How to Help Your Dog Lose Weight [2024 Newest]

If you are looking for how to help dogs lose weight, you are sure not alone. Owners often give their dogs extra treats or human food to make them happy and feel loved. This is because humans link food with love and joy, and it is difficult to say no to those puppy eyes and wagging tails. However, this affection may result in your dog putting on weight. In this post, you will find answers to how to get my dog to lose weight.

How Can I Tell If Your Dog Needs to Lose Weight

You must watch out for the following indications to determine if your dog is overweight or not.

The best technique to determine whether your dog is overweight or not is to examine the shape of its body. Dogs with a healthy weight will have an hourglass shape from above, with the abdomen smaller than the chest and hips. However, if you notice that your dog has an oval or circular shape, they are probably overweight, and you have to make dog lose weight.

Being overweight means your dog has excess fat on its body, so what you can do is check your dog for fat pads. Some dogs develop fat pads between their legs. Additionally, you should examine the dog's hips because obese dogs will have fat pads there.

Inspect your dog from the side as well; if it has a swinging tummy and a sagging waist, your dog needs to lose weight. You must remember that when looking at your dog from the side, the abdomen must be tucked in and not be at the same level as the chest.

You can check your dog's ribs to see if it is at a healthy weight. You must place your thumbs on the backbone and spread your hands around its ribs to check properly. If you cannot feel your dog's ribs easily, and if they are not visible, your dog may be overweight, and it's time for your dog to lose weight.

Weighing your dog is the most effective approach to determine whether it is overweight. You can take your dog to a veterinarian, who will be able to advise you on the appropriate weight for your breed and size of the dog, as well as the perfect weight. The veterinarian will also give you tips on how to help dog lose weight.

How to Help Your Dog Lose Weight?

Once you have established that your dog is overweight, it is time to help it lose weight. The following tips will help you to achieve your dog's ideal weight.

You must begin a weight-loss plan as soon as you realize your dog is overweight. You can begin slowly by going for a walk and then extending it. Most dogs enjoy outside activities like hiking and swimming, so take your dog along. You can increase the amount of activity your dog gets once it starts losing weight.

If you are feeding your dog a healthy diet but still gaining weight, you are probably giving them many treats. Don't forget only to give your dog treats when it has earned them. Additionally, you don't always have to give your dog treats as rewards; you may give a belly rub or play a game of fetch. It will help a lot if you want your dog to lose weight.

With the help of an automatic pet feeder, such as the WOpet automatic dog feeder, you can schedule the amount and timing of food your dog will receive. WOpet auto feeder allows to schedule your pet's meal times and portion sizes easily.

An automatic pet feeder is perfect as it is much simpler to follow a prescribed diet for your dog. If you give a few additional sweets each day that isn't necessary, this is a perfect solution and will help your dog lose weight effectively.

When people are thirsty, they often resort to food, and dogs are no different. Therefore, you must ensure your dog's water bowl is always full of fresh, clean water. Additionally, you should always be on the lookout for dehydration symptoms. A well-hydrated dog will have several advantages, including a shinier coat and smoother skin.

Conclusion

There is a simple answer to the question of how to help dog lose weight, and that is to follow the steps mentioned above diligently. However, you must remember that losing weight is a slow process, so you must be patient. The best method to reduce weight and form long-term healthy habits is to make steady progress.