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6 Ways To Help Your Chubby Dog Get More Exercise

Obesity is a growing problem in the pet population. As in humans, that extra weight can mean a higher risk for a number of health problems. Pet owners can help by taking an active part in restricting the number of calories their dog consumes in the form of meals and treat. Exercise is another component that can help your dog lose weight. Here are six tips for increasing your dog’s exercise levels to help manage weight.

1 – Hiking with Your Dog
You can help your dog manage weight more effectively by increasing the amount of walking he or she does during the week. Choose a different environment that will spark new smelling opportunities and greater interest. Explore a neighborhood park or one of the paths of your local forest preserves for a new walking route. This will help exercise your dog’s brain, as well as his body. Don’t forget to bring a bottle of water to share and a portable dog dish to allow your pet to replenish fluids.

2 – Resistance Walking
You can maximize the exercise from walking by adding a resistance component. The additional effort from walking in the snow, on sand, or in shallow water will help to increase the expenditure of energy and improve calorie burning. Your dog will get even more benefits from a walk-in these conditions.

3 – Indoor Play Times
Rainy days shouldn’t mean your dog doesn’t get an exercise session. Take the time to give your best buddy a workout with a tug-of-war session, indoor ball fetching, or a chase-me run around the house. Your dog will look forward to these indoor periods of fun and special attention.

4 – Doggie Day Care
If you’ve never tried doggie daycare for your pet, the idea may seem a bit strange. At these facilities, your dog can enjoy the company of other canines, along with focused attention and supervision by human caregivers. A couple of doggie daycare sessions per week can be a great way to keep your dog from snoozing the day away, which can increase the tendency to gain weight. Dog toys are provided, and the animals have a great time playing together. Be aware that there are strict “doggie etiquette” requirements at these facilities, and not every dog will be temperamentally suited to attend.

5 – Visit the Dog Park
Most communities around the country have set aside public park areas designated as “dog parks.” These enclosed areas can provide opportunities for socialization with other canines, play and exercise, as well as mental stimulation for your dog. However, not all dogs are suited for dog parks. Those animals that have been well socialized with other dogs and those of calm temperament will do well in this kind of environment. In addition, you should make sure your dog is up to date on all vaccinations to prevent infection from communicable diseases.

6 – Agility Courses
Active dogs can enjoy the mental and physical challenge of an at-home agility course. You can easily make a few course activities out of materials from your local home improvement store. The “obstacles” should be flexible enough to break down easily and avoid causing a hazard for your dog. Pieces of PVC piping makes a good material for creating a “jump” of graduated heights for your dog to master.

Cones or decorative Christmas candy canes made of flexible plastic make a good marker for “weaving” challenges. An expandable children’s play tunnel is a good crawling exercise. Walk your dog through the course slowly and gently introduce him to the actions he should perform. You can even set up a small agility course indoors to continue the training during inclement weather.

Helping your dog to lose weight generally means devoting a little more time and attention toward keeping him healthy. These six tips will ensure that your dog is engaged in active movement that helps to burn calories, improve muscle tone, and increase circulation for better health.

Holiday Dangers to Pets

Soon the holidays will be arriving. Along with the celebrations, delicious meals, and splendid decorations, there are inherent dangers to our pets in some of these things. For example, the rich foods that we so enjoy may cause gastrointestinal problems to our dogs and cats. Table scraps from Thanksgiving dinner may be too greasy for some or may contain turkey bones that could puncture an intestine. Best to avoid those pleading eyes, and provide safe treats instead.
At times our furry friends can be sneaky. I remember when one of my dogs saw a glass of rum punch sitting on a table. While I was out of the room, she decided to do a taste-test. Of course she loved it and kept sipping. She was a dog who suffered from pancreatitis. Needless to say, she experienced a bout from this experience.
Often we decorate our homes with lovely holiday plants. Some of these can be very toxic to dogs and cats. Poinsettias are frequently used as such an example, but in reality, it is their sap that is mildly toxic, not the flowers or leaves. On the other hand, mistletoe and holly can cause mild to severe issues if ingested. The holiday kits of amaryllis, daffodils, and members of the lily family are especially toxic to cats, with daffodils being bad for both dogs and cats. Even our Christmas trees can be a problem, not to mention tinsel and broken ornaments that may be attractive to pets.
For those who live up north with ice and snow, there are additional problems. The salt that is used to melt the ice and snow can be hurtful to paws, so best to check and clean paws after a walk on treated walkways. It is possible to purchase salt which is pet friendly. Another item that attracts pets is antifreeze that may have dripped out of car engines. This is very dangerous if consumed.
This is also the time of year in cold climates that people put out poison to get rid of mice. This is attractive to pets and can be fatal if ingested. I know of a size-able lab who got into this poison in his owner’s garage. Despite getting him to the vet, he did not survive. Such poison should best be secured in a metal box and placed safely out of reach.
This all sounds scary, but as responsible pet owners, we can avoid most of these dangers by being aware of the dangers and monitoring our pets.

