Fitness Facts For Fido 

This month is Canine Fitness Month which was founded by FitPaws to bring awareness and remind pet parents to keep their dogs active and fit.  Just like many of their humans, too many dogs suffer from obesity, 

Veterinarian Dr. Denise Elliott DVM, PhD of Banfield Pet Hospital in Portland, Oregon published a report noting that diabetes is on the rise in our pets. This disease can include symptoms of excessive urination, increased thirst, lethargy and sudden blindness. Surgery and anesthesia are even more hazardous for your pet if they must have to undergo these procedures; for instance when spaying/neutering your pet.

Did you know that diabetes is closely tied to obesity and often requires lifelong veterinary treatment? Obesity in dogs has many other negative implications, such as:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Hip dysplasia
• Spinal compression
•  Lameness
• Lack of agility

Musculoskeletal problems greatly influence a dog’s ability to exercise thus contributing to further weight gain and weight-related problems and, ust as in humans a lack of physical exercise affects emotional, endocrine, and neurological states of your dog. .

It is estimated that 95% of digestive issues leading to vomiting and diarrhea are actually caused by overeating and making poor diet choices for your pet. Balancing fats, proteins and reduced carbohydrates along with the necessary enzymes for digestion are essential for weight control and overall health. Avoid grains and unnatural food products not intended for animals, which can exacerbate diabetes, bone and skeletal problems, digestive issues and of course gum disease.

What Can I Do To Protect My Dog Against Canine Obesity? 

We tend to feed our pets like we feed ourselves. The result is that an overwhelming amount of both humans and pets in this country have become obese.

In the US, it is estimated that 20% to 40% of all dogs are considered obese. This, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s statistics of 33.9 percent of adults over the age of 20 being obese, creates an alarming picture of this nation’s health. The biggest difference between the two scenarios is that a human can make a choice on what they should eat, whereby the dog is forced to eat what is given to them.

A dog, whose weight is controlled, may not exhibit the symptoms of an overweight dog, and as a result will feel good, be mentally sharp, have more energy, and be better able to give affection.

As a pet parent it is important to give them the best chance of living a long and healthy life. Though some find feeding a high-quality raw diet, such as the BARF® World diet, a big investment in the beginning, you will find that the cost of medical treatment, x-rays, labs, teeth cleaning, expensive medical complications that lead to surgical interventions, etc. should be dramatically reduced and/or eliminated. This notable reduction makes pet ownership the joy it was meant to be.

It’s not that hard to keep your pet at a healthy weight if you stick to a feeding routine and controlled diet. If you follow this advice, you will find yourself with a healthy, happy pet that will perhaps enjoy a longer life and maintain a healthy weight for the long haul.

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