Why Is Maintaining A Healthy Weight Important For Your Dog?
Maintaining a healthy weight is important for your dog’s overall health and well-being. Just like in humans, dogs with weight issues may eventually have other health-related problems. Being overweight may also reduce their mobility and quality of life.1
As a responsible pet owner, it’s important to monitor your dog’s weight and make sure they’re getting the right amount of exercise and a balanced diet. By making positive changes to their diet and exercise routine to help them maintain a healthy weight, you can help your furry friend live a long, happy, and healthy life.
7 Tips For Maintaining A Healthy Weight In Your Dog
1. Give Your Dog Quality Food
To maintain a healthy weight for your dog, you’ll want to provide them with high-quality food. This means choosing a nutritionally balanced dog food that contains nutritious ingredients and avoiding foods with fillers, by-products, and artificial preservatives.2,3
Dogs require a balanced diet that includes proteins, healthy fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Do your research to determine which dog food delivers all of the essential nutrients your dog needs. Try to feed your pup the highest-quality food you possibly can.4
Choose a reputable brand: Look for a dog food brand that has a good reputation for quality and puts your dog’s nutritional needs first. The quality and source of the ingredients is extremely important. Check the ingredients list and ensure that real, recognizable ingredients are listed first — like beef (or beef liver/heart), salmon, and healthy vegetables.5
Reading ingredient labels can help you make an informed decision about what to feed your dog. Check the ingredients list carefully, and ensure that real, recognizable ingredients are listed first, such as meat or fish.
Your vet can recommend the appropriate amount of food and help you adjust your dog’s diet as needed to maintain a healthy weight.
Here are some specifics about feeding your dog a great diet to help them maintain a healthy weight.
2. Keep Track Of Your Dog’s Weight Throughout His Life
Regularly monitoring your dog’s weight is an important part of ensuring they stay at a healthy weight throughout their life. Weighing your dog every few months is always a good idea. Use a reliable scale to weigh your dog at home, or visit your veterinarian for periodic weigh-ins.6
Creating a detailed health journal for your dog can also help you keep track of their daily meals, treats, exercise routine, weight, and mood or behavior. This may help you understand which strategies are working and what changes need to be made if your dog’s weight is creeping up. You’ll also be able to share your journal records with your veterinarian.
3. Talk To Your Vet About A Diet Plan
Consulting with a veterinarian to create a personalized diet plan for your dog is of utmost importance. A veterinarian can assess your pet’s weight and health, and make recommendations tailored to your pet’s specific needs, including nutrition and exercise. They can help you determine a healthy weight and develop a weight management plan that is safe and effective for your dog. Regular vet visits are also very important to monitor your dog’s progress and make sure they’re maintaining a healthy weight.7
4. Give Your Dog A Fixed Amount Of Food Each Day
You’ll want to provide your dog with a fixed amount of food each day to help maintain their optimal weight and health. Measuring their food portions with a measuring scoop at feeding time helps control the calories they consume and prevents overfeeding.8,9
To determine the appropriate portion size, follow the directions on your pup’s dog food bag carefully — and, if you’re not sure how much your dog should be eating daily, consult with your vet for guidance. They’ll be able to help you adjust your pup’s food intake as their calorie needs shift with age and activity level.10
5. Give Healthy Treats In Moderation
To maintain a healthy weight in your dog, it’s important to avoid giving them too many treats, which can lead to weight gain. Limit the amount of treats they get to no more than 10 percent of their daily calorie intake (less is better). Also, look for healthy, high-quality dog treats made from lean meats (like chicken breast and beef liver), fish (like wild salmon), and veggies with high nutritional value. These are also great to use during training sessions.11-13
Also, avoid feeding your dog scraps directly from your table. Make sure your whole family is on board with this plan. You might be able to resist puppy-dog eyes as you enjoy your dinner, but your roommates, spouse, or kids may not.14,15
6. Exercise Your Dog Regularly
Regular exercise can help your dog maintain a healthy weight. Physical exercise helps support strong muscles and bones, cardiovascular health, and healthy digestion. Not only that, it may also help to boost your dog’s mood and reduce boredom.16-19
Suitable exercises for dogs of all ages and sizes include daily walks, off-leash parks, playing fetch, hiking, and even jogging. Letting your dog run around the yard or bringing them to daycare where they can play with other dogs are also great options. If you’re not sure what exercise is best for your dog (or how much exercise they need each day), check with your veterinarian.20
Need some ideas? Try playing some games with your pup. Tug-of-war, a rousing game of fetch, and even agility coursework are all great ways to exercise your dog, and they may also help your furry friend maintain a healthy weight.
