My Fat Dog

My Fat Dog Is So Fat....

My fat dog is so fat that....

"How fat is he? My fat dog is so fat he makes Free Willy look like a tic tac."

Do you have a fat dog? Don't feel like you are all alone. Dog obesity has become as big a problem (no pun intended) in the United States, as obesity has become a problem with their owners. Duh! Go figure. The majority of Americans have absolutely no clue as to what a balanced healthy diet is for themselves, let alone what a healthy diet should be for their dogs.

Holy Christmas, people still drink soda pop in this country and think it's healthy when it is one of the worst things to put in your body and is one of the leading causes of tooth decay, diabetes and obesity.

What is the ending result? You get to tell everyone, "Hey, look at my fat dog!"

All kidding aside, you may be trying to ignore the fact, but obesity is a huge problem. If your dog is fat, you are robbing her out of the chance to live the longest, healthiest life. If you don't curb your fat dog's diet, she is at an increased risk of developing painful conditions like arthritis, or life-threatening ones like cardiovascular disease, pancreatic disease, or diabetes, that could lead to your beloved friends death. Our fat dogs need to go on a dog diet.

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Have You Let Her Looks Go?

Does Your Dog Look Like This One?

If you are guilty of over feeding your pooch, you must stop it now! Food is not love. Not only is it not love but it could lead to your pets death. Your dog is at your mercy when if comes to meal and snack time, and the only discipline being exercised in doggie's diet is yours.

If you have a difficult time turning away from those pleading eyes (and what dog owner doesn't?) perhaps realizing that you are contributing more harm than good with each unnecessary bite will help you to curb these extra feeding habits

Just as in humans, a fat dog is more apt to contact diseases and illnesses. They tend to remain ill longer because of a weakened immune system due to the combination of the obesity, being over vaccinated and over medicated. They are also more likely to have symptoms of old age at a younger age and don't live as long as a dog in optimum health.

Have you noticed any skin conditions such as rough, scaley, flakey skin? Don't be alarmed, but this also comes from your dog's poor diet and can not be cured by the pricey skin creams you are getting from the vet. The creams only cover up the symptoms but do not cure the cause. You must change your dog's diet and get him eating healthier.

Plain and simple, the fact is that my fat dog is not healthy and neither is yours and don't try to fool yourself into thinking otherwise.

Personally, I don't see how your pet could be very happy either. I mean, if I was having to carry around all of that extra weight, it would make me feel miserable!

Get Your Dog A Physical

It's Time To Cut Out The Beer & Buttered Popcorn

Taking your dog to a veterinarian that you know and trust, and is committed to helping your pet, is the first step that needs to be taken to help your pet lose weight.

If you really love your big fat dog as much as you claim to, you wouldn't let anything bad happen to him, would you? Of course you wouldn't. I do believe that you would do everything in your power to prolong his life. That also means cutting off his beer, buttered popcorn and pretzels like the dogs in the photo. Just kidding.

All kidding aside, getting that physical exam is the crucial first step to helping your dog lose weight and live longer. The veterinarian can give your fat dog a check up to make sure that there aren't any other medical problems affecting his health and can help you formulate a plan to help him lose the weight that he needs to lose.

llnesses Can Sometimes Cause Obesity

Sometimes dogs are over weight because of an illness or a genetic disposition. These are a couple of the reasons your dog could have a weight problem, other than over eating, and why it is vital to get that examination from a qualified veterinarian.

If the weight problem does turn out to be caused by illness, the vet will be able to treat your dog with medication or therapy that will not only help your dog loose the weight, but to also alleviate any pain or discomfort the dog may be experiencing.

You definitely want to find out and treat any illness that could be causing your dog to be fat, especially if you feel that you are not over feeding him.

But, if you know you are over feeding him....

Oh-h-h Mommy! More Treats!

Treats should only count for 10% of the daily caloric intake.

Without the advice from your vet, you can start right now with limiting the amount of treats you are feeding Bruno.

