While we all love to pamper our furry family members with treats, here’s the scoop. Many pet parents don’t realize that their pets are overweight, over 55% of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. Obesity in dogs comes with significant consequences including arthritis, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes and cancer. Keep in mind the feeding recommendations on a bag of food are just that; recommendations. Every dog will have a different requirement for food. We also have to be mindful of extra food given including treats and table scraps, these all add on to your pets overall caloric intake.

Dogs at healthy weights live on average 2.5 years longer than overweight dogs.

There are so many benefits to exercising our dogs, and it’s not just to keep their weight in check. Proper exercise can help reduce behavioral issues and anxiety. Exercise helps build trust and confidence in you and their environment. Daily exercise helps keep our pets at a healthy weight and helps with hip and joint health. Daily sniffari walks (where you let your dog sniff to their heart's content) are also mentally stimulating, leaving our dogs content and tired. Aim for a minimum of 30 minutes to an hour a day to keep your furry friend happy, healthy and mentally stimulated. 

Feeding fresher can be as simple or as in depth as you would like it to be. This is as simple as adding fresh fruits and veggies in their bowl, you can use your leftover scraps as you cook dinner. When introducing new foods, always feed in small amounts and monitor your dog's reaction. With all foods, always feed in moderation. It’s OK to replace up to 10% of your dog’s daily meals with fresh food. Just adding a small amount of fresh food can improve digestion, boost energy and enhance immune system function. Just be sure to avoid these foods as they are toxic to dogs: Onions, Grapes, Raisins and Macadamia Nuts.