Canine Obesity

It amazes me how many people blindly and literally love their dogs to death. If you have ever been fat, you know how uncomfortable it is carrying around those excessive pounds. It can be difficult or impossible to run, walking is a chore and reaching areas on your own body is a stretch. It is even uncomfortable to sit down!

Signs of Canine Obesity

• If your dog's legs look too skinny for his body, your dog is fat!
• If your dog's head is too small for his body, your dog is fat!
• If your dog gets winded when chasing the cat across the yard, your dog is fat!
• If you take your dog for a walk and he'll only leave the yard when the neighbor is barbecuing chicken outside, your dog is fat!
• If your dog wants you to bring his food bowl to him instead of walking into the kitchen to get it, your dog is fat!
• If your dog barks when someone comes to the door from a lying down position, your dog is obese!
• If your dog needs a boost to get into the car and you need help to hoist him up, your dog is fat!
• If your dog's belly looks like a cow's udders, your dog is fat!
• If someone thinks your dog's saggy belly is from having puppies but your dog is a male, your dog is fat!
• If you blame your dog's weight on thyroid problems, you are making your dog fat!

I am not making fun of fat dogs, but I am making fun of their owners. If you are one of them, I want you to have a good laugh at yourself and then change your ways! Your dog's health is at stake.

Lord have mercy, if someone in particular reads this, she will never forgive me but I have to make a point. This wonderful person I know is blind when it comes to her dog. She actually called everyone to let them know indignantly that the vet told her the dog was fat.

The dog looked like a pin head. He didn't walk, he waddled. He should have weighed 70 pounds and weighed 115. She tried to walk him for exercise like the vet suggested but he couldn't walk past the neighbor's house! She decided to cut back his ice cream bars to one a day instead of two, plus cut back on the beggin strips and maybe his Friday night deluxe hamburger treat, and all the while explaining he only ate 1 cup of dog food a day.

Somehow she didn't notice the dog ate more than she did, was less than half her size and the dog's total exercise regime consisted of walking outside to go potty (when she could pry him off the bed.)

* * *

A few years have passed since this. The dog has lost weight but is still carrying an extra 20 pounds. He also takes pills for a thyroid condition.

And if it was the dog thyroid problems that caused the obesity, why then has he not lost all the extra weight?

Here are some things to look out for that can have adverse affects on dog health.

• Non-food items, such as ice cream; dog treats that include dyes or any unidentified ingredients including "natural flavors"; chips, cake, fast foods or any items with sugar, etc.
• Poor quality dog food
• Flea and tick preventatives
• Heartworm preventatives
• Too many vaccinations

Strive to give your dog food and treats that help his body thwart disease, maintain health and keep canine obesity at bay, such as:

• Real human grade meats
• Fresh vegetables - sliced, diced, pureed, raw or cooked
• Fresh fruits
• quality water

If you want to spoil your dog, do it by taking the time to make him healthy low calorie treats like Sweet Potato Treats with ginger. Ginger helps the tummy a bit. Find the recipe at: Healthy Treats for Dogs.

And for heaven sakes, if you are living with canine obesity AND flatulence, read Dog Farting. (Yes I actually titled it that.)

There are some pictures at Is My Dog Fat to give you an idea of what a non obese dog should look like.

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