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Dealing with Dog Obesity

Overweight pets can be a big problem for both the animal and the owner. The problems that overweight dogs have can create big problems, including serious health issues and difficulty moving about. Unfortunately, pet obesity is an increasing trend within the United States. Add to that the idea that the FDA has approved dog obesity medications to give dogs when they are overweight; the world is facing a real crisis.

Experts have pinpointed a few basic problems that cause most dog obesity. The number one would be that dogs are overeating and eating table scraps. As cute as it might be to feed your pet at the table, resist if you want to help their health. The foods people eat are not made for dogs nor does it provide the basic nutrients needed for a healthy dog lifestyle.

Another reason dogs are seriously overweight includes lack of exercise. When the owner doesn’t get out often enough, neither does the dog. This can be a particularly big problem for indoor dogs, since they don’t have room to exercise if they’re not taken out. So unless being walked by the owner, dogs don’t smell the fresh outdoors.

One of the best ways to address dog obesity is to look at your own lifestyle. Since Fido follows his master, there can’t be anything changed without the owners starting first. Make sure you make time for a walk every day. Try to get the rest of your family to agree not to feed the dog food from the table. Have your dog eat only from his source of food and regulate it. Based on how heavy your dog is, feed accordingly and wait to see if your dog appears hungry before feeding more.

The dog obesity issue will stop when people recognize the health of their animal should be a way of life and the behavior of the dog reflects the owner. As we know it all starts with the dog owner.
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As well as writing pet care advice, Taylor Martinerin also writes about picking a good xlarge dog bed, like a cedar dog bed.

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TET - Dog Care - January 1, 2010 - 3:56 am