Is your dog overweight? Vets say 50% of Australian dogs are!

One of the leading causes of obesity in pets is over feeding and feeding the wrong types of food. Our friends over at My Companion are creating individually curated meals specialised for each individual dog. Owners are able to design delicious, nutritious meals that are delivered fresh and in pre-packed portions.

What better way to take the guess work out of feeding your best friend!

Hydrotherapy at Hound Health is a fantastic way to help your overweight pet begin their journey to becoming a slimmer, happier and more active dog. Excess weight places additional impact and strain on joints which can make regular walks difficult, however kick starting your dog's weight-loss journey with hydro will reduce this strain thanks to the buoyancy of the water. Sessions are more rigorous and so the equivalent of a 1 hour normal walk can generally be done in approximately 20 minutes on the under water treadmill.

Our dogs crave our love and attention, when using positive reinforcement training to train your dog consider mixing up the regular food treats that many people often give, with praise such as cuddles and belly scratches, or by giving them their favourite toy. It is of course ok to also give food treats to your dog, however keep in mind that these treats will be contributing to your dogs daily calorie intake.

Many owners are tricked into overfeeding their dogs with the big puppy dog eyes are hungry pooches often give us. Be strong in these instances and remember that over-feeding is actually harming your best friend, provided they are receiving a nutritious, balanced diet than there is no need for extra food. Also, dogs like children can be very fussy eaters at time, if your dog is a fussy eater be strong willed and don't provide them with an alternative. By craving in to their fussy eating habits, you are in fact reinforcing this behaviour, making the pattern much harder to break in the future.

If you want longevity for your best friend, it is vital to keep them at a healthy weight. Just like with us humans, when dogs become overweight all the body systems and organs are put under additional stress making every day functions that much harder. With this comes a world of health issues, such as diabetes, arthritis, heart disease and high blood pressure, just to name a few. Be a responsible pet owner and keep your best friend fighting fit by adhering to these Hound Health tips!