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Always be sure to check with your vet before you make substantial changes to your pet's diet or when you introduce new products to your pet's health and grooming regime.
Obesity is one of the greatest health concerns facing dogs. You can and should do something about it. Overweight dogs may live shorter and less healthy lives and your enjoyment of their unconditional love
and companionship may be shortened because of it.
Extra pounds place an excess burden on bones and joints and can make arthritis problems worse. Overweight dogs are less able to exercise and play comfortably and their breathing may be labored.
Their bodies may be less able to resist infections, and they may be at greater risk for problems during surgery and anesthesia.
Potential health problems include:
Joint or Locomotion Difficulties. Extra pounds add stress to
joints, bones, ligaments and muscles. Conditions
such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, spinal disc
disease and ruptures of joint ligaments maybe caused or aggravated by obesity.
Heart and
Respiratory Disease. Excess fat tissue in the chest
cavity and around the muscles of the heart can
decrease the efficiency of the heart and lungs. Your
dog’s heart and lungs have to work harder to provide
adequate oxygen and circulation.
Diabetes. Just as
in humans, diabetes is much more common in obese
dogs.
Liver Disease.
Obese dogs are prone to liver disease.
Heat Intolerance.
The insulating properties of excessive fat make it
harder for obese dogs to tolerate heat and they feel
uncomfortable.
Skin Problems.
Obese dogs may have trouble grooming because the
rolls of skin built up by fat deposits can often
harbor dirt, bacteria and other harmful organisms.
Gastrointestinal
Disorders. Inflammation of the pancreas is
frequently found in obese dogs. It is painful and
can be life threatening.
How Do Dogs Become
Overweight?
Dogs most always become
overweight from lack of good exercise and from eating
more food than they require. Food calories, which aren’t
burned during their daily activities, are stored as fat.
Overeating can result
from greediness, boredom, or overfeeding. Feeding
leftovers or giving frequent snacks or treats often
contributes to excess weight problems.
Over-fed puppies tend
to become overweight dogs. They also have a greater risk
of developing orthopedic problems. Properly fed puppies
will be less likely to suffer from weight problems later
in life.
Occasionally, metabolic
disorders can cause a dog to become overweight. But
overfeeding and under exercising are much more common
causes of excess weight. If your veterinarian suspects
that a metabolic disorder is causing your dog to gain
weight, he or she will test for that disorder and treat
it accordingly.
How Can I Tell if My Dog is Overweight?
A quick check to determine whether your dog is overweight is to
feel his ribs with the flat palm of your hand. If you have difficulty feeling his ribs, then your dog probably needs to lose weight.
Steps to Success for Your Dog's Weight Loss
Always be sure to check with your vet before you make substantial changes to your pet's diet or when
you introduce new products to your pet's health and grooming regime.
Weigh your dog. Set
a weight loss goal. Feed the proper amount of
Life's Abundance Weight Loss Dog Food and
adjust accordingly. Exercise daily (not to exceed
veterinarian recommendations). Avoid table scraps
and an excess number of high calorie treats. Track
weight loss progress weekly. Remember, a quick
weight loss is not healthy so be sure your dog is
getting enough food and that he loses weight slowly.
Tip: Always look at your dog from the rear. Check his ribs. You want to see a "waistline".
Ideal Weight
Overweight
Easy to feel ribs without excess fat
covering. Viewed from the side, belly is tucked up. Viewed from above, a
noticeable waist in front of the hips.
Difficult to feel ribs because of excess fat covering.
Viewed from the side, belly has minimal or no tuck. Viewed from above,
no waist in front of the hips.
Helping your Dog Lose Weight
Weight loss for most dogs involves increased exercise and eating food
with fewer calories. It’s generally easier to feed normal amounts of a low-calorie dog food than to feed much smaller amounts of his/her regular dog food. In addition, your dog will not
feel as hungry when fed a normal amount of food.
Dieting for Dogs
Your vet will help set
a weight goal for your dog and will recommend how much
food he should eat each day. A special diet may also be
prescribed. The food choice should be designed to
satisfy your dog’s appetite and provide him all the
vitamins and minerals he needs while at the same time
helping him to lose weight.
Your dog may need a
gradual transition from the old to the new diet. So, you
would feed him increasing amounts of the new diet while
decreasing the amounts of the previous diet each day
over several days until the transition is complete.
To help keep your dog
from begging, feed him before your family eats, and keep
him out of the room during your meal. It is also a good
idea to feed overweight dogs at the same time as other
pets to help prevent food stealing from their slimmer
companions. Always provide plenty of clean, fresh
drinking water.
Regular exercise, such
as walks or runs, is good for most dogs because it
increases the number of calories they burn. If your dog
is old or in poor health, check with your vet before
increasing exercise.
The time period your
dog will require to lose weight depends upon how much
weight he is required to lose. Your dog may need 8 to 14
weeks or longer to reach his target weight.
What Type of Food is Good for Weight Control?
A dieting dog has special nutritional needs. His diet should be balanced with a proper ratio of protein, fat and carbohydrates.
The diet should also provide a normal volume of food to satisfy his hunger and the food should also provide quality nutrients.
Weight loss plans don’t need to include high levels of fiber. Fiber is not necessary for weight loss in pets, and in large amounts, it may have side effects such as increased feces and lack of interest in the food because of its poor taste.
We recommend
Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula
for Adult Dogs. Lifes Abundance Weight Loss Formula is a revolutionary
diet dog food based on a 30-30-40 ratio of protein, fat and carbohydrates. This
revolutionary new weight loss food will help your dog achieve a healthy
nutritional balance so his or her body can operate at its maximum efficiency while shedding unwanted pounds.
Always consult with your vet before you start a weight loss program for your dog!
Lifes Abundance Weight Loss Food is Vet Formulated and Recommended
Important points to consider about Lifes Abundance
Weight Control Formula:
Life’s Abundance Weight-Loss Formula is
veterinarian-formulated to help your dog lose
weight and maintain optimum health.
Life's Abundance uses only high-quality
ingredients and a “fast-cook” process to help
preserve the nutritional value of each and every
wholesome ingredient.
Lifes Abundance maintains strict inventory
controls to ensure that quality and safety of
their pet foods. Since they use only
wholesome ingredients, this formula contains no
artificial flavors or colors, and no corn, corn
gluten, wheat or wheat gluten.
How can Lifes Abundance Weight Loss Formula Help My
Dog Lose Weight?
Lifes Abundance Weight Loss Formula is made with the freshest ingredients to provide your dog with the best quality possible!
Lifes Abundance uses only quality ingredient selection and an exclusive “fast-cook” process to preserve the fresh taste of natural foods. This technique maintains natural flavors and nutritional value better than more rigorous cooking techniques found in many store bought products.
Life's Abundance Weight Loss Formula does not add flavor enhancers or coloring to replace what high-temperature cooking destroys. They don't need to. They keep all the natural goodness.
Life's Abundance Weight Loss formula does not contain chemical additives or preservatives. Not a single one. And they never will. They use a blend of natural antioxidants to help their food stay fresh as well as helping your dog to maintain a healthy immune system.
The convenient, re-closable bag helps protect against moisture and pests.
The information above is the sole opinion of the author.
Always consult with your Veterinarian before making any changes to your pets food, supplements or other products.
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