Doodles dogs are typically athletic and healthy pets. Goldendoodles, Bernedoodles, and Labradoodles are great dogs for people that live active lifestyles. However, it is possible for any dog to become overweight or obese. Pet obesity can lead to serious health problems; that’s why it’s important to take steps to prevent pet obesity.
The problem with pet obesity
According to a survey from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 55.8% of dogs are overweight or obese.
How can you tell if your dog is overweight?
This varies from dog to dog, but generally speaking, dogs are overweight if they exceed 15 percent of their ideal weight. They are obese if they are above 30 percent of their ideal weight. Our Standard Goldendoodle puppies typically reach an ideal weight between 50 and 60 pounds. Your veterinarian can help you determine your dog’s ideal weight.
Overweight and obesity can cause serious health problems for your dog. Dogs that are overweight or obese are at an increased risk for a range of health problems:
- arthritis
- diabetes
- heart disease
- hypertension
- skin infections
- respiratory problems
- cancer
- shorter lifespan
Ways to keep your Doodle at a healthy weight.
Keeping your Doodle at a healthy weight is the best way to ensure that he lives a long, healthy, and happy life. Here are a few things that you can do to help your dog stay within a normal weight range.
Play or walk everyday.
Walking your dog daily is good for your pet’s health, and it’s good for your health, too! You can also look for new ways to keep your dog physically active. The important thing is that your dog gets physical activity every single day.
Choose healthy portion sizes.
Some dogs can self-regulate how much they eat; they stop eating when they are full, and they are able to sustain a healthy weight. However, if your dog eats any time there is food in the bowl, you need to control the amount of food that enters the bowl.
Limit treats your dog eats.
Using treats to train your Doodle dog, or to reward him for a job well done is perfectly fine. However, you want to be careful when feeding your dog treats.
Maybe you give your pet a treat… or five. Then your significant other gives your dog a few treats. So do your children. A single treat doesn’t contain a significant number of calories, but those treats can rack up quickly. The trickiest part is that it’s difficult to keep track of just how many treats your dog gets throughout the day.
Avoid feeding your dog from the table.
There are several reasons why you should not give your dog table scraps.
- It’s difficult to keep track of how many extra calories your dog gets.
- It promotes begging.
- Some foods that are safe for people are harmful for pets.
- Your dog may grow accustomed to steak and hamburger and turn his nose up at his dry kibble.
Talk to a vet.
Your dog’s veterinarian can help you develop a plan to keep your dog at a healthy weight.