This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science Diet® Perfect Weight 10 Week Turnaround, but DogVills only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.
Can you believe my dog Tasha, pictured above, is almost 14? That’s a recent picture, too! Tasha was always pretty close to the perfect weight. She was incredibly active up until she hit about 12. She finally started slowing down (no more hour-long games of fetch), but she still has her youthful moments. I attribute her active lifestyle- along with a healthy diet- to her longevity.
Did you know that more than 50% of dogs are overweight in the US, according to a Pet Obesity Awareness Day Survey? I’ll be honest, while Tasha and my other girl, Maia, are ideal weights, my boy Cooper isn’t. He actually has psychological reasons for that, but we’ll get into those another day. Today we’re talking about how to know if your dog is the perfect weight or if he has a weight problem. Why? Because just like in humans, catching it early is the best way to prevent it from spiraling out of control.
How do you know if your dog is the perfect weight?
So just how do you catch that weight problem early? I’ll let Dr. Ashley Gallagher get you started on that answer. Check out her video, aptly titled “Is My Pet Fat?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAkKP1YfI94
If you watched it (which I’m sure you did!), you heard Ashley mention the PetMD Healthy Weight Calculator, right? It’s a great starting point to find out if your dog is on the right track. Check with your vet, though, to get an accurate ideal goal weight. The tool is designed for educational purposes and does not replace your vet’s advice. Tasha is a mix, mostly German Shepherd but just enough of something else to put her on the small side of the breed.
What do I do if my dog has a weight problem?
If your dog does have a weight problem, talk to your vet about the best steps to take. For the most part, you’ll do the same things we do when we need to lose weight: exercise and eat better.
You may want to try a food designed for pet weight loss, like Hill’s® Science Diet® Perfect Weight dog food. Featuring 100% precisely balanced nutrition, it’s designed to help your dog achieve and maintain a healthy weight. In fact, 70% of dogs (and cats!) who used Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight lost weight within the first 10 weeks.
The formula includes a breakthrough blend of natural ingredients and prebiotic fibers for gentle digestion. It’s available for both dogs and cats. This year, they added a brand-new formula to the mix specifically for small dogs: Hill’s Science Diet Small and Toy Breed Formula.
While I’m a big dog type of girl, this is great news for all of you toy breed parents out there! Did you know that small dogs and toy breeds actually make up 40% of the dog population? I had no idea? My brother has two small-breed dogs: a Dachshund and Westie Schnoodle (I don’t know if that’s a real dog or if he just made it up based on the breeds that make up Owen). So, hey, of my mom’s five four-legged grandchildren, 40% are small-breed dogs!
Get more information about Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight for dogs, then head to Pet360 and find out how you can save on orders when you autoship.
What do you do to keep your dog healthy and active? Tell us in the comments!
