Is it possible to lose puppy fat

Break treats into peewee pieces and divvy them out whenever your pet earns it. Instead, use treats only as a reward for good behavior. Pets and people need to learn to earn extra goodies. Vital Veggies As an alternative to highly-processed store-bought treats, try offering baby carrots, green beans, celery, broccoli, cucumbers, sliced apples and bananas or ice cubes. These naturally nutritious tasty tidbits are a healthy option for many dogs. Be sure not to feed dogs a full apple or banana, as they have high sugar content.

Hustle for Health When it comes to living a long, pain-and disease-free life, research proves our most powerful partner is daily exercise. Speaking of partners, anyone with a dog has a built-in, no-excuse exercise buddy. For dogs, as little as 20 to minutes of brisk walking is all it takes to boost immune function, improve cardiovascular health and reduce many behavioral problems. For cats, try playing with a laser pointer, remote-controlled toy or ball of paper for 5 to 15 minutes each day.

Do yourself and your dog a favor and commit to daily walks, rain or shine. The health benefits of walking extend to both ends of the leash. Smart Supplements A couple of supplements may help keep your pet and you fit and trim. Almost every dog, cat and person can benefit from taking a daily omega-3 fatty acid supplement. These powerful fish oils pack a potent anti-oxidant punch that has been proven to help prevent and treat numerous diseases.

Obesity doubles, triples, or quadruples risk for diabetes, and is also an aggravating factor in heart problems, arthritis, and allergies.

Obesity is also a longevity issue. Long-term studies show that thin dogs live up to two years longer than obese dogs. Dog breeds such as beagles, Labradors, and Shelties are more prone to obesity than others, suggesting there is an inherited "fat gene" in dogs. Unless food intake and exercise are adjusted after your puppy's neuter surgery, the pup will likely gain weight as an adult.

All of that loving kindness can turn info dangerous fat. Weight gain can happen very gradually. Is he fat or fluffy? A much better measure is a hands-on approach.

Some dog breeds call for slightly different compositions. For instance, greyhounds and other coursing breeds are supposed to have visible ribs. You may not see this difference until the puppy reaches adolescence.

From above, you should see a decided break at the waist, beginning at the back of the ribs to just before the hips. In profile, pets should have a distinct tummy tuck beginning just behind the last ribs and going up into the hind legs. Overweight dogs often develop rolls of fat on the lower back above the tail.

If you can't feel the pet's ribs, or she has a pendulous or bulging tummy, your pup is too plump. Overall, the best weight management strategy is to develop good habits that are applied, consistently, long-term. But this is a long process. This article was vetted by a vet.

How fresh food helped one famously named Frenchie with digestive woes. Managing weight is one of the most important things you can do for your dog's health. Here's how to When it comes to dealing A fresh way to feed your pet.

Better for them, easier for you. Get started today at The Farmer's Dog. Many Thanksgiving foods are loaded with fats, sugar, and other ingredients that aren't great Learn more about this smart, energetic, affectionate breed as you decide whether to make What is happiness to a dog?

And how can we bring it about? Your Halloween haul probably contains some scary stuff for dogs. Here are the treats The food factor For dogs, as for humans, losing weight really comes down to two things: food and exercise.

Food quality is also key In addition to calorie counting, another important part of weight maintenance or weight loss is feeding lower carb, whole, fresh food.

Treats count, so count them Another way to help your dog drop some extra weight is by controlling, and possibly reducing, their treat intake.