Today, it isn’t uncommon to run across dogs that are overweight, including those that are severely obese. Whether you have adopted a dog that is overweight or your pet’s diet has gotten out of control, it is up to you to help your dog control his weight for optimal Labrador retriever health. Follow these tips to help your dog lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle overall.
Change His Food
Feeding your dog the right kind of dog food for Labrador retrievers is essential to ensure you can keep his weight under control. Don’t simply look at a food that claims to be diet food; instead, take a good look at the ingredient list so you can be sure to choose the best possible food for your Labrador retriever. A good food to feed an overweight dog is one that is high in fiber and low in calories. Instead of switching your dog over cold-turkey, blend his new food and old food together, gradually increasing the percentage of the new food until he is completely on the new food.
More Exercise
Exercise is an essential element to helping your Labrador lose weight for his Labrador retriever health. Make sure you take your dog for a walk every day so he can burn off some of the calories he is eating. If you have a fenced in backyard or a dog park nearby, allow him plenty of time to run off his energy and burn calories off the leash. All this exercise can help him lose the necessary weight.
Cut Back on Treats
It may seem cruel to get rid of all your dog’s special treats, but it is important to his health to cut back on the number of treats you are giving him. Make sure you take a good look at the contents of the treats to ensure you aren’t adding too many additional calories and fats to his diet, all of which can have a negative impact on his weight.
Obesity in Labrador retrievers can be a serious problem, wreaking havoc on their Labrador retriever health. To help your Labrador lose weight, it is important to choose a food carefully and keep his portion levels lower. It is also important to allow him plenty of exercise every day and cut back on the treats, just like people need to cut back on the junk food to see a reduction in weight.
