In winter, not only humans tend to gain weight, but dogs may also become chubby without knowing it due to reduced activity.
Here are recommends 4 tips to keep dogs away from the trouble of gaining weight in winter. Owners who love their dogs should take notes quickly.
1. Increase indoor exercise
Too lazy to take your dog out for a walk in winter? It doesn't matter, you can play more games such as ball throwing and tug-of-war with your dog at home, and help it get more exercise indoors, which can also enhance the relationship between the owner and the pet.
2. Control dietary calories
The key way to prevent dogs from gaining weight in winter is to start with their diet. If your dog exercises less, the amount of food can be reduced by about 10% compared to usual, or you can choose low-fat, low-calorie dog food. In addition, it is also necessary to reduce feeding extra snacks, such as sweet potatoes, a seasonal delicacy in winter. Although sweet potatoes have many benefits for dogs, eating too much can easily lead to obesity.
3. Control indoor temperature
Many owners worry that their dogs will be cold at home and set the room temperature very high. However, when dogs stay in high-temperature environments, their body's fat burning will decrease, leading to fat accumulation. Therefore, the ideal room temperature in winter is best controlled at around 23°C and maintained at about 50% humidity.
4. Measure your weight regularly
Regular weighting is also a good way to monitor your dog's health. Once you find that your dog has gained weight, you can increase the amount of exercise or adjust it through diet in a timely manner to avoid discovering that your dog is out of shape only after the New Year.
The key to dog weight management in winter lies in the balance between "calorie intake" and "calorie consumption". As long as your dog maintains moderate exercise, avoids overheating indoors, controls its diet, and monitors its weight regularly, you can effectively prevent your dog from getting fat and spend the cold winter healthily!