Obesity has not only increased in humans, it has crossed over to our pets as well. Pet weight management is equally important to pets as it is to humans. Obesity can lead to serious health problems and reduce your pet's life span. Managing your pet's weight and promoting health should begin the day you bring your pet home.
Have a meal plan: Research your pet to determine how much food is recommended for the breed. Make sure his food is only available at predetermined meal times, do not leave a dog or cat bowl continuously filled.
Use a Probiotic supplement: A probiotic supplement is often used when an animal is on an anti-biotic, or is experiencing diarrhea. However, probiotic supplements can also be used on a daily basis to improve and maintain gastrointestinal health which will help with weight management issues. Using a pet supplement like Probios Soft Chews each day will increase nutrient absorption and keep your pet's intestines functioning at top speed!
Diet pet food There are several different pet diet food products available designed to provide optimal cat and dog nutrition to enhance your pet's health, while also promoting the move to a healthier weight. You can also look into creating a homemade diet for your pet. Before doing this, consult an animal dietitian or your veterinarian so you are sure to provide the proper amount of nutrients.
Avoid scraps and excess treats: You may think that you are doing your pet a favor by tossing down some table scraps, but in reality you are doing more harm than good. Human food contains a lot of fat, preservatives, and hormones that are not healthy for our pets. Also keep in mind that feeding your cat/dog scraps will introduce them to human food and encourage them to search and beg for it.
In terms of treats, reward your dog with a healthy treat to reinforce good behavior. Our pets are creatures of habit and will associate a treat with whatever they are doing at the time they receive it. For example, if your pet looks at your dinner plate, or the treat jar, and barks or whines and is then is rewarded with a scrap or treat, you are encouraging them to beg. Come to think of it, this is the same behavior a toddler will exhibit!
Correcting the begging behavior: To correct this behavior it is critical to be consistent. The first step is to cease feeding your pet from your plate; the second is to ignore begging and act as though your pet is not there. If you have an aggressive beggar that jumps on you or the table, or is a talker, remove them from the room when they are in the act of begging and do not allow them to return during your meal. Remember that your attention is a powerful tool in training your pet. Eventually your pet will realize that this behavior is undesirable.
Exercise: If your cat or dog is overweight it is important to assess how much exercise your pet gets each day and decide how much of their weight is due to food, and how much is due to inactivity.
Implementing an exercise routine: Increasing your pet's activity should be done slowly, so as to not over work him or her and cause injury. Depending on how overweight your pet is, their current activity level and breed, implementing exercise will differ. Starting with a 10-15 minute walk is great; make sure you consult a vet and research your breed before starting any vigorous work out.
As you can see, the ways to promote pet weight management are quite straightforward and somewhat easy to implement. Giving the proper food in the right amounts, using a pet probiotic supplement and maintaining an exercise regiment will go a long way in keeping your dog healthy and happy.
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