Four Ways to Maintain a Healthy Weight for an Adult Dog

How do you know if your dog is at a healthy weight and maintain it throughout his life? What can you do to help your pet lose weight?

1. Watch your dog’s weight. By losing weight, the animal can become healthier, but weight loss must be gradual and under control. To make sure your dog is losing weight at a normal pace, weigh him regularly, use a weight checklist to track his progress, and evaluate his body condition regularly.

In most veterinary clinics you can use scales for free. If you have a small dog, you can use a household scale by weighing it in your arms and then subtracting your own weight.

2. Turn on healthy activity. How to help your pet lose weight? If you feed your dog Hill’s Science Plan or Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic, you know he is eating healthy food. However, your pet’s weight management program is not complete without healthy exercise. It could be a game of fetch a ball or a walk in the park, but physical activity is a must.

3. Visit your veterinarian regularly. Visit your veterinarian regularly to make sure your pet’s weight management program is running smoothly. Your veterinarian knows what your dog’s ideal weight should be, at what rate he should lose weight, and what foods are best for each step of the weight management plan.

4. Maintain a healthy weight throughout your life. A dog weight management plan should not be temporary. Once she reaches her ideal weight, move on to a weight maintenance plan that includes regular exercise and proper nutrition.

Your dog may gain or regain weight more easily than others. Breed, age, dietary choices, health status, and a host of other factors can influence how quickly a dog gains weight and what nutrition they need to control it. If you think your dog needs a weight management program, check with your veterinarian about this.