Quit substituting treats for meals, for one. Giving them too many treats can actually cause them to shy away from foods that they really need in their diet. If you are filling them up on unhealthy, fatty, and over processed dog treats, they will never be able to get a well balanced meal.

Tip: Learn how to make homemade, healthy dog food for treats and then try to only use them for training purposes, instead of, "Oh, you are so cute, Mommy's going to give you a treat because you're so cute" purposes.

This will limit his fat intake and reduce the calories that you have so "lovingly" been feeding him. And while you are at it, get him back onto a regular feeding schedule.

A reduction in caloric intake, however, cannot be achieved by just cutting down the quantity of food you feed your dog, and if the cuts of the quantities of food you make are too drastic it could very well lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies that would just add to the already failing health of the dog. It will also make your dog think he is starving and being punished.

Fats and carbohydrates that contain the most calories should be replaced by ingredients that are less digestible and lower in calories. Vitamins and mineral supplements should be added also. If you don't know what doses you should be supplementing for the breed of dog that you have, check with your vet.

Once your dog is on a regular schedule, with his new diet and is receiving his supplements it won't take Bruno long to learn that he is fed twice or three times a day at certain intervals and that is all. You must remain firm. Remember to cut down on the quantity at meal times, but little by little, not too drastically, and this will help reduce those calories too.

The amount of feeding times within a day will vary as to the size and breed of the dog that you have, however; it is usually better to split up their reduced portion between three separate feedings.

Be consistent with their feedings and that means cutting out the table scraps too. You must get control over what they are being feed and what they are ingesting.

Quit Making Excuses for Your Fat Dog

"Maxie won't stop her whining and pleading unless I give her a treat and she won't settle down go to sleep in the evening, unless I she gets her special smoked sausage." Whoohoo for Maxie! Maxie has successfully trained YOU, the owner and pack leader, to reward her for bad behavior by being a nuisance. Talk about negative conditioning! You haven't trained Maxie to have proper manners. Instead you are communicating to Maxie that being a nuisance will work to get her the unneeded, undeserved, and fat inducing treat. This is nuisance, that only you have created, and your will keep getting fatter if she keeps eating like that.

And the classic excuse for having an obese dog is "Maxie won't eat dog food. She only wants people food" Oh really? Then what is Maxie eating? You got it, table scraps and whatever fattening food she wants to eat. Did you know that dogs can get sugar addictions just like humans? Once again the dog has been successful in training the owners to give her what she wants, and not what she should have.

Guess what? It's working!

But, here's the thing. The dog is the one that is going to suffer for it with obesity and disease. It is difficult for the dog not to overeat when you are the one that keeps giving in with the fattening foods.

Remember this, it is NOT up to the DOG to choose what she eats....

It is up to YOU as the owner and pack leader, YOU are the one that needs to make the right choices, choosing the best high quality, nutritious commercial dog food you can afford or better yet, make it at home.

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Dog Food Comparisons And Homemade Dog Food

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Paw Naturaw Dog Food

Switch to a healthy dog food to help him lose weight!

Paw Naturaw Organic Chicken Diet, 12-Ounce Tubes (Pack of 12)

If you have time to cook for your dogs then do so at home, but if not then this is one of the best raw diets to choose from. I want to say though, that I had a healthy energetic pit bull to being with, and no issues with weight. However, within three days, I started noticing an even more energetic dog. In only one month he began developing into a much leaner muscular dog, who just loves his food. It's been an amazing transition, and I highly suggest it.

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Amazon Price: $39.75 (as of 11/09/2009)
List Price: $53.88

Usually ships in 3 to 5 days

Paw Naturaw Organic Turkey Diet, Medallions, 56-Ounce Zip Close Bag

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: $21.45 (as of 11/09/2009)
List Price:

Usually ships in 3 to 5 days

Paw Naturaw Organic Beef Diet, 12-Ounce Tubes (Pack of 12)

Avg. Customer Rating:

Amazon Price: $57.05 (as of 11/09/2009)
List Price: $94.68

Usually ships in 3 to 5 days

Pet Supplements: Vitamens & Minerals

Because so many of the commercial dog food products that you purchase at the grocery store are such poor quality, they will often cause dogs to not only gain weight, but will also be the cause of ailments such as liver disease, kidney disease, skin disorders or allergies.