7. Have Regular Check-Ups With The Vet
Regular check-ups with your veterinarian are an important part of maintaining a healthy weight for your dog. During these visits, the vet can monitor your dog’s progress, advise on how much weight your dog needs to lose or gain, and provide specific recommendations for exercise and diet. The physical exam also allows the vet to detect early signs of issues that might affect your dog’s weight.21
What Factors Should You Consider When Choosing Food For Your Dog?
When choosing food for your dog, it’s important to ensure they receive the right balance of nutrition. This can help make certain that your pup is getting the nutrients they need to stay healthy, happy, and active (which helps them maintain a healthy weight). Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to dog food nutritional content.
Dog Food: Protein Content
Protein is an essential nutrient for dogs, and it plays a key role in their overall health and well-being. The dog food you choose should offer high-quality sources of protein, such as beef (including beef heart and beef liver) and salmon, as these provide the necessary amino acids that dogs need to maintain muscle mass and repair tissues. Low-quality protein sources, like by-products and fillers, may not provide the same level of nutrition and may even be harmful to your dog’s health.22,23
Dog Food: Consider Air-Dried
Air-dried dog food is a great option for your pup. It’s made by gently removing moisture from fresh ingredients, preserving the nutritional value. Air-dried dog food offers several benefits compared to other types of dog food. Here are some additional advantages of feeding your dog air-dried food:
- No High Heat Processing: Unlike traditional kibble, air-dried dog food is not subjected to high heat during the manufacturing process. High heat can degrade the nutritional content of the ingredients, but air drying maintains the integrity of the nutrients.
- Enhanced Digestibility: Air-dried dog food is often easier for dogs to digest compared to other types of food. The air-drying process breaks down the proteins and carbohydrates, making them more readily available for your dog’s digestive system to absorb.
- Convenient and Shelf-Stable: Air-dried dog food has a longer shelf life compared to raw food and does not require refrigeration. This makes it a convenient option for pet owners who prefer a minimally processed diet but want the convenience of storing and serving food without the need for freezing or thawing.
- Palatability: Air-dried dog food often has an intense flavor that appeals to dogs. The slow drying process concentrates the taste of the ingredients, making it more enticing for picky eaters or dogs who have lost their appetite.24-27
Dog Food: Fat Content
It‘s important to pay attention to the fat content of dog food, because excessive fat intake may lead to weight issues and other health issues. You want your dog to have healthy fats and fatty acids in their food (like omega-3 and omega-6) to provide them with energy, promote healthy growth, and support a healthy coat. Sources of these healthy fats include flaxseed, salmon, and chia seeds.28-30
Dog Food: Vitamin Content
Vitamins play a crucial role in your dog’s health and weight management plan. Some of the essential vitamins that your dog needs to stay active and healthy include vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, along with vitamin K. Foods like sweet potatoes and pumpkin, beef and salmon, blueberries, and broccoli are all good sources of these essential vitamins.31-33
Dog Food: Mineral Content
Minerals are essential nutrients that should be included in your dog’s diet to maintain good health. These nutrients aid in the formation of strong bones, teeth, and muscles, and they also help regulate bodily functions. To ensure your dog’s diet is balanced, choose a high-quality dog food that contains a variety of minerals, including calcium, zinc, magnesium, selenium, and iron.34,35
Dog Food: Taste
When choosing food for your dog, taste is an important factor to consider. Some dogs may be picky eaters and have specific preferences for texture, flavor, and meal times. Fresh foods may be more appealing to dogs due to their stronger scent. It’s all about finding what works best for your unique pup. Once they are on a high-quality diet, they may have more energy and be more likely to be active (and fit).36,37
Dog Food: Brand Reputation
When it comes to maintaining a healthy weight for your dog, the reputation of the dog food brand you choose is key. It’s important to research the brand’s history and quality of ingredients to make certain you’re providing your dog with the best possible nutrition. Reputable dog food brands prioritize the health of dogs in their products by using high-quality, whole-food ingredients and avoiding fillers, artificial preservatives, and by-products that can contribute to weight gain and other health issues.38-40
A Fit Dog Is A Happy, Healthy Dog
Ensuring that your dog maintains a healthy weight is essential for their longevity, mobility, and quality of life. By implementing proper weight management strategies in coordination with your vet’s recommendations, you can help provide your furry companion with the best chance at a healthy and joyful life.
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