How do I stop my dog ​​from gaining weight?

Watching our beloved dogs getting plump day by day, we may initially think they are more adorable and cute. But when obesity gradually affects the health and vitality of dogs, this worry will replace the love we once had. As the guardian of dogs, we have the responsibility to help them maintain a healthy weight and stay away from the troubles caused by obesity. So, how can we stop dogs from gaining weight? ​

Diet is a key part of controlling dog weight. Just like humans, if dogs consume far more calories than they consume on a daily basis, the excess energy will be converted into fat and accumulate. We need to carefully examine the source of dog food. There are many types of dog food on the market today, and the quality varies. High-quality dog ​​food should contain balanced nutrients with the right proportion of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. When choosing dog food, you should not only look at the price, but also pay attention to its ingredient list. For example, some low-priced dog food may contain a lot of grains. Although it can provide a sense of fullness, for dogs, the digestion and absorption efficiency of grains is relatively low, and excessive intake can easily lead to obesity. On the contrary, choosing dog food with high-quality meat as the main raw material can provide dogs with more easily absorbed protein to meet their physical needs while reducing unnecessary calorie intake. ​

In addition to dog food, snacks should also be given with caution. Dogs often have no resistance to snacks, and the way they look at the snacks in our hands makes people feel pity. However, many snacks have high sugar, salt and fat content in order to increase the taste. We can't feed dogs without restraint just because they are spoiled. Snacks can be used as rewards during training, but the amount must be strictly controlled.

Controlling the amount of food is equally important. The amount of food required for each dog varies due to different breeds, ages, sizes and exercise. We can refer to the feeding recommendations on the dog food packaging, but this is only a rough guide. Keep a close eye on the dog's physical condition. If the dog's belly becomes round and feels fat, it may be fed too much; on the contrary, if the dog's ribs are clearly visible and the body is thin, it may not be eating enough. Adjusting the amount of food is a gradual process. The amount of food cannot be reduced drastically at once, so as not to make the dog feel hungry and affect its mood and health. You can reduce it a little bit every week, and observe the dog's reaction at the same time to ensure that they can maintain a good mental state and not continue to gain weight. ​

After talking about diet, exercise is no less important for dogs to lose weight than a reasonable diet. Dogs are naturally active. Their ancestors needed to run and hunt constantly in the wild to get food and survive. Although most dogs live in comfortable homes today, their nature has not changed. Increasing the amount of exercise for dogs can not only consume excess calories, but also enhance their muscle strength, improve cardiopulmonary function, and make dogs healthier and more lively. ​

Taking dogs out for a walk is the most basic form of exercise. Ensure a certain amount of walking time every day, and gradually increase the distance and speed of the walk according to the dog's physical fitness. Small dogs may only need 30 minutes to 1 hour of walking every day, while large dogs may need more than 1 hour. During the walk, don't let the dog walk slowly all the time, and occasionally encourage them to trot for a while. If the dog is interested in toys such as balls, you can also bring a ball and play games of throwing and picking up balls with them while walking. This interactive exercise can make dogs more engaged and consume more calories unconsciously. ​

In addition to walking, swimming is also a very suitable sport for dogs. For those dogs who are heavier and bear more pressure on their joints, swimming will hardly cause extra burden on the joints, while exercising the muscles of the whole body. Many dogs are naturally close to water. If your dog has not tried swimming yet, you can take it to a shallow water area first, let it slowly adapt to the buoyancy and resistance of the water, and gradually guide it to swim. If there is a pet swimming pool nearby, it is a good choice to take your dog to swim regularly; if not, when the weather is suitable, find a safe and clean natural water area, such as a river or lake, so that the dog can enjoy the fun of swimming. ​

In addition to daily walking and swimming, you can also try some other interesting ways of exercise. For example, taking your dog to participate in agility training courses can not only exercise the dog's physical coordination and reaction ability, but also increase their exercise. During the training process, the dog needs to cross obstacles, drill hoops, etc. These activities can exercise the dog's whole body, and at the same time enhance the tacit understanding and affection between the owner and the dog. ​

Health checks should not be ignored. Sometimes, abnormal weight gain in dogs may not only be a problem of diet and exercise, but may also be related to underlying health conditions. Take your dog to the veterinary hospital regularly for a comprehensive physical examination, including blood tests, thyroid function tests, etc. Hypothyroidism is one of the common causes of obesity in dogs. When a dog has low thyroid function, the body's metabolism slows down, and even if the diet and exercise have not changed, it may gradually gain weight.

In the process of helping dogs lose weight, we must have enough patience and perseverance. Changing a dog's eating habits and increasing the amount of exercise are not things that can be done overnight. Dogs may show resistance because they are not adapted to the new lifestyle. For example, after reducing the amount of food, the dog may keep begging for food from us, or be lazy and cheating during exercise. At this time, we can't be soft-hearted and must firmly implement the weight loss plan.

Seeing that the dog's movements have become slow due to obesity and their health is threatened, our hearts are full of worry and self-blame. But as long as we start from now, carefully adjust the dog's diet, increase their exercise, and take them for regular health checks, we will definitely help the dog return to a healthy weight.