Sometimes it is difficult to understand what those long chemical names are in the food, or if they are actually receiving any of the nutrients that they should be receiving. It can be very difficult for the average person to tell if their dogs are getting the vitamins and minerals that they need. The manufactures are counting on it so that you will buy the food anyway, without question.

For this reason, it is recommended that you add a vitamin supplement to your pet's food to help them to get the vitamins and minerals that they need. A dog that has the nutrients it needs usually has more energy, becomes more active and will be able to lose the weight faster.

Supplements often come in many different types, strengths and doses. When you take the dog to the vet for his checkup, prior to starting the diet, this is something to question the vet about.

The vet will be taking a blood test and you may request for the lab to determine what nutrients your dog is lacking in. This is key to a successful, healthy diet while helping your pet to lose weight!

RUN! RUN! RUN! Big Boy!

Get Off the Couch and Run with Your Dog, You Potato Head!

If your dog is over weight, chances are that you are not at the top of the fitness department either. This may come as a shock to you, however; it must be said.

GET UP OFF THE COUCH , POTATO HEAD!

If you are just too out of shape to run or you have a physical condition that prevents running, that is fine.

WALK!

Any movement is better than no movement!

Exercise is the second most important way to help you and your pet stay healthy and get rid of the extra poundage. Pets that are exercised on a regular bases are able to burn stored fat faster. Faster than what? Well, faster than sitting on the couch or in front of your computer, that's for sure.

Change to a healthy diet and combine with exercise, your dog will lose weight as well as gain his health back.

Active dogs need a minimum of 30 minutes a day exercise. Just think....

If you both went out for a 20 to 30 minute walk twice a day....

You would both start shedding pounds and you would both look better, feel better and sleep better tool

Check with the vet when you take your dog in for his physical, because the amount of will vary with the age of the dog, the particular breed of the dog, the dog's size and the activity level that you both will be able to start out with.

Exercise is essential, but strain through over kill is not a good thing. Since your pet has not been exercised regularly before, he will now need time to build up his stamina. Starting out slowly and building it up a little at a time is a good thing.

Remember to reward for the good effort being made with love, pats on the head, scratches behind the ears, and verbal encouragements of "Good, dog!" Do not reward with more fattening treats. You will be defeating the whole purpose of the exercise routine.

Just think, in no time at all, you will no longer have a fat dog, you will be in better shape and you will both be able to enjoy a long, fun, full life together!

Martha Garvey Had A Fat Dog

And she wrote a book about it.

Help your pooch slim down with the ten simple steps in My Fat Dog, including:

* The truth behind diet dog foods
* Exercises tailored or different dog personalities
* Advice on teaching older dogs new tricks, fitness games, and healthy eating habits

Featuring real-life dog weight loss stories, tests to rule out serious health problems, tips from top veterinarians, and a special section on multi-pet households, My Fat Dog offers creative and entertaining ideas to help your pet lose weight and live healthy.

My Fat Dog: Ten Simple Steps to Help Your Pet Lose Weight for a Long and Happy Life

About the Author

Martha Garvey helped her dog Faith, a curvaceous beagle/Staffordshire mix, lose the twelve pounds she had gained as a result of a paw injury and over snacking. Founder of Moving Stories, Martha lives in Hoboken, New Jersey, with Faith (and her husband Jeff).

Deborah Greco, D.V.M., Ph.D., is a staff endocrinologist at The Animal Medical Center in New York.

MY TWO CENTS

Excellent read and helpful on the "how to's" of dog dieting.

