Dogs need a balanced diet and some exercise to avoid obesity

Weight management is a must to ensure optimum health not just for us but for our pet as well.  My first mistake when I first had my dog was, give him lots of treats especially after obedience training.  I also feed him as much as he wants.  Little did I know, that Labradors have voracious apettites and they have a tendency to be obese.  I didn’t even notice he was overweight until it was almost time for his next well visit.  What I did was, search for ways  to get him to maintain to an ideal weight.  I learned that building muscles is the best way to lose weight.  I thought if it worked for me, maybe it will work for him too.

I fed him a little less but with  balanced and nutritious diet with proteins, low fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and high fiber at the same time.  This will strengthen his vital muscles, organs, and bones within the body. I didn’t totally stop giving him treats but I switched to low calorie treats as well as fruits and cooked vegetables such as apples, oranges, carrots, broccoli, potatoes and green beans.  I gave him dry food rather than canned food  because dry food apparently has fewer calories.  Labradors are very excitable and require a lot of excercise.  They are excellent swimmers.   With this in mind, I took my dog swimming and long walks twice daily to build his cardiovascular and muscle strength.   I started him on a 20 minute session and when he progressed, I took him jogging with me.  I also tried him on agility obstacle courses and he loved it. 

Exercise is just as important to my dogs health and it was the best way for him to shed that extra pounds and kept it down.  Loving our pet is doing what’s good for them.  Helping them become their ideal weight will not only keep them healthy but will give us peace of mind knowing that their health is on the right track.