Author Login | Popular Articles | RSS Feeds | Sitemap

Home | Home-and-family | Pets


Techniques for Dealing with Overweight Pets

By: Craig Smith

Humans are not usually comfortable when they're overweight. Being overweight makes people unhealthy and generally unhappy. Does the same apply for pets? Unfortunately obesity is a problem with pets. This extra weight often makes it difficult to run and play. Overweight pets, like humans are more vulnerable to sickness and disease. For example, when a dog is overweight stress is put on their legs and hips. Carrying around too many extra pounds takes a toll on pets. The sad thing about this is pets aren't capable of putting themselves on a diet. It's up to the owners to monitor and control their pet's weight. If pets become overweight, owners must learn techniques for dealing with their overweight pets.

One key element of any dieting regime is exercise. So many pets spend most of their lives indoors. Dogs will be put out to do their business while many cats are litter trained. These dogs are probably only given the length of their leash and well cats aren't even getting that. Activity is important for all pets. It's essential to take overweight pets out for a walk. If living in an area where walking pets seems virtually impossible, there are parks designed nowadays especially for pets. Owners can take their pets, especially dogs to a park and let them run free, allowing them to burn off unnecessary calories. Exercise will not only help in your pet's weight department but also helps with digestion, keeps their muscles tone, keeps joints healthy and flexible, helps with oxygen flow to tissue cells, helps the circulatory system and respiratory system and of course allows them to get rid of energy they've built up.

Pet owners love to treat their pets. Unfortunately treats can largely cause weight gain. Many pet treats are filled with calories. Although it's nice to treat your pets, you aren't helping them by allowing them to overindulge on treats. Treats shouldn't make up any more than ten percent of your pet's daily intake. It's imperative, especially when dealing with overweight pets to choose calorie-wise treats. Remember your dog cannot do this and is depending on you to help them with their weight problem.

When looking for techniques for dealing with overweight pets, choosing the right pet food is essential. Pets need different types and amounts of food in the various stages of their lives. Young pets, puppies and kittens should not be eating food recommended for senior pets. The same rule applies for the amount of food and calories required for pets. It is the owner's responsibility to insure pets are getting the food they need and the amount they need. When dealing with overweight pets it is perhaps more important to pay attention to the food and amounts they are eating. When there are overweight pets in the house it's not a wise idea to keep the pet bowl filled with food. Many pets will eat as long as the bowl is full. Instead to monitor what overweight pets eat, owners should only give food as a meal. This is very important when there is more than one pet in the home in order to make certain the overweight pet is eating only what they need.

Besides the most obvious reasons for overweight pets, lack of exercise and over-eating, there are other factors that can contribute to pet obesity. Some pets have medical conditions which may play a role in their weight gain. For this reason it is important to have pets examined regularly. In the case of an overweight pet, before beginning any weight loss programs, the owner should consult with the veterinarian.

You'd like to have your pets around for a long time. Unfortunately overweight dogs run the risk of being affected by many conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, breathing problems, decreased liver function, digestive disorders, immune system problems and cancer. Of course the extra weight can contribute to dog arthritis. It also contributes to problems with a pet's skin and coat. There are so many things that can go wrong for an overweight pet. They deserve so much more. Because it's ultimately the owner's responsibility to make sure their pets are properly cared for, problems with overweight pets are a result of the owner's carelessness. That may sound harsh but it's a reality.

If you have an overweight pet, it's imperative to seek techniques to deal with the problem before it causes avoidable health concerns. If unsure where to start in dealing with overweight pets perhaps you should consult with a pet professional who can advise you regarding the best course of action. The Internet is a great source of information on pets and pet care. Browsing the many pet-related websites will surely provide ideas and techniques for dealing with overweight pets.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
About Author:
Craig Smith is a freelance writer who writes about topics concerning pet care such as Pet Medicine

