Many people think that a pudgy pup is adorable, and may not regulate their dog's weight because they like the appearance of a huskier dog. Yet according to Pet MD, overweight dogs are at risk to a variety of different fatal medical conditions. In fact, pet owners should always regulate their animal's weight. Veterinarians say that many pet owners don't understand just how essential this health tip is.

Overwieght pets are at a high risk to cardiovascular disease, arthritis, or diabetes. While your pet may seem to be coping with the extra weight now, it could present serious problems as the dog ages. You can best determine if your pet is obese by using a body condition score. A body condition score can easily by found online using a Google search, and will show pictures of what your pet looks like and what his ideal body looks like. You may need to feel your dog to see whether or not he or she seems to have excess fat. This can sometimes be hard to judge by the eye, especially if a dog has a lot of fur hiding his or her actual shape.

You can also assess your dog's shape by standing over him or her and looking down. Veterinarians agree that you should be able to feel a dog's ribs but not see them. If you can see your pet's ribs, he or she is too thin and needs to bulk up a bit. If you can't see them and you place your hands on the side of your pet's chest and still can't see the ribs, then your animal is overweight. Both dogs and cats should have a taper at their waist between the abdomen and the area where the hip goes into the socket. Overweight dogs are typically egg shaped, rather than hourglass shaped.

Dogs that are overweight at a young age will typically only get larger and larger as time goes on. Extremely obese dogs tend to have a pendulous abdomen, hip fat, and neck fact. All of this is very noticeable. Pets don't typically reach obesity of this caliber until they are around the age of seven. If you want to determine your pet's obesity levels through other means, you can take him or her to the vet for measurements and have the veterinarian plug these into a computer to see who the dog compares with a body fat index.

Using an index can help to prove exactly how much weight your pet needs to lose. If you choose to go it alone with your pet's weight loss, then you should still take your pet to the vet every six months or so to weigh them on an animal scale and see their progress. If your pet is overweight, the best way to regulate the problem is to limit your anima's food intake by 25%.

Also, dogs will lose weight rapidly if they are given adequate exercise. Ideally, you should work your dog up to a workout of two 30-minute walks each day. When you are helping your dog diet, remember that rapid weight loss can come with medical conditions. Instead, it is wise to gradually allow your dog to lose the weight through a steady excessive routine and limited feeding time.

If you need more information about pet health and dog weight loss, it is always best to get a local veterinarian on your side to give you advice. A veterinarian may be able to recommend another diet pet food that could help you achieve your goals for your animal, or can assist you if your pet suffers from a weight-related illness. If you want more information contact a local vet using this directory today!