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Why is My
Pet's Head Shrinking? Have a veterinarian examine your pet. Many medical conditions can cause sudden weight gain such as thyroid disease and other endocrine disorders, certain diabetic conditions, adrenal gland problems, etc. Work with your veterinarian on a diet that is formulated specifically for your pet. Remember this is not an instant fix. A pet that is 30% overweight should take no less than about 6 months to reach it's ideal weight. Measure your pets food. Be aware of exactly what your pet is eating and how much. Keep a log of everything your pet eats. This will help you and your veterinarian know how much your pet is actually getting. And most importantly be honest. It won't help your veterinarian or your pet if you leave anything out; even a piece of bread crust you gave 'Fluffy' off your sandwich can potentially be a problem. Instead of one large meal a day feed your pet two or three smaller meals. If they are to be given 2 1/2 cups of food a day split that up. For example, give 1 cup in the morning 1/2 a cup at lunch time and 1 cup at night. Your pet feels it is getting more food even though it isn't, and they burn calories as they eat. More meals eaten means more calories burned.
NO TABLE SCRAPS.
They call it people food for a reason. If your pet is used to getting a treat during your meal inform your veterinarian so that it can be worked into your pet's diet. Snacks
and treats can be adding more calories to your pets ever expanding waist than
their actual diet. If you must feed your pet a snack at dinner time include such things as raw carrots, raw cauliflower, ice cubes or even better, store part of their daily food in a jar and use that as a treat.
Weigh you pet regularly. While on a diet it is very important to weigh your pet routinely to be sure that they are not losing weight too quickly or that they are at least maintaining their weight. Exercise Exercise Exercise! Incorporate
daily physical activity with their diet. DO NOT expect your pet to snooze on the couch through the week and make up for
that time by spending hours playing on the weekend. Toy or small breeds need two 20-30 minute exercise
regiments a day. That can be a walk, some time outside, or just some good
old fashion play time with lots of toys. Medium size breeds need approximately
90 minutes of exercise a day, and large breed animals 60-90 minutes of exercise
a day (dependant on the age and health of your pet). A
minimum of 20 minutes of exercise a day is recommended to avoid muscle injuries. Swimming is a good nonweight-bearing activity for
overweight or arthritic dogs. A way to check if your pet is overweight is to check the ribs. With your thumbs on your pet's backbone, GENTLY put pressure on your pet's rib cage. If you cannot readily feel the ribs, your pet is over weight.
Any breed of dog can become overweight due to too much food! However, some breeds are more genetically prone to obesity. These are merely averages and may vary depending upon the individual animal. Be sure to consult your veterinarian concerning your own pet.
Mixed breeds may vary from the breed standards. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||