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Congratulations on having a healthy and happy dog! You’re already doing something right, and your commitment to your furry friend’s well-being deserves recognition! Looking for an article on weight management only makes our esteem for you more extensive than it already was.
You clearly understand prevention is often more accessible and less costly than treatment. The same goes for maintaining your dog’s healthy weight. It’s much easier than losing excess weight.
However, in many cases, the law of familiarity comes into play. It can be challenging to notice gradual changes when seeing your dog daily.
That’s why setting up a system for consistent measuring and proactive monitoring is so important. Both are essential to ensure your dog stays in the best shape possible.
In this article, we’ll teach you how to maintain this situation and introduce some key features to make your gut feeling turn into science.
In this article, we’ll help you navigate this path of prevention and equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to turn your gut feeling into science. Let’s dive into the first step – monitoring.
Proactively Monitoring Your Dog's Weight and Well-Being
The most essential step in maintaining your dog’s healthy weight is monitoring. It’s more than just keeping track of your pup’s pounds or kilos, although that’s an excellent place to start. Let’s break it down:
Weight monitoring is akin to financial tracking in business. Just as daily check-ins are crucial to ensure a company’s financial health, frequent monitoring of your dog’s weight is vital to maintain their physical well-being. The frequency at which you monitor your dog’s weight can significantly impact their health.
A great rate is every two weeks; this is like daily check-ins in business or daily checking your kids’ homework– it allows you to make minor, manageable adjustments to ensure your dog stays on the right track. Monitoring every two weeks makes you less likely to have a “bad day” regarding your dog’s weight.
A reasonable rate is monthly, equivalent to weekly financial reviews in business or putting a signature on your kids’ school calendar. It’s a balance between close supervision and practicality. Monthly weight checks enable you to detect undesirable trends and make corrections, minimizing the risk of a “bad week” in your dog’s weight management journey.
The contrast with yearly monitoring is phenomenal. Some businesses are in the same situation when they meet with their accountant. And as a parent, only checking your kids’ results at the end of the year will lead to dramas bigger than Shakespeare has ever dreamt. The equivalent in dog weight management is checking yearly when the shots or tittering are due at the vet’s office. It only reveals severe health problems that a monthly or biweekly weigh-in would have prevented easily.
Just as in business and raising kids, regular, proactive monitoring is the key to maintaining a healthy result. This consistent monitoring allows you to detect issues early, address them promptly, and ensure your dog remains in the best possible shape.
If you crave more and want seconds on this desert, download our free ebook for more insights on weighing your dog.
Just like humans, dogs have varying activity levels. Your dog’s caloric needs will fluctuate according to what you have planned. An intense 20-mile hike on a rugged trail or enjoying a laid-back, lazy Sunday indoors will require a different fuel. Adjusting their food intake based on their activities is the next level of weight management.
Increased activity often indicates a need for more calories to fuel their adventures. However, decreased activity may suggest they require fewer calories to prevent unnecessary weight gain. Even when your dog isn’t a top athlete, for whom a different daily workout schedule sometimes demands severe changes, you will also benefit from the small changes.
But how do you determine the exact amount to feed based on their daily activities? A good formula, or a calculator, and a few years of courses could do the trick. Conveniently, you can find one in our Kickstarter Package.
This comprehensive tool provides the foundation for precise calorie calculations, allowing you to adjust based on whether your dog conquered the “sofa summit” or trekked the “Mount Everest” of physical activities today.
We’ve established the importance of calibrating your dog’s food intake to their activity levels. The next crucial aspect is monitoring the general body condition. Guess what? That’s our next paragraph.
Monitoring Body Condition Scores: Keep Your Eyes Open And Your Hands Clean
Body condition scoring (BCS) is valuable for evaluating your dog’s physical health. It considers several critical factors, such as body shape, fat coverage, and muscle mass. By assessing these elements, you can gain essential insights into your dog’s well-being and adjust their care accordingly.
During our online webinar, we’ll go deep into the intricacies of BCS, providing you with all the necessary details. However, we want to keep you in the loop, so here’s a sneak peek.
One of the critical things about an accurate BCS evaluation is that you must employ both hands and eyes. You must position yourself at multiple angles and observe your pup in all directions.
A second player on the field is your hands and, from the dog’s point of view, the ribcage. Both come together. Using a very unexpected technique, we’ll explain in detail what the feeling should be like.
Now, you have a good understanding of body condition scoring. Still, the article would only be complete with a comprehensive overview of the importance of balanced nutrition, particularly in managing your dog’s treats and extras. Ready, set, go!
We understand the joy of sharing treats and extras with your beloved dog; it’s a delightful way to strengthen your bond with your furry friend. However, maintaining a balance is essential to keep your dog healthy and happy. However, the base of balanced nutrition lies in the kibble you serve daily. The treats and extras are extra.
A balanced diet begins with selecting the suitable basic kibble for your dog. We don’t endorse specific brands, but there are some valuable indicators to consider when choosing.
Apart from your best friend’s particular preferences and tastebuds, at least when you don’t have Labrador Retrievers, price can often be a reliable guide; higher-quality dog food typically comes at a higher price.
Another giveaway is the ingredients list. The primary ingredients are typically listed first, and the presence of grains as the main ingredient may not be the best choice. We won’t go all scientific on you just now, but you should consider a different type of food when you have a healthy, non-allergic dog.
Let’s start with some boundaries on how much love you give your pup. Offering more than 10% of your dog’s daily nutritional requirements in the form of cookies and candy is a line you should avoid crossing.
Remember that moderation is essential when using treats for training or as rewards. If you’ve recently introduced a trick involving luring and food compensation, consider reducing your dog’s regular meal size to maintain that balance.
By “extras,” we refer to a wide range of dog indulgences, including dental sticks, the occasional piece of food stolen from the table, or treats you lovingly share, just as I do on my social media. Feel free to check out my dog’s delightful moments on Instagram. Here’s the link to my personal Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/vandriesschesven/, where we share a positive note and a great picture daily to keep you smiling and your dogs healthy and happy.
Congratulations on embarking on this journey of maintaining your dog’s healthy weight. By making consistent, proactive monitoring a part of your routine, you prevent potential issues and enhance your understanding of your furry companion’s well-being.
Remember, it’s easier to maintain a healthy weight than to tackle excess pounds. With regular measurements, balanced nutrition, and an appreciation for your dog’s individuality, you can ensure your canine friend lives longer and happier.
In dog obesity prevention and well-being, you are your best friend’s Chief Weight Management Officer. Dogbesity.com is there to provide you with the knowledge, tools, and support you need. Together, we can create a world with #MoreHealthyDogs.
Thank you for your commitment to your furry friend’s health and for allowing us to join your journey.