Dog Diets: 50 Healthy Ways to Slim Your Pet - part 1
Limits of Liability / Disclaimer of Warranty:
The authors of this information and the accompanying materials have used their best efforts in preparing this course. The authors make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of this course. They disclaim any warranties (expressed or implied), merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. The authors shall in no event be held liable for any loss or other damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
This manual contains information protected under International Federal Copyright laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is strictly prohibited. We actively search for copyright infringement and you will be prosecuted.
Introduction
In order for you to maintain your pet's health, careful attention must be paid to your pet's weight. All animals from dogs to rabbits and even your cat must have a healthy weight. Like humans, when they are overweight the tendency for disease and illness to happen is increased.
Overweight pets are more likely to contract diseases and illnesses and stay sick longer. They are more likely to have symptoms of old age at a younger age. They are also more likely to have a shortened life span.
Protecting your pet and helping them to lose weight is something that you can do. Consider the pages here, each dedicated to another method for you to help your pet to lose weight. You will find yourself able to finally know that your pet is the healthiest it can be.
These pages help you to see 50 ways that you can help your pet to lose weight and to stay fit. Incorporate them into your daily life and your pet will thank you for it. From knowing the facts to playing with them, their weight is your top priority!
One of the first things that you can do for your pet is to actually have them examined for their physical fitness. Even if you know that your pet is overweight and needs to lose that weight, an exam should be one of the first things that you do for them.
Meet with a veterinarian that you trust and that you know is committed to helping your pet. Interview them; get to know them so that you can trust them with your pet's care.
Although this is not a specific tool to help your pet to lose weight, it is a crucial first step. Many people do not realize that a few pounds overweight can be far too much weight for the pet. A doctor can help to point out specifically what needs to be done for your pet.
Your doctor should also be able to monitor your pet's progression from their current level to the next, healthier stage. They should be your ally in fighting your pet's overweight problem.
In some situations, pets are overweight because of illnesses or hereditary factors just like people are. This is not the normal situation, but if it is what your pet is struggling with, it needs to be addressed.
To find out if your pet is facing an illness or even a disease that is causing them to gain weight, talk with your trusted vet. They can help you to rule this out as a cause for your pet. Most importantly, if it is indeed a problem having to do with illness, it can be treated with medications or other therapies so that they pet is not suffering.
Some animals, like dogs can have this happen due to old age, too. Yet, even when this is the situation, your pet can still be helped with their veterinarian’s advice and treatment options. Most vets are able to notice this difference in weight gain by simply an examination or through blood tests that are run on the pet.
You definitely want to know and get treated any illness that could cause this type of situation. Your pet will find relief in getting the help that they need.
It likely sounds incredibly simple. Treats should be given as treats, not regular staples in the dog's diet. The fact is that many people give their pets too many treats. All animals can have treats unless the vet says otherwise, but you have to give this to them sparingly.
Giving them too many treats can cause them to shy away from foods that they need in their diet. If they are filled up on treats, will they eat the nutritionally balanced food that you are given them as well? Chances are they will not.
In addition, most treats designed for pets are not healthy options in the least. Most are filled with fats and other products that can easily cause the pet to become overweight.
Instead of giving treats on a regular basis as a diet element, use treats for training purposes, for distraction from nail cutting and even as a way to reward your pet. Just limit the amount that you give them as well as the frequency that they get them. This will help your pet to lose weight by reducing the number of calories they get from treat products.
All animals, including humans, have a recommended intake of calories per day. Calories are what the body uses to have energy and they are a way of monitoring how much you take in. In all animals, there are also recommendations of how many calories that animal should get.
Unfortunately, there is no way to pinpoint this right here for you because all animals that consume calories do so based on their age, size, physical activity and their overall type. An example is that of a dog that is middle sized. He should be consuming about 700 calories per day.
Talk to your vet about how many calories your pet should be taking in each day. You will be surprised by what it should be as soon as you start looking at the packaging for their foods. Purchase pet foods that do tell you the calorie count as these are often the healthiest options for you pet.
Strive to meet your pet's calorie intake goal. This allows your pet to get the nutrition that he or she needs but helps them to keep off excess weight as well. It is simply a matter of monitoring portion size and food type to reach their calorie goals.
