How to Help Dog Lose Weight

Learning how to help a dog lose weight is important. Many dogs are overweight for a number of different reasons. In some cases the overweight dog simply has poor food choice. Other dogs are simply born with the weight problem. Regardless, of the reason, a good diet and regular exercise will help your pooch shed the extra pounds.

First, you should make sure that your dog is getting the proper nutrition. If he or she eats too many carbohydrates it can make him or her fat. Carbohydrates are used to provide energy for both exercise and other activities. It is important to feed your dog the proper amount of food on a consistent basis.

When learning how to help a dog lose weight, exercise will play a big role. The more exercise that your dog gets, the better off that he or she will be. Exercise also helps to keep your dog fit and healthy.

Once you understand how to help a dog lose weight, the next step is to increase his or her daily exercise. There are plenty of ways to go about doing this. Your local library may have DVDs on hand that teach how to exercise with your dog. You could also visit your local YMCA to learn how to exercise with your dog.

If you aren't home to help your dog exercise, there are plenty of ways to get him or her active. One way to do this is by playing fetch. This can be a lot of fun for both of you. Not only will your dog enjoy the activity, but you will enjoy the added bonus of having worked out a little in the process.

If you know someone who loves dogs, it might behoove you to consider training your own dog. You can easily find information on the Internet about how to help a dog lose weight with this method. The important thing to remember is that this should not be done as a replacement for regular walks. In fact, training can help you walk much more often.

Another good way of getting your dog active is by allowing him or her to be a participant in your travel plans. Many dogs love the outdoors and would love the chance to join you on your travels. You can let your dog to join you on many trips by buying him or her a new dog sweater. Dog sweaters give your dog a warm, fuzzy feeling, which helps him or her feel more at home when you're traveling.

If none of these methods work, or your efforts to get your dog active seem to be very fruitless, it's time to consult with your veterinarian. He or she will be able to determine the cause of your pet's difficulty in shedding and provide appropriate treatment. There are some illnesses that can cause your dog to stop shedding, so it's important to go to your vet immediately if you suspect any underlying issues. Your vet can help you determine just what is causing your dog's problems, and then he or she can recommend the best course of action for how to help a dog lose weight.

One of the things your vet might suggest is making dietary changes. If your dog has been eating a lot of dog food, adding table scraps to his or her daily diet will not only make him or her less active, but it will also tempt him or her to keep eating, creating a never-ending battle of overeating. A great way to start changing your dog's diet is to remove all commercial treats from the table. Instead, give your dog something tasty, such as lean beef, chicken, or fish, as well as cooked vegetables. Giving your dog raw meat can help him or her lose weight, too.

How to help dog lose weight is also essential if you have been giving your dog treats like chicken bones and other junk foods. Instead, give your dog nutritious treats like raw carrots or raw broccoli. If you don't want to give your dog a raw meat reward, you could substitute it with some cooked food, or a small amount of a quality supplement. By feeding your dog raw, unprocessed food, he or she will be less likely to seek out and eat dog snacks, which are often full of unnecessary fats and calories.

Finally, learning how to help a dog lose weight requires that you be accountable to yourself. If you're not going to make necessary changes in your life, your dog's weight will continue to get worse, because there is no incentive for you to make the changes necessary to take care of your pet. The more you work toward changing your own behavior, the more your dog will learn to accept changes in his or her life, too.

Your veterinarian is probably the best person to talk to when you need to know how to help a dog lose weight. You can get valuable advice from your vet about what is safe for your pet and what is not safe. Remember, always check with your vet before you treat your dog with any kind of supplement. Giving your pet an inappropriate supplement could be dangerous for him or her.