With pet obesity reaching epidemic levels, Purina® Dog Chow® Light & Healthy conducted a nationwide survey* to learn
more about dog owner perceptions of their pet’s weight, management,
exercise and feeding habits.
The Dog Chow Light & Healthy survey identified
a gap between owners who understand and acknowledge their pet’s weight problem,
compared to the actual number of dogs that are overweight (as reported by the Association
for Pet Obesity Prevention1). The
findings below summarize a number of factors behind this perception gap, as
well as common challenges owners face when managing their pet’s weight.
· 22% of dog owners surveyed believe their dog is overweight. This is in stark contrast to the reality that 53% of US dogs are actually overweight (as reported by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention1).
· 41% of dog owners surveyed rely on their veterinarian to determine if their dog is overweight.
· According to 36% of dog owners surveyed, ‘fed my dog smaller portions of the same dog food’ is the first action they took to manage their dog’s weight. When asked why they aren’t feeding a low calorie dog food, 40% of dog owners surveyed believe their dog will not like the taste.
· 77% dog of owners surveyed would rather exercise with their dog than go to the gym.
Tips For Slimming Down Your Heavy Hound
Helping your dog reach his ideal weight is important to his overall happiness and quality of life. Not only are healthy weight dogs able to exercise with ease, but his day-to-day activities are much more manageable. Furthermore, maintaining a healthy weight can help extend his healthy years.
- Count Calories: Just like people, dogs need to consume fewer calories than they burn in order to lose weight. While some owners may achieve this by simply reducing their dog’s portion size, this can leave the pet feeling less than satisfied. Instead, opt for a low calorie food like Purina Dog Chow Light & Healthy which contains 20 percent fewer calories than Purina Dog Chow Complete & Balanced, and includes a tender and crunchy kibble blend , is steam-cooked at the start, and is made with high quality protein sources including real chicken. Its Light in calories, big on taste.
- Perfect Portions: Portion control is also essential to both weight loss and healthy weight management. Always feed your dog as directed, and use an eight ounce measuring cup and on package feeding instructions to ensure you are providing him with the correct portion at each meal.
- Get Moving: Slowly start adding physical activity to your dog’s daily routine. Exercise will not only help him maintain a healthy weight and support overall good health, but it can also strengthen the bond you share with your pet. Remember, it’s a good idea to check with your veterinarian before beginning any new exercise regime.
- Make a Plan: Develop a feeding plan that takes into account reduced calories, controlled portions and additional exercise.While it can be tempting, avoid sneaking your dog table scraps which are not complete & balanced and can sabotage his weight loss.
To find out more info about the Purina Light & Healthy check out their page Light & Healthy Don't forget to print your $2 coupon while you're there so you can save $ while purchasing your dog's next bag of food & enter for your chance to win free dog food shipped directly to you!! Giveaway will run From 5/27/2014-11:59PM 06/02/2014. Also Don't forget to tweet everyday for an extra chance to win! You do have 48 hours to respond to my email and confirm your winning entry or I will choose someone else to win the prize. I will also list it on the rafflecopter form after I choose my winner and if you're my winner and don't get your email check your spam folder. It is possible that it might have gone in there. Every mail service is different and every now and then I have an email that gets filtered into there myself.
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