Fat Dogs Make Me Sad

One thing I see when I’m out walking my dog that just breaks my heart are fat dogs. Letting your dog get overweight affects their mobility, their joints, their cardiovascular health and even their lifespan.

It’s so easy to get into the routine of letting your dog eat too much, isn’t it?  First you stick to the feeding schedule your vet has given you, or that you read on the back of the dog food bag. Then he maybe seems a little hungry, so you give him just a bit more.  Then he give you the sad eyes when you’re eating dinner so you give him a little bit of whatever you’re eating.  Then maybe a few treats before bedtime.

This is how fat dogs get fat, and it’s totally avoidable!  First of all, know that every person who’s ever had a dog has overfed them at some point and at some level.  It’s completely understandable! If you’re anything like me, your dog is your best friend, your confidante, your buddy!  So it feels natural and right to let them have a little extra now and then!

And the difference between people who have fat dogs and people who have healthy dogs comes down to one word:

Moderation!

It’s completely acceptable to give your dog occasional treats or a bit of leftover food once in a while. It makes us feel good, gives them a bit of something new, and everyone is happy!

Fat dogs are created when this gets out of control and you feed your dog more and more, from dog food to table scraps to treats.  Your dog simply does not need this!  You may feel like you’re doing something good for them, but believe me, you are not.  You need to exercise the self-control to not overfeed or over-treat your dog in order to keep them at a reasonable, healthy weight.

If you can’t feel your dogs ribs through their coat, you’ve got yourself a fat dog!  His body is not prepared to carry extra weight and it will eventually take a toll on his joints, making him arthritic.  It will take a toll on his ability to move around and play.  It will take a toll on his cardiovascular system.

Dogs are not meant to be fat, so if you have fat dogs, do them a favor and give extra scratches and scritches and pets, not extra food!