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Does Spot seem to be sporting quite a belly these days? As a dog owner, it can be very easy not to realize a decline in your pet’s health until the damage is already done. Obesity is a very becoming a very real concern for pets and it’s up to us pet owners to do something about it. This article is going to discuss a few tips for recognizing obesity in your dog and how you can help get him back into shape.

You must realize that all dogs require exercise. Whether you have a Pomeranian or a Great Dane, every breed and size of dog must maintain certain levels of activity on a daily basis. Think about your dog’s average day from beginning to finish. If you can’t bring it to mind, keep an eye on him for a few days and write down his usual activities. For my dog, I drew a time line of his average day. In my timeline I wrote down when he woke up, his meal times, his usual trips outside, nap times, etc. This really helps to put into perspective whether your dog is truly lacking exercise or if a change of diet is required.

That brings us to our next topic: the great outdoors. Have you ever stepped outside on a nice crisp morning, taken a deep breath of cool air and revelled in how good it feels to connect with nature? Maybe you don’t do this all the time, but for a dog, this is a common comparison of how natural it is for them to crave the outdoors—because dogs are natively the “outdoorsy type.” Being outdoors can cause inspiration, not just ideas, but for activity—and this is what your dog needs. If your dog doesn’t get to go outside often enough, this could be an answer for why his spirit for activity has shrunk. Try taking him outside at least twice a day, and not just for a bathroom break. Encourage him to run about and play with toys. It might help to remember that your dog is more likely to want to play if he has someone to play with. If you don’t have a private yard, try taking him on pet-friendly walking trails or to do a dog park where he can socialize and spend some alone time with you. Walking is a great way to improve your owner-dog bond as well as lose weight. Going outside isn’t the only activity you can do. Dog steps are a great tool to use to give your dog a bit of exercise while staying in the comfort of your home (especially on rainy or snowy days!). Make a game of running him up and down the steps, such as pushing the stairs against your bed and hiding treats in your covers. This is a favourite of mine as I love watching my dog go crazy as he paws through the covers!

If your dog seems to be getting enough exercise but still seems to be overweight, it may be time to reconsider what you’re feeding him. Does he get a lot of table scraps? Most of the food humans eat simply doesn’t offer any health benefits to dogs. The canine diet is supposed to consist primarily of lean meat, supplemented with raw vegetables and specific types of grain. Feeding your dog leftover pizza crusts or the leftover casserole that no one else would eat is a sure-fire way to cause health decline. So cut out the human food! You can also try putting your pooch on a name brand diet kibble for a month or two to see if that helps.

If you have any worries that your dog’s health might be in jeopardy, it’s best to consult with a veterinarian. There could be underlying health issues causing a shift in your dog’s weight, or numerous other possibilities.

For more great information about caring properly for a dog, or to buy a durable set of dog stairs, please visit Help Your Pets.

According to surveys by the national Veterinary group, canine diarrhea is the third most common problem they treat in their offices. If your pup has ever had this issue, you know how much your day is changed around. Your dog's stomach problem may come from an overgrowth of bacteria in their intestines, but its also possible that this might be due to overfeeding. The more serious cases can include bloating or even stomach cancer.

If your dog's problems are mild and he is not vomiting or showing lack of appetite, you might be able to handle everything yourself. Here are some helpful tips you might use to help your dog's diarrhea. But if your little dog is vomiting or showing blood in his feces, you need to put him in the car and drive directly to the vet's office.

But sometimes stomach problems and loose bowels are just side effects from diet changes, super snacking or digging through the trash in the kitchen. Other causes could be due to parasites like worms that can make harmful bacteria grow in your dog's stomach and intestines.

If you see worms in your dog's feces, either spaghetti looking or rice like in appearance, you can get an OTC de-wormer medicine and this might just do the trick. However, certain parasites like Giardia and other non-visible worms are not easily treated by dewormers. This could lead to more stomach problems and more loose bowel movements. In such cases, you need to bring samples of fresh stool to the vet for further checking and verification so appropriate medicines can be administered.

You can probably handle mild stomach problems yourself simply by letting your dog fast without anything to eat just for one whole day. This with the assumption that all else is normal with your dog's health, with the exception of the loose stool.

After a day-long fast, give your puppy a meal of boiled chicken or rice with all the fat drained off and mixed with boiled rice. Just give your little dog friend small portions of food a half a dozen times a day until his feces are normal again. Sometimes, the bet might recommend that your doggy eat some yogurt so helpful bacteria will grow in his stomach and intestines.