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A recent survey indicated
that 40% of America's pet population is overweight
If your dog is over weight be sure your veterinarian evaluates
the Thyroid Gland function to rule out any extra
weight caused by a non active Thyroid Gland. Hypothyroidism is
very common in excess weight in pets and this should
to be corrected or your attempts to reduce your dog's
weight will not be successful.
How to tell if your dog is over or under weight:
There should be a slight
amount of fat over the ribs, but each rib should be
distinct. If you can see the ribs, your dog is too
thin. |
You should be
able to feel a small amount of fat over the dogs spine,
hips, and shoulders. If these bones are easily felt or
visible, your dog is more than likely too thin. If you
cannot feel the bones beneath the layer of fat, the animal
is obviously overweight.
The area
behind the ribs known as the abdominal tuck should be
smaller in diameter than the chest. If your dog has not
abdominal tuck he is over weight. A dog who is too thin
will have a very severe abdominal tuck.
There is no set time that a dog will
become over weight, however most
weight problems develop slowly and often begin when a dog
transitions from a growing puppy to an adult. The adult
dog's appetite is often greater than his need. Dogs can
also experience weight gain during the senior years when
activity level decreases. For some dogs, activity also
decreases during the winter months. Be ready to adjust
your dog's calories and perform periodic weight checks to
avoid overfeeding during these problematic transition
times.
If you feel
your dog is overweight you may want to try a 10 to
15 minute walk twice a day. This helps burn calories, and
tends to reduce the appetite.
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