Tip 5: Reduce Calories
It is important to realize that if a pet is overweight right now, he needs to consume less than his recommended calorie intake to lose weight.
As your body takes in too much food, food is stored as fat in the tissues of the body so that when there is not enough food, this stored fat can be used to help them to get through the rough time. Most pets will never have that situation since you are taking care of them.
To help them to lose this stored weight, then, you must reduce their calorie intake by a small amount so that their body uses stored fat instead of using the foods that they are given for energy needs.
Depending on what your pet's calorie intake goal is, reduce this number given to them by just 5 to 10 percent. This small reduction will help them to use stored fat as energy and therefore help them to lose weight. More than this amount will cause the body to go into starvation mode which will not allow them to use stored fat. Monitor restrictive diets closely here!
As mentioned earlier, treats are a large factor in many pet's diets and that is a problem. The good news is that you can monitor how much they take in and how much you give them in a day.
Your goal should be to make sure that no more than 10 percent of the pet's intake of food comes from treat related products. Any and all treats should have the dietary information that your pet needs so that you can record it. This does not mean that you have to sit down with a piece of paper and keep notes.
Instead, know what the calorie goals are for your pet and multiply this number by .10. This number is the number of calories that are allowable to come from treat products. Anything more than this and your pet is consuming too much of their diet on treats.
Look for treats that are no more than that 10 percent. Or, break treats in half and do not give them the full recommended serving size. Pay attention to the numbers on packages!
Tip 7: Neutering Won't Hurt
A common misconception that many people believe is that having their pet spayed or neutered will cause them to gain weight. This is false!
What is true is that animals that have been neutered and spayed will use less energy and therefore should require fewer calories in their diet. With that thought kept in mind, realize that all pets that have had this done should also see a small reduction in their calorie intake requirements.
When you talk to your vet about this procedure, learn what your pet will need to have done afterwards. It is important to realize that pets will likely consume slightly less in terms of food naturally, but again that food needs to be based on a healthy diet.
Provide your pet with the nutrition that it needs but be sure that the calories are less after they have been fixed. This will help them to continue to burn stored fat too.
Tip 8: What's The Right Diet?
Every pet will have a diet that is the healthiest for them. That means that every type of pet will have a unique diet requirement, though.
Your fish will have a diet requirement as will your ferrets. Depending on the type of pet that you have, work with your pet to determine the healthiest diet for them. Pets like reptiles, birds, fish, dogs and cats all have requirements in the foods that they eat.
You can find resources on the web as well as through your pet's vet to help you to determine the best foods for them to eat, based on their weight, type and dietary needs. Most importantly, you will know they are getting a healthy diet of foods that will keep them healthier.
Most diets that are made of high quality foods specific to their dietary requirements will not cost nearly as much as you think, and likely are about the same in costs as what you currently feed your pet.
Many pet foods are based on healthy, whole foods. Some are not. If you flip over the package of dog food, for example, what are the first words in the ingredient list? If you can not say them, chances are that they are less than whole foods.
The ingredients at the front of the list have the largest percentage in the food packaging. With that thought in mind, realize that some are filled with fillers, non natural foods and even chemicals.
Switch your pet to a diet that is based on whole foods, keeping within their dietary restrictions. You will find that this allows your pet the best nutrition in their diet and takes out many of the fattening qualities of the food, too. Many people find that this is the best way to keep a pet healthy: whole, natural foods.
You can find these foods on the web or in quality pet stores. Again, they likely do not cost as much as you believe they do and they may even be within your current spending amounts.
Pets that consume a lot of people food are not likely to be able to maintain their current weight. Chances are good that they will be overweight because it is much harder to maintain portion controls and to maintain calorie intakes in people food.
If you feed your pet people food, you will need to remove spices and seasonings. You will need to count the calories in that food and keep them away from foods that are overly fattening to their diets. Most importantly, you will need to insure they are getting a good, healthy, balanced diet.
Although many pets will not eat anything but people food, weaning them off of this and into a healthier diet lifestyle should be a priority. Weaning them may take time and patience, but nearly all pets can be switched to a healthier diet over time.
Work with your vet to help you to do this. Be sure that any people food fed to your pet is food that is balanced for them. That slice of pizza should not be the first thing in their dish in the morning!
