{"id":3056,"date":"2019-01-28T13:21:05","date_gmt":"2019-01-28T13:21:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/?page_id=3056"},"modified":"2024-01-08T11:06:44","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T11:06:44","slug":"how-to-put-your-dog-on-a-diet","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/caring-for-your-pet\/diet-exercise\/how-to-put-your-dog-on-a-diet\/","title":{"rendered":"How to put your dog on a diet"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Sometimes those pleading puppy dog eyes can get the best of a firm owner, but we all know that too
\nmany treats can make your furry friend fat.<\/p>\n

Before you put your dog on a diet you need to consider its nutritional needs<\/strong>. If
\nthey’re just a little chubby you might just need to reduce heir portion size, but it’s always good to
\ntake your pooch to the vert for a thorough health check before making any changes to their diet<\/strong>.
\nYour vet will advise if your dog\u2019s current diet is suitable, suggest a meal plan or changes you can make, and
\noffer support and guidance through your dog\u2019s diet phase.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Not every dog is the same so you will need to cater your dog<\/strong>\u2019s specific
\nnutritional needs<\/strong>. However, there are some basics that will always apply!\u00a0 Your dog needs a
\nmix of vitamin and minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The priority should be high-quality
\nanimal proteins<\/strong>, which will also provide your dog\u2019s fat needs. Animal protein should be about 75%
\nof your dog\u2019s meal, followed by whole fruits, vegetables and grains.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Avoid overly processed products<\/strong>, which could contain added sweeteners or meat
\nby-products. As a general rule of thumb, your dog will get the best nutrition from foods you prepare
\nfrom scratch<\/strong>. When that isn’t possible be sure to check the nutritional information on the
\nfood you’re purchasing<\/strong> to find the best quality meals for your animal. Swapping to a higher
\nquality food with better nutritional value will improve both your dog<\/strong>\u2019s health and their
\nwaistline!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Now your dog\u2019s nutritional needs are sorted it’s time to make sure they’re getting enough
\nfood to fuel their energy needs<\/strong> throughout the day. It’s simple, the more exercise your dog
\nneeds the more they need to eat<\/strong>! Plus during winter your dog will need a little more food to keep
\nthem warm. If you identify that you<\/strong>\u2019re over-feeding your dog<\/strong>, it’s time to
\nexercise some portion control<\/strong>. Reduce the portion size gradually<\/strong>, so you don\u2019t
\nshock their system, but make sure you’re consistent; don’t give into those pleading eyes!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If you’re feeding your four-legged pal the right foods and the correct portion size but they’re still
\non the chubby side you may also need to cut back on the treats<\/strong>. Treats are great for training
\nand rewarding your dog, and sometimes just because, but they’re usually high in calories.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Treats can be given on a regular basis as long as the portions are small. Your dog will be just as
\nexcited for the treat and probably won’t even notice the reduced portion in their haste to gobble it up!
\nAlternatively change the nature of the treat<\/strong>\u2014your dog will love a cuddle and some
\nplaytime almost <\/em>as much as that biscuit!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Remember, putting your dog on a diet is a gradual process and takes commitment, but they’ll soon be a
\ntrimmer, happier and, most importantly, healthier!<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sometimes those pleading puppy dog eyes can get the best of a firm owner, but we all know that too many treats can make your furry friend fat. Before you put your dog on a diet you need to consider its nutritional needs. If they’re just a little chubby you might just need to reduce … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “How to put your dog on a diet”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3057,"parent":2012,"menu_order":263,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"sub-sub-details-page.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3056"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3056"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3056\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3071,"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3056\/revisions\/3071"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2012"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zookie.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3056"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}