| Print | Ezine Ready | |

Please Rate this Article

Recent Pets Articles

  • Am I Ready To Take Care of A Pet? By: Larry Chamberlain - Many of your friends have pets and they don't stop talking about them mostly in a positive light. Or there was a family pet in your home when you were a kid, you have nothing but pleasant memories about the time that you spent with that pet. So you start thinking that perhaps it is time for you to take care of a pet, it might be fun and at least there will be something to greet you when you drag your tired body in through your door after a hard days labor.
    Tags: home-and-family, pets, pets, animals, cats
  • Facts About Ferret Insulinoma By: Jillian Williams - As a conscientious pet owner, no doubt you’ll want to provide your ferret with all the vaccinations he needs, like distemper and rabies. Ferrets are mammals just like cats and dogs and are subject to being susceptible to these diseases and can also transmit them to other mammals – including humans. By following your veterinarian’s vaccination schedule and keeping your ferret away from potentially infected animals, you’ll have a healthy, happy companion! Unfortunately, certain types of cancer can occur among ferrets and is the leading cause of death of older ferrets.
    Tags: home-and-family, pets, ferret insulinoma, insulinoma
  • Healthy Dogs: Three Basics For Raising a Happy Dog By: Ben Anton - Just as we have to follow a healthy lifestyle if we want to be physically fit, so to do our pets. Dogs require a combination of good food, exercise, and love and attention from their owners in order to live healthy lives. It doesn’t take a lot of money to give your puppy everything it needs to maintain a healthy mind and body. It just takes some care and attention by a loving owner. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle for your dog requires following some basic principles.
    Tags: home-and-family, pets, dog bowl, dog bowls, dog bloat
  • Maintaining Your Cat’s Health By: Abby Reid - Dogs may be a man’s best friend, but many animal lovers adore keeping cats as pets because of the animal’s warm yet independent spirit. There are steps that you can take to keep your pet healthy and to avoid any issues or concerns. By using a combination of care, prevention and pet health products, you can ensure your cat’s companionship for years to come. There are two important ways in which you can maintain your cat’s health and happiness. Scheduling annual veterinarian check-ups allow a professional to give special care and attention to your cat.
    Tags: home-and-family, pets, cats, pets, health
  • Choosing a right dog – Tips and Things to Consider By: Hanna - As we see healthy and lovely dogs around, it really seemed so exciting and so much fun getting in-love to have one. It was really nice feelings to have a loyal companion and friend that’s always there to cheer you up. But before you decide what kind of dog want to be with, it is always better to be well-prepared and make best decisions to ensure a good quality of life for you and your pet.
    Tags: home-and-family, pets, dog tips, choosing right dog breed, tips choosing pet dog
  • Heeling Your Dog By: Jeff Austin - Having your pet join in your outdoor activities is a great deal of fun when your dog remains obediently at your side. It may be easier to teach your puppy to heel without a lead at first, only you will know which method is best for your dog. Puppies love to be with you and will be willing to follow you in most situations. They will also be easy to lead with the smell of food, so carry treats at all times during training.
    Tags: home-and-family, pets, pets, dogs, dog training
  • A Look into Common Dog Names By: wyatt - If you have just become a dog owner, either through buying your dog or being given a dog as a gift from someone, you would have to think a name for your pet. There are actually a lot of dog names to choose from. There is no rule in choosing dog names but there are usual techniques that pet owners employ when deciding on which dog names to use. There are people who choose to give classical dog names to their pets such as the known dog names: Buddy, Spike, Sam, Max, etc.
    Tags: pets, dog names, male dog names, female dog names
  • Choosing The Right House For Your Dog By: rayter - Every dog needs his own little space where he can play and sleep. It can be in the form of a dog house, a kennel, a pen or a simple pet fence. Nowadays, you can find various options for a dog’s shelter depending on your preference or budget. But before purchasing any product, there are several factors you need to take into consideration to ensure that what you’re buying really suits your k9. The first consideration is the size of your dog and how much space he needs.
    Tags: home-and-family, pets, wood dog house, dog house, dog houses
  • Learn How to Teach a Cat Tricks By: Annie Clark - Many people train their dogs how to roll over and perform other tricks. While you may know that cats are smart, did you know that most cats can be taught to perform tricks? Since dogs are interested in pleasing their masters and cats are not, the training methods that work with canines may not work with cats. For your first trick, find a behavior that your cat already does. As an example, felines like to bat at objects, so you could teach your cat to bat at your hand as if giving a high five.
    Tags: pets, how to teach a cat tricks, cat training
  • The Saluki Dog Breed is the Persian Greyhound By: Steve D Evans - The Saluki is one of the noblest of all hounds, and one of the most ancient, being many hundreds of years old, and possibly thousands. It is regarded as the original stock from which many other breeds in the west have sprung. This breed is considered by many to be the oldest in the world, and is thought to be the oldest purebred dog in recorded history. The Saluki is the royal dog of Egypt and may be as old as human civilisation.
    Tags: home-and-family, pets, saluki, saluki dog breed, persian greyhound

Today's Hot Articles

Search Ebay

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!


Submit Your link to the Open Link Directory Project

Copyright 2005-2008 MJE Sales, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Proud member of the ArticleCkr Search Network Search Network!
ArticleSnatch.com is free for both publishers and authors to use and is supported entirely from advertising revenue.
Use of our service is protected by our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.