- A Real Couch Potato
It’s a known fact that January 1st of each year after all the holiday festivities there is a day of reckoning. We ate too much and maybe drank too much and the scales are not our friend. The annual national weight loss frenzy begins. Be sure to include our dog in your getting in shape plans. As a matter of fact, in a recent article in the newspaper there was a story about a work-out Bootcamp for dogs and their owners called Thank Dog! Bootcamp. Their motto is “If your dog is overweight, then you’re not getting enough exercise.” The theory being that if you’re walking and playing with your dog enough then you both are getting the benefits.
It is estimated that 25-50%of dogs seen by veterinarians are overweight! That’s incredible. Just like us this dog obesity is due mainly from eating too much and not burning off the excess calories. Also just like us the cure is to decrease the intake or adjust the food and increase exercise. Being overweight is the most common health problem in dogs and that in turn leads to all sorts of other problems. Sound familiar?
Some breeds do tend to be more prone to weight issues. Among them are Labradors, Dachshunds and Beagles. It really doesn’t matter if you have another breed or even a mutt, obesity can happen to any dog. How can you tell if your dog is overweight? There is a visual exercise:
- Look at your dog from the side. Is the belly tucked up?
- Stand above and look down. Do you see a waist in front of their hips?
Next there is a touch exercise:
- Feel their sides without applying pressure. Can You feel their ribs?
- Do you feel muscle over the ribs?
If you’re answering no to these questions then your dog is probably in need of a weight loss program with you. It’s a new year and a great time to get started if you haven’t already done so.
Your Best Friend Is Counting On You!
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Photo by dloy Released under Creative Commons