Get a New Bowl For For Your Pups New Diet

Make it a special event!

For even more attractive dog food bowls, you can see them at Are You Poisoning Your Dog? for reviews and descriptions of there various types.

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Have a Question About Your Dog's Care and Well Being?

Ask It Here!

Do you have something on your mind about the care of your dog that has really been bothering you?

Don't put it off any longer. You can ask away right here, just click the image or click the the link, right now.

Ask Your Dog Question Here.

Go Natural and Organic

Many pet foods are based on "healthy, whole foods, no preservatives" ingredients. NOT! Many dog food company's realize that "natural, organic and no preservatives" are the trend, and create their packaging to reflect it, even though the actual food is far from being "natural, organic and lacking in preservatives".

If you look at the ingredients listed, for example, on the back of the bag or the side of the can, what are the first words in the ingredient list? If you can not pronounce them, chances are they are probably not a whole foods.

The ingredients that are listed first are required by law to have the largest percentage in the food packaging. Keeping that in mind, realize that a good majority of processed dog foods are filled with fillers and chemicals, not natural foods.

Switch your dog to a diet that is based on whole foods, but at the same time keeping the calories restricted. For example, dogs do need some fat in their diet, but not as much as you have been feeding him.

You will find, that by switching to a more wholesome food diet, your pet will then be receiving the best nutrition possible. The added benefit is that not only will it eliminate many of the fattening ingredients, but it will also eliminate the toxic ingredients that are added by the manufacturers.

Many people are learning that by feeding their dogs whole, natural foods, they are keeping their pets not only healthy and lean, but also leading longer lives . In the long run, it is not only less expensive, but will also cut down on the vet bills.

Answer To: "What Are in Commercial Dog Food Ingredients"

A New Leather Dog Leash

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These Lens Will Help You With Ideas For Your Dog's Diet

Healthy Dog Food Diet

Many people ask me, "What is the very best dog food that I can buy to give my dog the healthiest diet? Before that question can be answered it is important for every dog owner to first understand what dog nutrition is all about. In order to provide...

Poisoned Dog Food

Have you ever scanned the ingredients in a commercial dog food and thought, "What the hell is this? It can't be healthy. I can't even pronounce it." Unfortunately, if your dog eats ordinary, processed dog food, your dog probably eats...

Dog Clicker Training

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Doggy "pushups"

Indoor exercise for dogs is the only solution in the winter when it is pure ice outside. Here is a challenging activity when you can't take your dogs out walking! If your dog(s) know the "sit" and the "down" then just line them up...

My Fat Dog

My Fat Dog Is So Fat....

Have You Let Her Looks Go?

Does Your Dog Look Like This One?

Get Your Dog A Physical

It's Time To Cut Out The Beer & Buttered Popcorn

llnesses Can Sometimes Cause Obesity

Oh-h-h Mommy! More Treats!

Treats should only count for 10% of the daily caloric intake.

Quit Making Excuses for Your Fat Dog

Fabulous Dog Nutrition Package!

How to prevent disease, maintain your dog's energy and vitality,

Complete Guide to a Your Dog's Nutrition

Discover the Dangers in Your Dog's Diet

Dog Food Comparisons And Homemade Dog Food

Paw Naturaw Dog Food

Pet Supplements: Vitamens & Minerals

RUN! RUN! RUN! Big Boy!

Get Off the Couch and Run with Your Dog, You Potato Head!

Martha Garvey Had A Fat Dog

And she wrote a book about it.

Get a New Bowl For For Your Pups New Diet

Make it a special event!

Have a Question About Your Dog's Care and Well Being?

Ask It Here!

Go Natural and Organic

A New Leather Dog Leash

for Those Walks You Both Will Be Taking

Shape Your Dogs Behavior and Build A Lifelong Bond

These Lens Will Help You With Ideas For Your Dog's Diet

Fat Dogs Stuff and Low Fat Treats

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For The Love of Dogs

Healthy Dog Diet

by KonaGirl

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