Protect Your Pets from Fleas and Ticks in the Fall

Fleas and ticks are often seen as a summer problem, but both can show up all year round and it is just as important to keep your pets “visitor free” in the fall. In fact, early fall is one of the worst times for fleas.

Good flea and tick prevention is, thus, a year-round concern. One specific fall concern is leaf piles. Dogs (and cats that are allowed outdoor time) love to play in leaf piles. However, these piles can also be a haven for all kinds of insects, including fleas and ticks. It’s best to sweep them up right away and dispose of them properly. Other garden debris can also attract fleas and ticks. Ticks are also found in tall grasses, so keep mowing your lawn until the grass has become completely dormant. Also, remove dead annuals and other brush debris from around your home.

Throughout the fall, you should check your dog for signs of fleas such as obsessive scratching. The growth of the winter coat can provide a better environment for fleas to hide in. Regular brushing can help deal with fleas and also reduce the amount of itching caused by shedding. If your dog likes to sleep outside in the pleasant fall weather, then make sure to clean their “den” regularly. Remove food and water bowls after use, otherwise, they might attract raccoons and opossums. Wash pillows and upholstery regularly, and resist the temptation to boot an elderly couch out onto the porch for the dogs, as it is likely a perfect flea nest. Check for ticks as soon as the animal comes inside.

Don’t forget your indoor cat either. Indoor cats can get fleas as well, generally hitch-hiking in on other people’s clothes, your dog, or that mouse they helpfully killed for you.

Fall is a time when many owners think the risk of their pets getting fleas goes down. However, that is not necessarily the case. Flea and tick prevention is a year-round thing, and responsible owners make sure to keep their pets safe.

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protect you pets from fleas and ticks in the fall

Six Tips to Help Your Dog to Lose Weight

When you love your furry friend, it can be easy to spoil them to the point where they start to get a little pudgy. Of course, when your dog carries extra weight, it can damage their overall health. As such, you will no doubt be keen to help them lose their extra pounds.

During your dog’s weight loss journey, you may find these tips to be helpful:

1. Go easy on the treats

Giving your dog too many treats is a sure-fire way to make them gain weight. Many dog treats are high in fat and calories, so giving your dog too many of them will make them pack on the pounds. According to most veterinarians, treats should make up no more than 10 percent of your dog’s calorific intake. If you want to help your dog lose weight, reduce this percentage to 5 percent or less to create a calorie deficit.

2. Bring out the leash

Gradually increase the intensity and duration of your daily walk to help your dog lose weight. As with humans, exercise helps your dog cut calories – in addition to helping them become stronger and fitter. Start by adding a few minutes to each day’s walk and slowly build this up to an hour walk per day. For even quicker weight loss, increase your speed to a brisk walk or even a run. These longer and quicker walks will help to make you a little fitter as well.

3. Change up their diet

The internet is a great resource for weight management tools for your pet. Among these are nutritional calculators that show you how much your pet should be eating on a daily basis. There are also daily meal plans for both maintenance and weight loss diets for your dog. Use these to calculate how much you should be feeding your dog to ensure weight loss and to determine what foods are best for this purpose.

4. Stock up on supplements

There are a number of supplements that are both safe and effective to help your dog lose weight. These include L-carnitine, omega three fatty acids and white kidney bean extract. They help by blocking the breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates and moving more fatty acids to the cells so that they can be burned faster. As always, consult your vet before using supplements on your pet in order to avoid overdosing them.

5. Plenty of Fresh Water

A well-hydrated dog will eat less, using an Automatic Dog Waterer like the Perpetual Well will ensure your dog has access to fresh water all the time. Being well-hydrated will also help with the circulation of blood, digestion, and removal of waste.

6. Check for underlying health conditions

Certain health conditions such as hyperthyroidism and Cushing’s disease can cause weight gain in dogs. Getting these diagnosed and treated properly will help your dog lose and maintain a healthy weight.

In Closing

Helping your dog lose weight can be a bit challenging at times. However, as long as you carefully follow the advice contained in this article, your dog will soon lose those unwanted pounds.

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