Dog Lovers Newsletter August 28, 2014 TODAYS FEATURE How Tell If Your German Shepherd is Too Fat, Too Thin or Just Right Ive seen statistics that estimate anywhere from 40 to 60% of pets in the United States are obese. From my experience, it is probably pretty close to 50%. The obesity epidemic in dogs is (pardon the pun) a growing phenomenon not only in the United States but around the world. Ironically a significant number of pet owners do not consider their overweight pets as obese. They simply dont see the extra weight as a problem. Our very own Irreverent Vet has weighed in on the subject of “big boned” dogs here: Owners That Think Their Dog is Big Boned Half of Americas pets are overweight, but the question is why? How did we get so many fat dogs and cats? Is it because our pets are pampered? Spoiling your pet is more popular now than ever. Jeweled collars, canopy beds, complete wardrobes, doggy daycare and gourmet treats are the norm for todays pets and all this pampering has led pets to start packing on the pounds. Here is a great article relating to spoiling and obesity. If your German Shepherd is obese, please consider giving her a few fewer treats. The extra weight can really contribute to several health problems. Is your German Shepherd obese? Take our poll and tell us about it. I want to know about your pets and would love to hear what you think about the canine obesity epidemic. With warm regards, Dr. Debra P.S.: If you arent sure if your German Shepherd is obese, here is a great slide show to help you figure it out. Go to: How To Tell If Your Dog Is Too Fat, Too Thin or Just Right TODAYS PET TIP House Training Puppies For many new puppy owners, house-training is the first order of business, after lots of cuddling. It is also the first hurdle encountered by new puppy owners. The good news is that, unless the new puppy was previously confined for long periods in dirty living conditions, she will naturally tend to avoid doing her business in places where she must sleep or eat. This instinct is important when it comes to house-training. Its also one of the reasons for acclimating your puppy to a crate, or some other small area for times when she cant be supervised. © Copyright 1999-2014 PetPlace, All Rights Reserved
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 22:41:44 +0000