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Between 25 and 40% of dogs are overweight, but often, owners don't know it until they take their dog to the veterinarian for another reason. Yet, even veterinarians can't tell if a dog is fat just by its weight. Ideal weight varies by breed, and quite widely within breeds. There's no ideal weight chart for all dogs!
You can judge your dog's condition by placing your hands on each side of his rib cage. Are the ribs protruding? Your dog may be too thin. Can you feel individual ribs easily, and is your dog's abdomen slightly tucked up when viewed from the side? That's the sign of ideal weight. If you can't feel the ribs easily, your dog has no waist, and his abdomen drags, he's too fat. Your veterinarian can help you further evaluate your dog's weight.
Before beginning any weight loss program with your dog, discuss it with your veterinarian.
You can begin your dog's weight-loss program by reducing caloric intake by 25% of his maintenance intake, and then decrease it by 10% increments every two to three weeks until a 1% weight loss per week is achieved. This means that, if your dog weighs 15 pounds, a 1% loss would be about 2-1/2 ounces.
If you feed one large meal a day or keep food available at all times, try dividing the daily ration into several small meals (at least two meals a day) and pick up what has not been eaten 30 minutes after each meal.
Dogs gain weight for the same reason that people do—they eat more calories than they use. Today's dogs share another problem with their parents: lack of activity. Most parents are gone all day and come home too tired to play with the dog.
Also, as dogs age, or after they are spayed or neutered, their metabolism might slow causing them to require less food.
Another reason for weight gain is frequent, high-calorie treats. Sometimes, more than one family member is feeding the dog, and the dog sure isn't telling!
Losing weight isn't easy. Changing habits is the key. Here are some ways you can help:
Determine who feeds the dog what and when. (Don't be embarrassed to admit you give your dog treats. Dogs are expert beggars.)
Substitute affection for treats. Give a pat or throw a ball when he noses your hand.
Take your dog for a walk more often. Even 10 minutes a day can help.
Feed him more often. It takes energy to digest food. Dividing your dog's daily ration into two or three feedings will help.
Reducing your dog's regular food amount by 25% should bring results.
If your dog is more than 15% overweight, your veterinarian might recommend a special food. Diet foods should be low in fat (under 20% of calories from fat).
Your goal is to help your dog be healthier, so select his food carefully. Some diet foods just add fiber to help the dog feel full. This can result in reduced digestibility, large stool volume, frequent trips to the backyard, and decreased skin and coat condition because the dog isn't getting enough fat and nutrients.
Find a food, such as IAMS™ ProActive Health™ Adult Healthy Weight, that has normal fiber levels to keep your dog's digestive system working properly. It should have high-quality protein so your dog doesn't lose muscle tone and essential fatty acids to help keep his skin flexible and coat glossy throughout the dieting process. After your dog reaches ideal weight, select a maintenance food to keep weight steady.'
Some of the best indicators of your dog's health are its skin and coat conditions. A healthy dog coat should be shiny and smooth, not rough or brittle. When it comes to healthy skin, your dog's skin should be soft and smooth, not greasy or flaky. Good nutrition is one of the main factors in maintaining your dog’s health in terms of a luscious coat and soft skin. Apart from that, your dog’s coat and skin can also be taken care of through regular grooming and skincare routines that will help keep its hair free of tangles and its skin free of any irritation.
If you think that achieving healthy skin and healthy coat in dogs is difficult, it’s time for you to learn more about dog health and grooming. Let’s explore more about how you can achieve a healthy dog coat and skin for your floof.
How do nutrients help my dog’s skin and coat health?
The first thing that any pet parent thinks of when it comes to maintaining their dog’s skin and coat health is grooming. While grooming plays a significant role in making sure that your dog has a shiny coat and soft skin, health plays a bigger part in ensuring your floof’s appearance.
