The holidays are coming up and this can be a great time for pet owners and their pooches, too but one thing that’s important to avoid is letting your dog or other pet overeat this time of year. It’s understandable that anyone can overeat during the holiday season and the same thing can be said for your pet.
While overindulging during the holidays isn’t good for humans, it’s even worse for our dogs. We can easily work it off and make up for a little holiday splurge but our four-footed friends may face even more complications.
Studies have shown that weight gain for dogs is twice that of humans during the holiday season when adjusted according to body size. It may tempting to want to slip a little ham or turkey to your best furry friend this holiday season but when you think about the damage it could be doing to your dog’s health, it should change your mind.
The average 20 pound dog only needs about 250 calories per day for good health. It is estimated that they consume around 500 on Thanksgiving Day and since roughly 40% of dogs are already overweight, this can cause even more complications.
Overweight dogs can experience problems such as cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and hip dysplasia. Smaller framed dogs may be at even more risk for hip problems from increased weight gain.
Another reason you should feed your pet from the table during the holiday season is that there are certain “people foods” that can be dangerous or even poisonous to your pet. You should avoid feeding chocolate, onions, raisins and nuts, for example.
To avoid feeding your dog table scraps and to avoid seeing that pitiful begging look on his cute little face, feed your dog a healthy, nutritious, delicious dog food about an hour before the rest of the family plans to eat. You should also remove all scraps and trash from the kitchen as soon as possible after eating to prevent your dog from being tempted to dig into them or sneak a bite.
You can also look for special treats made especially for dogs. There are some healthy dog snacks that are made to be just as delicious as a home cooked meal to your little friend and it will be much healthier.
In addition to feeding Fido only healthy foods this holiday season, you should also remember the importance of his exercise. Don’t get so caught up in your holiday activities that he doesn’t get to walk or play regularly. Besides, it will help you burn off those extra calories you consumed while you’re at it.