The authors of this information and the accompanying materials have used their best efforts in preparing this course. The authors make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of this course. They disclaim any warranties (expressed or implied), merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. The authors shall in no event be held liable for any loss or other damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
This manual contains information protected under International Federal Copyright laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is strictly prohibited. We actively search for copyright infringement and you will be prosecuted.
Introduction
In order for you to maintain your pet's health, careful attention must be paid to your pet's weight. All animals from dogs to rabbits and even your cat must have a healthy weight. Like humans, when they are overweight the tendency for disease and illness to happen is increased.
Overweight pets are more likely to contract diseases and illnesses and stay sick longer. They are more likely to have symptoms of old age at a younger age. They are also more likely to have a shortened life span.
Protecting your pet and helping them to lose weight is something that you can do. Consider the pages here, each dedicated to another method for you to help your pet to lose weight. You will find yourself able to finally know that your pet is the healthiest it can be.
These pages help you to see 50 ways that you can help your pet to lose weight and to stay fit. Incorporate them into your daily life and your pet will thank you for it. From knowing the facts to playing with them, their weight is your top priority!
Tip 1: Getting Them Examined
One of the first things that you can do for your pet is to actually have them examined for their physical fitness. Even if you know that your pet is overweight and needs to lose that weight, an exam should be one of the first things that you do for them.
Meet with a veterinarian that you trust and that you know is committed to helping your pet. Interview them; get to know them so that you can trust them with your pet's care.
Although this is not a specific tool to help your pet to lose weight, it is a crucial first step. Many people do not realize that a few pounds overweight can be far too much weight for the pet. A doctor can help to point out specifically what needs to be done for your pet.
Your doctor should also be able to monitor your pet's progression from their current level to the next, healthier stage. They should be your ally in fighting your pet's overweight problem.
Tip 2: Address Illness
In some situations, pets are overweight because of illnesses or hereditary factors just like people are. This is not the normal situation, but if it is what your pet is struggling with, it needs to be addressed.
To find out if your pet is facing an illness or even a disease that is causing them to gain weight, talk with your trusted vet. They can help you to rule this out as a cause for your pet. Most importantly, if it is indeed a problem having to do with illness, it can be treated with medications or other therapies so that they pet is not suffering.
Some animals, like dogs can have this happen due to old age, too. Yet, even when this is the situation, your pet can still be helped with their veterinarian’s advice and treatment options. Most vets are able to notice this difference in weight gain by simply an examination or through blood tests that are run on the pet.
You definitely want to know and get treated any illness that could cause this type of situation. Your pet will find relief in getting the help that they need.
Tip 3: Use Treats As Treats!
It likely sounds incredibly simple. Treats should be given as treats, not regular staples in the dog's diet. The fact is that many people give their pets too many treats. All animals can have treats unless the vet says otherwise, but you have to give this to them sparingly.
Giving them too many treats can cause them to shy away from foods that they need in their diet. If they are filled up on treats, will they eat the nutritionally balanced food that you are given them as well? Chances are they will not.
In addition, most treats designed for pets are not healthy options in the least. Most are filled with fats and other products that can easily cause the pet to become overweight.
Instead of giving treats on a regular basis as a diet element, use treats for training purposes, for distraction from nail cutting and even as a way to reward your pet. Just limit the amount that you give them as well as the frequency that they get them. This will help your pet to lose weight by reducing the number of calories they get from treat products.
Tip 4: Monitor Calorie Intake
All animals, including humans, have a recommended intake of calories per day. Calories are what the body uses to have energy and they are a way of monitoring how much you take in. In all animals, there are also recommendations of how many calories that animal should get.
Unfortunately, there is no way to pinpoint this right here for you because all animals that consume calories do so based on their age, size, physical activity and their overall type. An example is that of a dog that is middle sized. He should be consuming about 700 calories per day.
Talk to your vet about how many calories your pet should be taking in each day. You will be surprised by what it should be as soon as you start looking at the packaging for their foods. Purchase pet foods that do tell you the calorie count as these are often the healthiest options for you pet.
Strive to meet your pet's calorie intake goal. This allows your pet to get the nutrition that he or she needs but helps them to keep off excess weight as well. It is simply a matter of monitoring portion size and food type to reach their calorie goals.
Tip 5: Reduce Calories
It is important to realize that if a pet is overweight right now, he needs to consume less than his recommended calorie intake to lose weight.
