Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more dogs become over weight.
Except for a few reasons (Hypothyroidism, Cushings, and genetics), weight gain
is a result of the unbalanced combination of calories and activity. The first
step in helping your pet lose some weight is to understand exactly how many
calories he/she is getting each day. With a simple chart accounting for all
avenues of calories (dog food treats, table scraps, cat food, etc.) your
veterinarian can quickly determine what your pet is consuming compared to what
it “should” be consuming. Next, you need
to increase your pet’s activity level. Start
slow, as you would your own exercise program and build slowly. Remember that older dogs, or dogs with
arthritis will have some limitations, and therefore calories will need to be
monitored closely.