Wondering If Your Dog Is Overweight? #PerfectWeight

This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science Diet® Perfect Weight 10 Week Turnaround, but Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

I'm helping Hill's Science Diet® spread the word about a common problem for dogs; being overweight or obese.  Many people don't notice or care when their dog begins to gain weight.  Sometimes they even think it's cute "Oh, look at that cute pudgy dog!".  But overweight pets aren't funny or cute.  In fact being overweight can lead to serious health problems in pets.  Once your dog begins gaining too much weight it may become difficult for her to exercise, which will make her not want to go for walks or do some of the other active things she used to enjoy, leading to even more weight gain. 

 



 



Being overweight for a dog is just as much a concern as it is for a human.  Did you know that over 50% of pets in the U.S. are classified as being overweight?  That's a startling statistic!  To help pet parents manage their dogs' weight, Hill's has introduced a new dog food.  Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight is a dog food for weight loss that can help you achieve your dog weight loss goals and get your dog to their perfect weight!  Learn the benefits of Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight dog food and take the Science Diet 10 Week Perfect Weight Turnaround Challenge!





Angel is clearly overweight and had a hard time just going for a short walk

Angel is an adorable Chihuahua.  Her owner had health issues and could no longer care for her, so Angel was surrendered to a rescue organization.  I hope Angel finds a loving home soon, with an owner that will address her weight issue before she develops other health problems.

If you're wondering whether or not your dog might be carrying too much weight, have a conversation with your Veterinarian.  Your Veterinarian can tell you what your dog's ideal weight should be and begin monitoring her weight.  Visit your Veterinarian at least once a year, every six months if your dog is very young or if she is an older dog so you can monitor her weight as she grows and changes.  This will help avoid serious health problems associated with dogs being overweight.

If your dog needs to shed some pounds, try Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight dog food.  To help your dog slim down for a healthier life, Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight contains:

> A breakthrough blend of natural ingredients

> Prebiotic fibers for gentle digestion

> 100% precisely balanced nutrition

My dogs' health and wellness are always a priority for me.  My dogs get weighed at the Vet twice a year and fortunately, they have both always gotten high marks for being at their ideal weight.  If only I could get to my ideal weight, I'd be a happy Pet Mama!  Losing weight is never easy, for people or pets.  Diet and exercise are key components to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.  It's up to us to ensure our dogs eat healthy food, get plenty of exercise, and have their weight monitored by their Veterinarian to ensure they maintain a healthy weight.

Look Ma!  I'm at my ideal healthy weight of 50 lbs

If your pet starts to gain too much weight, it's important to address the issue sooner rather than later, before it causes serious health issues.  Just a few pounds of weight gain on a dog can equate to a high percentage of their body weight.  To put things into perspective, Phoebe weighs 11 lbs, an optimal weight for her.  If she were to gain just 5 lbs, that would be 45% of her total body weight!  That's the same as a 150 lb person gaining 67 lbs!  If you gained 67 lbs wouldn't you be concerned?  If your 11 lb dog gained 5 lbs  you should be just as concerned.  On a small or toy breed of dog, gaining 3- 5 lbs can have a significant impact on the dog's health.  40% of dogs fall into the small or toy sized breed category.

To help avoid over feeding your dog:

** Measure your dog's food each time you feed them

** Choose an age and size appropriate diet. Puppies need more energy and fat for their growing bodies, small and toy breeds need more nutrition packed into a much smaller meal.  Senior spayed and neutered animals need less calories and fat

Long walks and hiking are two of my dogs' favorite activities!

Talk to your Veterinarian about increasing your dog's daily exercise routine little by little, being careful not to overdo it:

** Play some fun games inside the house like Find the Toy or Fetch

** Go just a little further in your regular walks each day

Many of my readers have said that one of their New Year's resolutions was for their dog to slim down and take off some extra pounds.  Now is the perfect time to start a new diet and exercise routine, if you haven't already.  Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight can help you achieve your pet weight loss goals!  Take the Science Diet Perfect Weight 10 Week Turnaround Challenge to help your dog slim down.  A healthy weight adds to your dog's quality of life and life expectancy!

Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight dog food is available in Adult sizes, and a new breakthrough nutrition formula for Small and Toy breed dogs to help smaller dogs achieve a healthy weight and improve quality of life.  The small/toy dog breed bags of food are available in 4 lb or 15 lb sizes.  Adult bags of food are available in 4 lb, 15 lb, or 30 lb sizes.

Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight pet weight loss food is available in your Veterinarian's office or at your favorite pet specialty store or online pet supply sites.