If you think your dog needs to lose a few
pounds, slowly cut down its caloric intake.
“Crash diets” will only lead to nutritional
deficiencies and are very unhealthy.
If you think your dog is not receiving enough
vitamins and nutrients in their diet, you might
consider adding a vitamin or mineral supplement to
its diet.
Consult with your veterinarian or a dietary
specialist before doing this on your own.
Contrary to popular belief, dogs do not need variety
in their diet. Use the same type of food every day,
and if you want to change the brand of dog food, do
so gradually. Always
keep in mind that feeding your dog table scraps can
lead to an unbalanced diet and possibly an upset
tummy.
Bad breath is a common problem with dogs.
It can be created from food, tartar deposits
on the teeth, or from digestive problems.
Feeding your
dog dry food and tartar-fighting treats (C.E.T.
Dental Chews or Hill’s T/D Prescription Diet) helps
reduce plaque and bad breath.
Brushing your dog’s teeth once or twice a week with
a toothbrush and dog toothpaste is a good idea.
(Note:
Never use human toothpaste.) You can also use a
moistened gauze pad.
GENERAL NUTRITION
Just like humans, it is unhealthy for a dog to be
overweight. Excess weight endangers the heart, lungs
and joints and makes a dog more susceptible to other
ailments.
An irregular eating schedule can affect your dog’s
digestive system and ultimately cause chronic
digestive disorders. Digestive problems can usually
be improved by a change in diet.
If your dog’s feeding schedule is suddenly
changed, don’t be surprised if it still craves a
meal at its old feeding time. Your dog is
conditioned to expect a meal at specific times, so
biologically its internal alarm clock still produces
a hunger drive.
Dogs don’t easily adjust to a time zone change or to
daylight saving time. To prepare your dog for a time
change, gradually adjust its eating schedule over a
few days or weeks.
It is important that your dog’s water and food bowls
are kept in the same place every day. If you have
more than one dog, make sure each dog has its own
food and water bowl.
Don’t worry about your dog getting hunger pangs
between meals. Young
puppies should be fed more often, usually two to
three times daily.
As they reach adulthood, your dog only needs
one or two meals daily, if it is fed on a regimented
schedule and receives a balanced diet.
Don’t leave your dog’s food out for longer than 30
minutes. If your dog has walked away from its bowl,
it has probably had enough to eat.
Discard the remaining food, since exposed dog
food is unsanitary.
STARTING AN EXERCISE ROUTINE
Exercise can improve your dog’s physical and mental
health, but it is important to research the best
exercise routine for you and your dog.
Consider your dog’s age, health, body condition and
current activity level.
Check with
your veterinarian before beginning anything
vigorous.
Make sure to keep your dog on a leash at all times
when you are exercising in public.
You don’t
want your dog to get distracted by cars, people or
other dogs.
Letting your dog out in your backyard doesn’t
qualify as exercise; however, a good game of fetch
may do the trick.
When exercising your dog, try to keep it on a grassy
or earth surface. A hot sidewalk or sharp gravel
surface is hard on the paws.
And bring
along clean water and a portable bowl should your
dog need a drink.
If your dog begins to pant too rapidly, STOP
exercising. Dogs
can’t speak to tell you when they have had enough.
Dogs can
suffer from heat stroke too, so you need to make
sure your dog is not overexerting itself.
Pay special attention to your dog’s footpads and
toenails. If
there are any abrasions or cuts, stop exercising
until they have completely healed.
ACTIVITY PROGRAMS
Walking or jogging, particularly on a soft surface,
is a great form of exercise.
But keep in
mind that too much can be strenuous, and your dog
can tire easily.
Start your dog with short walks each day to
get it accustomed to the routine.
When starting your dog on any exercise program,
begin slowly to build its endurance level; too
vigorous a workout may cause injury.
If you would like to start jogging with your dog,
begin with short distances.
Forcing your
dog to keep up to your jogging pace may cause it to
run at an unnatural gait.
A pace other
than what is natural for your dog (slower or faster)
could cause cramps and muscle spasms.
Exercise is still important during the winter months
when bad weather doesn’t always permit outdoor
activities. If
it is too cold outside to exercise your dog, develop
fun-filled indoor activities that are suitable for
the size of the dog and the amount of space you have
available.
Swimming is another good type of exercise, but don’t
let your dog overdo it.
It will be
using new muscles and may tire quickly.
Remember: Never
leave your dog unattended in the water.
You should
always be in a position to help your dog out of the
water; even a strong swimmer can drown, if
exhausted.
REMEMBER