Dog Feeders - Using Them to Control Your Pet's Weight by Jennifer Akre

Have you ever really thought about the weight of your pet and what it may mean to their body? Most people love lavishing their pets with toys and treats thinking of them as their furry children. The problem is what may be a little treat to a child may be a large treat to your small dog. Too many of these treats can lead to your dog being overweight.
While you may think a few extra pounds are not a big deal, that is because you are considering what a couple of extra pounds means on your body. On a human body, a couple of extra pounds aren't much. But on a dog body, that can be equal to an extra 20 or 40 pounds on your body, maybe even more if you have a very small dog.
Allowing your dog to be overweight could be setting him up for major health risks such as:
Breathing Problems - From too much fat pushing on their respiratory system.
Pain - The more weight your dog has, the more pressure and stress you are going to be putting on their joints, bones and muscles to hold their body up.
Diabetes - Just like people, dogs get this ailment too.
Heart Disease - Being overweight can lead to a number of heart problems like high blood pressure and heart failure in dogs.
Liver Failure - When dogs get too fat, some of that fat gets stuck in their liver and can keep it from working as it should.
Additionally, being overweight can cause your dog to have digestive problems, hair and skin problems, and even problems in reproduction.
It's time to act. If your pet is overweight, you need to do something about it, now.
No Treats
Start by cutting off the treats you are feeding your dog. While you think it's a nice thing to do, it's a big part of the problem. Your dog needs to learn the healthy meal in their dog feeders is all they need to have.
Limit Food
If you have had a policy where the dog feeders were always full and your pet could eat at any time, you need to change that policy. Instead, you need to read up on what amount is best for them to get back in shape and put that amount in their bowl.
You may want to purchase automatic dog feeders if you are away from home often. These dog feeders will get your pet on a schedule of knowing when their feedings are, as a container will open and allow them to eat at a predetermined time.
While your pet may pout and beg for food at the beginning, they will soon adjust to the dog feeders and be just fine. If they are really begging you could try to toss them some vegetables, which are good for them and low calorie foods.
Exercise
Finally, you do need to make sure your pet gets an appropriate amount of exercise. But, don't overdo it. Just like you can't jog a mile after being out of shape, neither can your pet. Start with a few minutes of exercise at a time and slowly build up their workout time.
Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space. Whether it's your living, bedroom, or even your deck or patio, there are many tips you can use to make those spots both functional and beautiful. Today, she offers advice on how to create a fabulous pet area by using the essential dog supplies and basic cat supplies that your pets need.
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