Dealing With Obese Labrador Retrievers

Labrador Retrievers are known to have hearty appetites and are often overfed causing weight to increase even above what is normal. Obesity is a major problem in people nowadays. It leads to the development of various diseases causing series of death to a number of people. Obese people, even those who are not, are spending time, effort and money to address this problem. The government is also active in battle against obesity.

Obesity troubles not only people alone but also dogs. Yes, Fido is in danger! Obesity in dogs is a serious problem. Obese dogs are more prone to have high blood pressure, heart disease, respiratory difficulties, diabetes mellitus, back and joint pain, hip dysplasia, heat intolerance and skin problems. These diseases contribute to the deterioration of your pet's health and can eventually shorten the lifespan.

A pet is considered obese when he is 15-20% over his maximum weight for its breed. So if the normal weight for Labrador Retrievers is 60-75 lbs (27-34 kg), your dog's weight should not be over 20% higher than the normal. You can tell that your dog is obese by simply looking at it. But you can make sure if your dog is really obese by placing your hands on your pet's rib cage with your thumb on his back. If you feel the dog's rib easily without pressing too hard, then your pet is obese. You will also notice that the abdominal area behind the rib is wider than the chest when viewed from either side or above.

There are lots of reasons why dogs gain weight. Dog owners should always remember that their dog's health largely depends on their hands. They should control the amount of food during mealtime. Instead of giving one full meal, better give several small meals a day to help in the digestion. Extra snack, treats, table scraps and high fat diets also contribute to your dog' obesity. Dogs who lack exercise and physical activities are more likely to become obese. The same to older dogs and dogs with orthopedic injuries because they are less active.

Better consult your vet if you suspect that your dog is obese. Ask for suggestions on weight reduction plan and proper diet and what foods they should eat. It is also important to ask what and how much exercise your pet needs. Remember that too much exercise can also cause problem to your dog.

Weight loss cannot be achieved over night. Just be consistent and be patient for soon you and your dog will reap your reward.

About the author:
Richard Cussons writes articles about Labrador Retrievers and other dog breeds. Discover tips on training Labradors at labradorsavvy.com.

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Check Your Labrador For Worms

It could be alarming knowing that your Labrador is infested with worms. What we are talking here are worms, meaning to say, different types of worms. Maybe some thinks that worms are all just the same but, no they're not. Worms vary and are different from one another.

Roundworms

Roundworms, as the name implies, have round bodies of about three to five inches long. They live in the dog's intestines but they do not attach to the intestinal wall like hookworms. Also called ascarids, they consume partially digested foods.

Dogs pick up roundworms by sniffing the ground, especially sniffing other dog's feces. They can also pick it up through their coat, paws and muzzle and ingest them while grooming.

Infected mother dogs can also pass roundworms to their puppies through nursing. Symptoms of roundworm infestation in dogs include vomiting, diarrhea, pot-bellied appearance, dehydration, weight loss and loss of condition. Some cases may show no symptom but severe infestation may lead to lung damage causing breathing problems.

Hookworms

Hookworm, just like in roundworm, is named based on its characteristic. They feed by hooking onto the wall of the intestine. These parasites can cause the dog's intestines to bleed because of their sharp teeth.

Hookworms can be picked up by your dog from the ground or from an infected nursing mother. Severe infestation of hookworms can be life-threatening to puppies. Symptoms of hookworm infestation include dermatitis, pneumonia, enteritis, bloody diarrhea, blood loss, weight loss and anemia.

Whipworms

Whipworms are about ¼ of an inch long, smaller compared to other intestinal parasites. Whipworms, as the name implies, are whip-shaped with skinny head and enlarged tail.

The head is its digestive end and the enlarged one is its reproductive end. Large number of whipworms in a dog can inflame the intestine tissue and may result to bloody diarrhea. Whipworms can be picked up from the ground or from feces of other dogs.

Symptoms of whipworm infestation include watery and bloody diarrhea, weight loss and general debilitation.

Tapeworms

Tapeworms have long, ribbon tape appearance, that's why they are called tapeworms. They live and lay eggs in your Labrador's guts and these eggs are then released with the fogs feces.

Adult tapeworms are about eight inches long and are made up of small segments of about 1/8 of an inch long. Itchy anus and crawling segments in the surrounding area may indicate tapeworm infestation. Severe infestation of this intestinal parasite may cause debilitation and weight loss.

Infestation of these intestinal parasites can be very much treated. Ask your veterinarian for suggestions on the proper deworming of your puppy.

Richard Cussons is not just a writer but also a great lover of dogs. Discover more about a Labrador at this site dedicated to Labrador dogs.

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