Pet Obesity could be a problem for most pets. Obesity is commonly perceived as a problem for people and not animals. On the contrary, pet owners must be aware and concerned about their pets overall weight. Compared to other animals the domestic pet is prone to be the animal that is obese. It is estimated that about 25% of the pets are obese or overweight.
Your pet cannot be evaluated by just measuring their weight. Every pet owner should observe the overall physical condition of the pet by comparing it with one of its own breeds. The ideal weight of your pet will vary depending on the particular breed’s characteristics and lifestyle.
A great way to help to determine if your pet is of ideal weight is by an overall observation. Physically looking at your pet and feeling your pet’s structure. What are you looking for to determine if your pet is of ideal weight? When observing your pet the ribs should not be visible to the human eye but should be easily felt without pressing. No on the opposite end if your pet’s ribs are highly visible your pet may be underweight. Your pet’s stomach or abdominal area should be tucked in not droopy. Is your pet’s head in proportion to its body? Does your pet tire easily when walking from point to point?
When looking from behind your pet does your pet’s sides stick out or belly hangs low? According to veterinarians your pet should possess an hour-glass physique.
The best way to determine if your pet is of ideal weight is to take your pet to a veterinarian for a complete physical. Obesity decreases the life span in humans and is no different in pets. An obese or overweight pet is not healthy, and could develop many health issues and health complications prematurely. This in turn could shorten your pet’s life span.
The primary reason for pet obesity is a very simple reason, your pet has more to eat and not enough exercise. As a pet owner you need to keep tabs on feeding habits, rewarding pets with food, and adequate exercise for your pet based on the breeds characteristics. As with humans who are overweight and obese it is a life style change that is needed to bring your pet back to its ideal weight.
Consult your veterinarian in regard to what your pet’s ideal weight should be and a weight loss or maintenance plan that is necessary to maintain the pet’s ideal weight.
A healthy pet will give its owner many years of joy and happiness.
Are you feeding your puppy or adult dog the proper food for a healthy coat, aging process, and overall health? Does it really matter what you feed your puppy?
Yes, it does matter what you feed your puppy and adult dog as they age. To determine if you are feeding your puppy or dog correctly you must know what ingredients are in the puppy food and what type of puppy food is best for your dog.
The typical dog food that most dog owners use is commercial dog food. It is the easiest least expensive way to feed a dog and is more accessible. However is it the best dog food for your pet?
Let us look at the different types of commercial dog foods first. There are basically three commercial dog foods, dry, semi-moist, or moist (canned).
The dry dog food is the least expensive. Does this mean this is not considered healthy for your dog to eat? No it does not mean that. Many dry puppy and dog foods have the needed nutrients that your puppy, adult, or senior dog need to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. One advantage of dry dog food for puppies and dogs is that dogs normally have cleaner teeth due to the dry hard bits that scrape against their teeth basically cleaning them.
Semi-moist puppy and dog food come generally in little packets and are the next least expensive food. This food is semi-moist and is essentially soft little chunks. The disadvantage to this type of food is that this food tends to stick to your dogs teeth and gums harboring bacteria and promotes gum disease. Should you avoid this type of food for you dog? Absolutely not, this food is very tasteful to the puppy and dog and it too contains many vitamins and nutrients that are essential to a puppy and dogs development. A regular tooth cleaning is recommended to help the dog maintain healthy teeth and gums.
Moist puppy and dog food otherwise known as canned dog food is the third commercial dog food. Canned dog food is the most expensive of the three types of dog food. Canned dog food can be a supplement to your puppy or dog’s dry dog food to add flavor or as a treat for the dog. Moist dog food is ideal for dog’s that are elderly, have dental problems, or whose appetite is minimal due to an illness. Remember once you open canned dog food you must refrigerate for freshness and to avoid spoiling. A disadvantage that people mention when feeding their dog moist dog food is their stool tends to be loose. This is the opposite when a dog eats dry food where their stool is more solid. It all is personal preference in selecting the appropriate food for your pet.