If you have been grooming your dog well and are still wondering why its coat and skin are not appearing the way they should, chances are that there is an internal issue. A shiny coat and supple skin on the outside start with a healthy dog on the inside. If your dog has flaky, bumpy, dull, or dry skin/coat, it could be an indicator that something is wrong. The first thing you need to do is book an appointment with your vet and cross out any underlying issues.
The skin is the largest organ of any animal's body. For dogs, most of their skin is covered with hair that sheds regularly or is constantly growing, in non-shedding breeds. Just like how we require a balanced diet full of high-quality digest table food types to keep our skin and hair in a healthy state, dogs also need to maintain their diet and make sure that their body is receiving the right amount of calories each day to maintain energy levels. If a dog is not eating well or is eating poor-quality food, its body will take longer to eliminate the waste products and cause the kidneys and liver to work twice as hard.
That being said, good nutrition is key to a healthy dog coat and skin. A dog that meets its dietary needs every day will boast soft, supple skin, and luscious, glowing hair.
Many pet parents struggle with maintaining their dog's skin and find it to be one of the most difficult tasks. In reality, achieving goals as such is fairly easy, provided you feed your dog the right nutrients and make sure that its diet meets its bodily requirements. Here are a few things you can do to maintain a healthy dog coat and skin:
Your dog needs to maintain a complete and balanced diet to achieve healthy skin and a glossy coat. Proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins need to be fed to your dog in balanced ratios. It is very important for dogs to meet their daily calorie intake so that they have enough energy to facilitate new hair growth and skin cell turnover. If your dog's diet is not easily digestible or contains poor-quality ingredients, it may not be able to create enough energy through its diet. Make sure that everything you feed your dog contains high-quality ingredients and does not pose a risk to your dog's health.
There are so many supplements available in the market today. While you may get confused between jars and bags of supplements promoted for healthy coat growth in dogs, the majority of these products contain a source of omega-3 fatty acids combined with a range of other ingredients. Omega-3 fatty acids have scientifically proven to be one of the most beneficial supplements that you can give your dog for a glossy coat and smooth skin. Omega-3 fatty acids are not just effective anti-inflammatory agents but are also capable of bulking up your dog’s skin’s natural fatty acid barrier to add that extra shine.
Bathing your dog is extremely important as it will remove any dust, debris, dirt, and odour from its skin and coat. If there are any allergens on your dog's skin, a good bath is the solution to this irritating problem. Generally, dogs should be bathed every 2 to 4 weeks depending on their breed's needs. If your vet has advised a different routine, make sure you follow that. It is best not to bathe your dog too much because that can result in flaky skin and can dry out your dog's coat. If your dog has any allergies or does not react well to a dog shampoo or soap, consult your vet and find the right products for your floof.
Dogs that suffer from allergies experience inflammation in their skin that can cause redness and itchiness. This makes them itch and scratch which ruptures their skin barrier, allowing other infections to enter your floof’s body. Unfortunately, allergies cannot be cured and can only be treated. For this reason, it’s important to know how to manage your dog's allergies by consulting a wet.
Fleas and ticks are the most common parasite irritants that will affect your dog's skin at some point in its life. These parasites can cause intense scratching, chewing, and biting of the skin. These acts of self-inflicted trauma can lead to tears in the skin barrier, leaving your dog with crusty, irritable, and red skin. Additionally, some fleas and ticks carry illnesses that can be fatal. It is best to keep your dogs protected against these parasites all around by consulting a vet and doing the needful.
Maintaining overall health for your dog to achieve a shiny coat and soft skin is extremely important. Make sure your dog is being fed a balanced diet and the right nutrients. it is also important for your dog to have a good exercise routine so that it is just not lazing around the house. A dog that is well rested, well fed, and receiving the right nutrients is set to flaunt healthy dog skin and coat.
It is imperative that pet parents keep good food for dog skin in mind and also administer nutrients that aid in a shiny, glossy coat. Now that you know what you need to do as a responsible pet parent, you are all set to give your floof its best life.
