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If people are constantly commenting on how fat your dog is, it's probably time to put him on a diet. Overweight dogs are usually unhealthy dogs and they require a good deal attention from their owners to get them back on track. Since dogs rely soley on thier owners for their food, it's important to provide your pet with a nutrious and healthy diet.

Before changing your dog's diet, you should visit your veterenarian and ask what your dog's ideal weight should be. Your vet will be able to tell you how much weight your dog should lose to be healthy.

1. Get the vet to give your dog a thorough check up. Some dogs have weight problems simply because of health issues. If your dog has trouble getting around because of a hip or joint problem, then they won't be getting enough exercise to help them mainatain a healthy weight. Some dogs have digestive issues that keep them from digesting the proper nutrients. This can also cause weight gain. A good check up from the vet is a must before putting your dog on any diet program.

2. Purchase some high quality weight control dog food. Your vet will be able to recommend a good brand that you can find at any local pet store. You should also begin to feed your dog only on a schedule. Some dogs eat because they are bored, and if there is food available at all times, like humans, they will begin to overeat. Be sure to provide plenty of chew toys so that your dog does not just eat out of sheer boredom. Increase your dog's play and exercise time. More exercise means burning more calories and your dog will be happy that you are spending more time with him.

3. At first, table scraps and doggie treats should be very limited. Once you see that your dog is beginning to lose weight and be more active, you can cautiously introduce these back into the diet.

Do these simple steps for at least two weeks and you should see a difference in your dog's health, engery levels and weight. Take your dog back to the vet after a month for a weight check and health check up.

Learn more about this author, Jennifer Brister.
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