds require an hour of intense workouts to reduce weight.
Walking is one significant physical activity every dog does; therefore, you should increase the time and intensity by 10-20%. If you do not see any results, it is better to consult your vet before introducing any new exercise to your dog. They will assess the medical condition and suggest the best activities to shred those kilos.
Keep it slow but steady
It is understood that neither weight gain happens overnight, nor does weight loss. So, the best is to stick to a schedule. You may find it low, but understand that keeping steady on the journey is far more important than seeing the results.
So, when you introduce a new workout schedule, stick to it for a minimum of 3 weeks to see the changes in stamina in your dog.
Similarly, your dog may not like the changes in their diet, but keep feeding them a high fiber, protein, and low-carb diet. They will follow the lead and get accustomed to the changes.
Bottom line
Losing the extra kilos for a dog is as difficult as it is for humans. But you should not give up hope. Instead, keep on going on. Try new things, and make treats fun. Instead of feeding them treats now and then, make it a point to give them healthy treats when they achieve something good. Many owners keep it as a surprise factor. It helps them keep their flurry friend going.
Cover Photo by Pixabay