As your body takes in too much food, food is stored as fat in the tissues of the body so that when there is not enough food, this stored fat can be used to help them to get through the rough time. Most pets will never have that situation since you are taking care of them.
To help them to lose this stored weight, then, you must reduce their calorie intake by a small amount so that their body uses stored fat instead of using the foods that they are given for energy needs.
Depending on what your pet's calorie intake goal is, reduce this number given to them by just 5 to 10 percent. This small reduction will help them to use stored fat as energy and therefore help them to lose weight. More than this amount will cause the body to go into starvation mode which will not allow them to use stored fat. Monitor restrictive diets closely here!
Tip 6: Keep Treats To 10 Percent
As mentioned earlier, treats are a large factor in many pet's diets and that is a problem. The good news is that you can monitor how much they take in and how much you give them in a day.
Your goal should be to make sure that no more than 10 percent of the pet's intake of food comes from treat related products. Any and all treats should have the dietary information that your pet needs so that you can record it. This does not mean that you have to sit down with a piece of paper and keep notes.
Instead, know what the calorie goals are for your pet and multiply this number by .10. This number is the number of calories that are allowable to come from treat products. Anything more than this and your pet is consuming too much of their diet on treats.
Look for treats that are no more than that 10 percent. Or, break treats in half and do not give them the full recommended serving size. Pay attention to the numbers on packages!
Tip 7: Neutering Won't Hurt
A common misconception that many people believe is that having their pet spayed or neutered will cause them to gain weight. This is false!
What is true is that animals that have been neutered and spayed will use less energy and therefore should require fewer calories in their diet. With that thought kept in mind, realize that all pets that have had this done should also see a small reduction in their calorie intake requirements.
When you talk to your vet about this procedure, learn what your pet will need to have done afterwards. It is important to realize that pets will likely consume slightly less in terms of food naturally, but again that food needs to be based on a healthy diet.
Provide your pet with the nutrition that it needs but be sure that the calories are less after they have been fixed. This will help them to continue to burn stored fat too.
Tip 8: What's The Right Diet?
Every pet will have a diet that is the healthiest for them. That means that every type of pet will have a unique diet requirement, though.
Your fish will have a diet requirement as will your ferrets. Depending on the type of pet that you have, work with your pet to determine the healthiest diet for them. Pets like reptiles, birds, fish, dogs and cats all have requirements in the foods that they eat.
You can find resources on the web as well as through your pet's vet to help you to determine the best foods for them to eat, based on their weight, type and dietary needs. Most importantly, you will know they are getting a healthy diet of foods that will keep them healthier.
Most diets that are made of high quality foods specific to their dietary requirements will not cost nearly as much as you think, and likely are about the same in costs as what you currently feed your pet.
Tip 9: Go Green In Their Diets
Many pet foods are based on healthy, whole foods. Some are not. If you flip over the package of dog food, for example, what are the first words in the ingredient list? If you can not say them, chances are that they are less than whole foods.
The ingredients at the front of the list have the largest percentage in the food packaging. With that thought in mind, realize that some are filled with fillers, non natural foods and even chemicals.
Switch your pet to a diet that is based on whole foods, keeping within their dietary restrictions. You will find that this allows your pet the best nutrition in their diet and takes out many of the fattening qualities of the food, too. Many people find that this is the best way to keep a pet healthy: whole, natural foods.
You can find these foods on the web or in quality pet stores. Again, they likely do not cost as much as you believe they do and they may even be within your current spending amounts.
Tip 10: Avoid People Food
Pets that consume a lot of people food are not likely to be able to maintain their current weight. Chances are good that they will be overweight because it is much harder to maintain portion controls and to maintain calorie intakes in people food.
If you feed your pet people food, you will need to remove spices and seasonings. You will need to count the calories in that food and keep them away from foods that are overly fattening to their diets. Most importantly, you will need to insure they are getting a good, healthy, balanced diet.
Although many pets will not eat anything but people food, weaning them off of this and into a healthier diet lifestyle should be a priority. Weaning them may take time and patience, but nearly all pets can be switched to a healthier diet over time.
Work with your vet to help you to do this. Be sure that any people food fed to your pet is food that is balanced for them. That slice of pizza should not be the first thing in their dish in the morning!
