Dogs are just like guys. They like to eat. They like to sleep. They like to lick their…well, you get the idea.
The point is, once you stop running after food, you’re bound to gain weight. That doesn’t bode well for man or beast. Take dogs in Britain, for example. Half the hounds in that country will die an early death because they’re too fat. That’s according to the veterinary charity, the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, which has been keeping an eye on the weight of dogs in the UK since 2006. Here’s the article from the Daily Mail.
And who’s to blame for the padded pooches? People. Who else?
People are to blame for just about everything. Sure, some things are God’s fault, but more things are people’s fault. Dogs go along with everything, which is why people like them so much.
In this case, people are to blame because they’re overfeeding their dogs and/or not giving them enough exercise. Just like people, dogs gain weight when they eat too much relative to how much they move. And just like people, dogs with too much extra weight have an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other unpleasantries.
How can you tell if your dog is too fat? Stroke his or her side. If you can’t feel the ribs, your dog might be packing extra pounds. And if you find a hidden stack of Oreo’s under the pillow in the dog house, that’s not a good sign either.
If you’re concerned about your dog’s weight, talk to your vet. And if you’re concerned about your own weight, talk to your doctor.
Tags: diet, dogs, exercise, health, health tip, Lisa Pedace, obesity, PDSA, the Daily Mail, the diet joke
