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Diane Wells of Atlanta Dog Agility recommends
the following tips to make sure your pet maintains a healthy weight and fitness
level.
Keep Active: An
active pet is a happy, healthy pet. Boredom and inactivity can lead to poor
overall health and destructive behavior.
Split Meal Times:
Feeding your pet twice a day, doesn’t mean you’re feeding them double the daily
allowance. Make sure to feed them half of their daily allowance in the morning
and half in the afternoon.
Weigh In: Consult a veterinarian to determine an
appropriate exercise program for your pet. Overweight and obese pets can develop many other health
problems including heart disease and Type 2 Diabetes.
Try Agility:
Agility classes are a great way for your dog to get the physical and mental
stimulation they need to stay healthy. Visit AtlantaDogAgility.com for more
information on classes in Atlanta.
Quality Food: Check the label and examine the
ingredients. Just like humans, pets need to maintain a healthy diet.
Little By Little: If your pet is overweight, eliminate
table scraps, cut back a little on food, and cut down on treats. Reduce your
pet’s weight slowly and stick with it.
Daily Dose of
Exercise: Exercise is as important for your pet as it is for you. A 15- to 30-minute walk twice a day is
a great way to build muscles and stamina and get you and your dog in shape.
Social Butterflies:
One great way for pets to stay active is to play with other pets, whether it’s
at doggy daycare, at the park, or at home. If you’re looking to add another pet
to your family, a site like Kijiji, which fosters local connections, makes it
easy to welcome the perfect pet into your home. In fact, there are currently
over 2,600 listings in the pets category on Atlanta.Kijiji.com. Kijiji also hosts a Pet Adoption
category, where many local shelters advertise pets.
Treats Count: One
large milk bone is equivalent to a cup of food. If you feed your pet three milk
bones per day, they are really eating an extra three cups of food.
Reward Properly: Shower
your pet with love not food! Try
using a scratch behind the ears or a game of catch as incentive or reward
instead of food. |
