Your dog never has to deal with the embarrassing reality that his pants are getting too snug. However, you know when your pooch has packed on the pounds and it’s time to put him on a diet. As his human companion, it becomes your responsibility to implement these steps and get him back in shape.
Step 1
Solicit the advice of your veterinarian before you initiate any drastic changes to your dog’s diet. Your vet can assist you in choosing a high fiber, well balanced, calorie restricted dog food. It will cost you more than the store brand variety you may have been feeding your pup, but his health is worth it.
Step 2
Gradually introduce the new food into your dog’s diet by mixing it with the old food over a period of a week or so. Eliminate any wet canned food immediately.
Step 3
Measure out the exact quantity of dog food to ensure you are not accidentally overfeeding your dog. Place the measured amount in his bowl twice a day. Do not allow him to “free feed” or “graze” throughout the day. Leave the food in the bowl for 20-30 minutes and then pick the bowl up off the floor.
Step 4
No more table scraps! Completely eliminate this bad habit as it causes the most rapid weight gain for a dog. Don’t even allow him to lick the plates as they are being loaded into the dishwasher…every calorie counts!
Step 5
Be sure that your dog always has plenty of clean, cool, fresh water to drink. This will help his stomach feel full as well as develop overall health by keeping him properly hydrated.
Step 6
Stock up on green beans. Supplementing this canned vegetable into your dog’s diet will help him feel full while supplying few calories. You can either reduce his measured food and replace what you’ve taken with green beans or you can use it as a meal replacement for one meal of the day until your dog reaches his desired weight.
Step 7
There’s no supplement for exercise. As a dog owner, you have the responsibility to provide your dog with several opportunities a week to shed those extra pounds. Find an activity he enjoys and schedule it into your routine.
In just a few weeks, you will start to see a difference in your dog’s weight. His overall health and well-being will improve and so will his quality of life.
This articel was written by Katie Deen who is sponsored by Discount-Pet-Mall. An excellent source for pet carriers and pet gates.