Those extra pounds on your overweight dog may look all cute and cuddly, but they can actually be shortening the duration of his or her life measurably. In addition, an overweight dog is much more likely to succumb to a host of serious health problems, such as arthritis, hip dysplasia, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, lameness, and digestive problems. What you may not realize is that your overweight dog is suffering in silence from joint pain, intestinal discomfort, and just a lack of energy from carrying excess pounds.

No dog owner wants his or her dog to suffer from any of the above-mentioned ailments due to obesity. There are steps you can take to help your overweight dog lose those extra pounds safely. The very first thing you should do before taking matters into your own hands is consult with your vet. Only your vet can determine if there are any underlying health issues going on that are contributing to your dog's weight gain. Upon examination, if your dog is given a clean bill of health, the next step is to tackle his or her current diet.

First, your vet will probably give you some feeding guidelines according to your dog's size, breed, and ideal weight range. In general, small dogs need less food, and bigger dogs need more food. This is an obvious statement, but you may be unsure how much is enough or too much. Well, an 85-100 pound dog may require between 5 ½ and 6 ¼ cups of food per day, while a 10-25 pound dog will only require one to two and a quarter cups of food per day. If you are not sure how much to feed your dog, speak to your vet who can guide you in the right direction. Don't forget that your dog needs to exercise; so taking him or her for an extra walk each day may also help facilitate weight loss.

You Can Help Your Overweight Dog Lose Extra Pounds
How much or how little you feed your dog is not the only factor in helping your dog lose weight. An overweight dog needs to eat a nutritionally dense food that contains no meat by-products, no harsh chemical preservatives, no fillers, and no added colors. The good news is that Flint River Ranch dog food is made with only the highest caliber ingredients, such as chicken, fish, lamb, and whole grains for optimal nutrition. Dogs love the crunchy taste and aroma of our twice-baked dog food and treats, which means you can feel secure knowing that he or she is getting the vitamins, minerals, protein, and carbs that he or she needs to thrive. Since our food is nutritionally dense, less is needed per feeding, so you can easily reduce the number of calories your dog is ingesting. If you want to help your overweight dog lose those stubborn pounds, buy our fantastic Flint River Ranch dog food today for a slimmer tomorrow!

Buy Flint River dog food now.