Veterinarians agree that the main contributors to making animals fat are “eating too much and lack of exercise — just like in humans.”  Overfeeding can occur with the dog’s regular food or with getting to many additional treats.  When giving treats to a dog, the dog’s regular diet should be cut back accordingly.

Health risks related to dog obesity include:

Arthritis, ligament injuries, spinal disc problems, hip dysplasia, heart failure, diabetes, kidney failure, blindness, liver disease, pancreatitis, cancer, respiratory difficulties and heat stroke.

Many dog owners don’t even realize their dog is overweight. If you can’t easily feel your dog’s ribs underneath a padding of fat and no waistline is showing, the dog probably needs to lose some weight.

Older dogs that move less don’t need as much food as active dogs and the feeding chart on the dog food package should be used only as a loose guideline.  If you dog needs to loose weight, cut back a little and help him or her to get more exercise.  If you give treats use treats that are low in calories, such as carrots, ice cubes or green beans.  If you do choose to use commercial dog treats, pay special attention to the ingredients to make sure that you are not making things worse.

Remember that your dog values your attention just as much as a treat, so spending time with you exercising will make him just as happy and much healthier.  An added benefit will usually be better behavior on your dog’s part and he or she will live longer, be healthier (which will save money on health care) and be a more enjoyable companion.

Additional Dog Health Resources

Technorati Tags: dog diet, dog food, Dog Health, dog obesity

Aspartame, a common artificial sweetener is what is known as a neuro-excitatory chemical.  It can cause seizures in people and actually increases the appetite. I would not give it to a dog and frankly I don’t eat it myself.

Be extra cautious about another artificial sweetener called Xylitol.  It kills dogs by destroying their livers.

A natural alternative sweetener that should be safe for you and your dog is called Stevia.

Frankly, there shouldn’t be to many situation where you are feeding your dog something that might have an artificial sweetener in it, but in case you do, be careful and read the ingredients.

Technorati Tags: artificial sweetners, dog food, people food for dogs

In light of this terrible situation I did a little research and came up with a few ideas for saving money on caring for you dog.

Saving Money on Dog Expenses

Save on Dog Food – making food for your dog yourself is not only better for your pet but can also be cheaper if you use fresh, “bargain-priced” ingredients. There is no doubt that it takes more effort but it can save you a bit from what you would typically spend on any of the better known brands of dog food and it will likely save on veterinary costs down the road and your dog will be healthier and happier.

You also may be able to buy some ingredients in bulk (freezing them is necessary) which will create a bigger discount and reduce the number of trips to the store.

Save on Your Dog’s Health Care – Prevention is always the best way to save on health care whether for dog or human. Again, food is the number one health factor so it should be high in quality and nutrition. Next make sure your dog gets exercise and has proper living conditions.

Checkups and vaccinations: Not all vaccinations are necessary, so you can save some money by only allowing vaccinations for diseases that are common to your area. According to many veterinarians boosters do not need to be given as often as is custom. In fact they can often harm your dog’s health, so question your vet persistently to make sure your dog is not getting any shots that are unnecessary.

If you have multiple pets you can normally get a discount at the vets if you take them in at the same time.

Having your dog spayed or neutered will also reduce the risk of several diseases and cancers. Check with county animal shelters and rescue shelters to get the best price for these procedures.

Save on Grooming – Brushing teeth, bathing and nail trims done at home can save money. Resist buying accessories, toys, etc. that are just passing fancies and focus on the basic needs of your pet. Keep it simple and you will both be better off.

If you have additional ideas on how to save money on dog expenses that you would like to share feel free to comment below.

Technorati Tags: dog expenses, dog food, save money