Preventing Obesity: Why Walking Your Dog Is Essential

As pet owners, we want to give our dogs the best life possible. Often, that means we give our pets whatever they want, even if sometimes what they want isn’t good for them. But when we indulge our pets too much it can have dire consequences, and one such example is obesity. Since one cause of obesity is lack of exercise, walking your dog every day can help in preventing obesity.

In a society where many pets are waited on hand and foot, obesity has become an increasingly pressing problem. Some studies report that anywhere from one third to more than half of dogs are overweight. While some find overly round animals to be cute, obesity can result in other health conditions developing. Obesity in pets is associated with health conditions affecting the metabolism, the heart, joints, and the immune system. The worst part is that once your pet reaches the point of obesity, it’s very hard to get them back to a healthy weight.

So the key here is prevention. In the long run, it’s easier to prevent obesity than treat it. The main causes of obesity relate to diet and exercise. That’s why owners should never overfeed or feed dogs the wrong food. (No table scraps for Fido!) It’s also why exercise is so important to your dog’s health. Luckily, walking is an easy way to provide your dog with the exercise they need. Walking your dog every day keeps them moving and burning calories, which staves off obesity.

Obesity is both unhealthy and uncomfortable for affected pets. Carrying too much weight puts unnecessary strain on their bodies that negatively impacts quality of life. While it’s tempting to laze around the house with our pets or give in to their begging at the dinner table, it’s an owner’s responsibility to do what’s best for our pets. Since they can’t do it themselves, we have to advocate for their health on their behalf. To keep your dog happy and comfortable (and out of the vet’s office), watch their diet and keep them active! Preventing obesity can be as easy as monitoring calorie intake and going on daily walks.

As pet owners, we want to give our dogs the best life possible. Often, that means we give our pets whatever they want, even if sometimes what they want isn’t good for them. But when we indulge our pets too much it can have dire consequences, and one such example is obesity. Since one cause…