Tips to prevent obesity in Dogs

Posted on September 15, 2011 by admin

Dogs may be one of the best animal friends that you can have but many dogs are overweight which is affecting their health. If you have a dog at home that is obese, they are likely to suffer from some health problem. To maintain the health of your pet, it is best that you prevent them from becoming overweight.

If you are unsure of how to prevent obesity in your pet, here are a few prevent measures that you can take to avoid this problem.

Dog Food

The food that you give your pet will have a huge impact on the weight of your pet. You can give him fixed portion of food 2 or 3 times a day. Also, make sure you give them quality food that has the right combination of proteins and fiber. Avoid giving him extra large portions as it will only help in increasing their weight.

Dog Treats

The treats that you give your pet must not be more than 10 percent of their diet. Avoid giving your dog table scrap as it only increase the problem. If your pet has the habit of eating snacks between meals, it is important that you give them fat-free snacks.

Exercise

Dogs that are overweight require more exercise than normal dogs. If you have spare time you can involve your pet in some sport. This will not only keep your pet fit but will also improve their skills. Also, make sure you give him exercise at least 2 times in a day as it will make them active.

Checkups

At times, your dog may gain weight not due to excessive eating but because of some medical problem. Therefore, it is important that you get your pet checked by a vet at least once in 6 months. This will help you keep a track of your pet’s health and help you know if they are suffering from a disease.

Lazy Lifestyle

There are many pets that are overweight because of their sedentary lifestyle. Therefore it is important that your pet does not laze around all day. If your pet has reduced their physical activity but have not reduced their consumption, they are bound to gain weight. You can keep your pet fit by making them run around and keeping them active.

Healthy Weight Loss Program

If you are not satisfied with the results of your effort, it is best that you visit a vet and prepare a weight loss program for your pet. After you have decided on a program for your pet, make sure your pet follows the program. Make sure you follow the exercise routine and don’t eat food that is unhealthy.

Posted in Pet Food, Pet Obesity, Pet Problems | Leave a comment

How certain ‘items’ can harm your pet

Posted on September 9, 2011 by admin

If you have a pet at home, one of the biggest problems that you must be facing is that they items that they should not be eating. At times, the items they eat may not have any negative impact on their health. However, some pets may eat items that can cause serious injury. For instance, one of my neighbors pet ate rubber knobs from a toy ball. Even though my neighbor took his pet to the doctor immediately, he was unable to save his pet. Therefore it is important that we keep items like pens, hearing aid and remote control away from the pets.

When your pet eats these items, their body is unable to digest these items. These items usually get stuck in the intestine which can cause serious problems. If your pet eats any item that you feel will not pass through their digestive system, it is important that you take your pet to a vet immediately. You vet will usually suggest an emergency operation to remove the item. I know a friends cat that ate about 35 hair bands. Initially there was no problem but over time these bands accumulated in the cat’s stomach which caused vomiting. These bands were removed from the cat’s stomach after the doctor performed an expensive operation.

Most of us who have pets at home often wonder why pets like eating these items. Pets are curious animals that like to explore the world with their mouth. Just like infants want to put everything in their mouth, pets also love to put objects in their mouth. Another reason why pets love these items is because they are inquisitive about the items they don’t use. For instance, your pet could love playing with socks because they don’t wear them.

The cost of removing these items from the body of your pet is not cheap. For instance, removing items like ball, socks, bands, ribbons, tie or any other item can cost your anywhere between $1,000 to $2,500. If you want to save yourself from this unwanted expense, you can get a pet insurance policy.

Posted in Pet Care, Pet Health, Pet Problems | Leave a comment