There’s no doubt that you love your dog. And for many dog owners, loving your dog is the perfect excuse for constantly showering him or her with yummy treats.
What you may not realize, though, is that too much food will lead to your dog being obese.
How exactly do you measure obesity? Well, for starters, you need to take into consideration the breed of your dog and his or her expected weight. To identify the healthy weight level for your dog, simply do a quick online search.
Although an online search will go a long way in helping you determine whether or not your dog is fat, you should also do a physical and visual check. In fact, let’s take a quick look at the exact steps you need to take.
Feeling your dog’s ribs
That’s right. You should be able to feel your dog’s ribs as well as count them. If you can’t, then this means your dog is overweight. The best way to do a rib check is by standing behind your dog and placing your hands softly on him or her where the rib cage should be.
You may not be able to feel the ribs immediately, and this is a good thing because it means your dog is not underweight. You should, however, be able to feel the ribs as you gently press down. You should even be able to press down and count the ribs as you move your hands along the rib cage.
If you are unable to feel your dog’s ribs by gently pressing down, this is a sure indicator that your dog is overweight, and he or she may possibly be morbidly obese depending on his or her exact size.
Look at your dog from the side
If you notice the stomach just continually goes downward, this means your dog is overweight.
Do keep in mind that dogs that are morbidly overweight will have stomachs that slope downward and back up, but you’ll be able to tell by looking at these dogs if it’s a healthy slope or if he or she is fat.
Also, does your dog have a lot of fat over his or her hips? If so, this is another sign that your dog is fat.
What shape is your dog?
Sure, all dogs are going to be shaped somewhat differently, but for the most part, they should have an hourglass figure.
The best way to determine if your dog has an hourglass figure is look down at your dog from a balcony or while standing on a chair. If you happen to have a dog that has a lot of hair, you’ll have to feel with your hands to see if he or she has an hourglass figure.
What you can do
If your dog is fat, there are certain steps you can take to combat the issue. First of all, you need to quit feeding your dog so much.
Even if you’re feeding the recommended amount, you’ll need to cut back slightly. Or, you could even buy special dog food that is made for dogs on a diet.
The next most important step you can take is to make sure your dog is exercising. From playing fetch with your dog to taking him or her jogging, there are plenty of ways you can ensure your dog is getting adequate exercise.
You need to realize that having an overweight dog is a serious problem.
For example, say you have a Chihuahua that should normally weigh 10 pounds, yet it weighs 15 pounds. This is like being a person who is supposed to weigh 150 pounds, yet weighs 200 pounds. Your dog will not enjoy a long lifespan if you don’t help it take proper steps to lose weight, and as the owner of your dog, it is your responsibility to ensure your dog is healthy.