It’s no exaggeration to say that obesity is a hot topic. We’re constantly told that our waistlines are expanding, and that we should be exercising more and eating less. Magazines and newspapers scrutinise celebrities, gleefully highlighting the recent acquisition of love handles or cellulite, or promoting their latest fitness DVD made to cash in on a dramatic loss of weight. More seriously, an ever increasing strain is placed on health services as instances of diabetes and heart disease creep up.

Does my bum look big in this?

An unfortunate consequence of the nation becoming fatter is that our pet dogs are suffering too. Whether it’s because some of us overfeed them as we overfeed ourselves, or don’t exercise them enough, there’s no mistaking that our pets are becoming fatter. The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) recently issued a warning. Drawing from data accumulated from the medical records of over 30,000 dogs, they estimate that the proportion of obese dogs has risen from one in five in 2006, to one in three today. Alarmingly, they predict that by 2013, half of all pet dogs in the UK will be obese, putting their health at risk. They even go so far as to say that many pet owners in the UK have forgotten what a healthy dog looks like.

So, how can you tell if your dog is obese? If he’s a big, hairy pudding he’s obviously overweight, but sometimes it may not be quite as obvious as that.

One way to check is to examine your dog to see if he or she has lost their ‘figure’. When viewing your pet from above, his back should be gently curved, with a dip in the waist area (just below the ribs), and gradually sloping to the base of his tail. Looking at him from the side, his tummy should not run in straight line from his chest, but should gather smoothly towards his waist. If your dog has a long coat, this may be difficult to judge, but running your hands along his tummy should reveal his curves.

Whilst you’re laying hands on your pet, check to see if you can feel his ribs. You should be able to detect them using gentle pressure. If you can’t, this is a sure sign that he is carrying too much weight.

If your dog is constantly on the lookout for something to eat, he is more likely to be overweight. It may be tempting to give him some scraps from your plate at dinner time, or pamper him with a high calorie treat, but this should be avoided. If his food is always available, he will only eat when he is hungry. However, this may not always be possible if you have other pets in the house.

A dog of a healthy weight will always be ready for playtime or a brisk walk. If your dog is too heavy, ha may not be able to keep up with you and will soon be panting a lot and taking frequent rest breaks. Another sign is if he overheats easily. Fat is a fantastic insulator, and too much of it can put him at risk of heatstroke.

Thankfully, obesity can be remedied easily. If your dog eats less and does more, he’ll soon get in shape. Who knows? – It could work for you too.

When you, as a dog owner, feed your canine friend the most nutritious dog food you can buy and he walks away from his food bowl, you may think that you have a finicky dog.

A dog has no need to have a continuous change of pet food. He will be quite content eating the same food every day for the rest of his life – if it is a tasty nutritious meal of course. Dogs are opportunistic hunters and are accustomed to playing their owners to get whatever they can, when they can. Don’t fall for it!

A finicky dog is encouraged with the habits of owners who start to feed them scraps from the dinner table. A dog who realises they will be fed treats if they do not eat their meals will test you out. All is not lost however as you can (more…)

If you are a person who sits in front of the TV in an evening munching on, and sharing, your bar of chocolate with your dog, you could be poisoning them.

Most dog owners do not realise that a chocolate treat meant for humans is hazardous, and potentially fatal, for dogs.

Some of the larger breeds of dogs can withstand more chocolate than a smaller breed; however, it is safer to omit chocolate altogether unless you treat your pet to specially manufactured doggie chocolate.

The toxic component that affects your dog is called (more…)

Slimming classes for humans are not considered to be an unusual occurrence. One piece of advice given at local weight watchers meetings is to take regular exercise, and one good healthy exercise you can do is taking a dog for a walk.

Walking your dog can stop your pet from being overweight, or if your dog has already lost his waistline it will help him find it again. If you are unsure of the correct weight that your dog should be for his age and breed, contacting your vet is the best option available to you.

Good dog nutrition for a healthy lifestyle is as important for a dog as it is for humans. A nutritional pet diet is easily achieved and your vet will be able to give advice on quality ingredients and the essential vitamins and minerals that is needed to obtain good dog health.

Most vets will allow dogs to visit their surgery for a two weekly weigh in, free of charge.

Just like humans, your dog is an individual and one brand of (more…)

When your canine friend is a new puppy you tend not to think about how quickly the years will pass. All of a sudden your puppy has gone through the adult dog stage and is now in his senior years.

A senior dog requires a senior dog’s diet. Older dogs still need to be fed quality dog food, however there has to be a few changes with the ingredients.

Manufacturers of pet food recognise the dog nutritional requirements they need to keep a senior dog healthy at this stage of their life and will print the list of ingredients and vitamins on the side of their packaging. Dog food intended for a senior dog should (more…)

Most dog owners are not aware that statistics show that 50% of dogs are overweight and as a result are in danger of losing their life earlier than necessary.

Puppies are no exception to the rule as many owners are easily swayed to give a puppy some of their food at mealtimes. Look away from those appealing eyes or place your puppy in a dog cage or dog bed. An overweight puppy usually grows up to become an even larger overweight adult dog. (more…)