The Best Ways To Overweight Your Chihuahua

The Best Ways To Overweight Your Chihuahua

Have you ever seen an overweight Chihuahua? Unfortunately they aren't hard to come by. But for such a little dog, why is there a problem with this breed tending to be overweight?

This is not something that is inherently born in them, but many of them tend to gain weight because their owners overfeed them. This is why it is important to be aware of how much you feed your Chihuahua.

The more weight that your Chihuahua gains, the less active they will become. Most Chihuahua owners do not realize the dangers of their dog being overweight. They just think of their little pooch as being fat and cute. The fact of the matter is that obese Chihuahuas are vulnerable to a variety of illnesses that are related to poor eating habits. These include serious issues such as diabetes and heart attacks. Therefore, it is important to slim down your pleasingly plump doggie.

How do you know if your Chihuahua needs to lose weight? The first thing you must do is to do a physical assessment on your dog. If you are not able to feel your their ribs when run your hands their its sides, or if you cannot feel the tail bones of your pooch, you know that something is amiss.

Once you've determined you have an overweight Chihuahua you should take them to the veterinarian to see about putting your pooch on a weight loss program. You should not only determine how long your dog should be on a weight loss program, but also what weight your Chihuahua should attain.

You have to begin by putting your Chihuahua on a well-balanced diet. That means it should be made up of carbohydrates, proteins, and vegetables. Your doggie's diet should also be low on salt and sugar. Should you be feeding your dog table scraps? That would probably not be a good idea as it will only add to your dog's waistline. Just do comparison shopping of different dog foods. There are some foods that contain fewer calories than just regular dog food. Therefore, your dog can still eat the same amount of food, but will be consuming fewer calories. If you are one of those dog owners who believe that it is better to prepare your dog's food yourself, then you are going to have to reduce the portions that your dog will be eating. You should not cut the portions by more than 20% of the average size, as you want to take care not to starve your Chihuahua.

Just as it is important for people to exercise when on a weight loss program, Chihuahuas should too. It is advisable to take them on regular walks either in the park or around the block. Begin slowly at first, then gradually increase the speed and distance, as well as the amount of time you spend walking. It will not only do your doggie good, but the exercise will do you good as well. It is best for your Chihuahua to lose weight gradually. The slower it comes off, the less likely it is that it will return.

To best evaluate the progress that your Chihuahua is making with their weight loss program you should take them to your veterinarian.

With a healthy diet and the right kind of exercise, you will soon see the trim Chihuahua that you once had.