Just like humans, dogs can get overweight. You might think your fat friend is so cute, but in fact, you're really harming your dog by allowing it to be overweight. If your dog is overweight, it will have difficulty living a healthy and long life because it may suffer from illness like heart disease.
Your dog became overweight because you fed them with too much food. Unlike humans, dogs will eat until they feel too full. When dogs don't always know where their next meal is coming from, their natural instinct(本能)is to eat everything that they can find in case they cannot find food again later. In this way, they are unlike cats because cats will control their intake of food and stop eating when they're no longer hungry. Besides, if you are not walking or exercising your dog, there is a good chance that they'll put on more weight than necessary.
What can you do for your overweight dog? First, be sure that your dog gets exercise every day. For example, play games in the yard, or take your dog for runs or long walks. These activities add up to lots of fat burning, and they're good for you, too. Second, stop giving your dog treats. We often don't think much of treating our dogs, but that can really be the most important cause of the problem. If you must give your dog treats, do try healthier foods like carrots.
Finally, be sure to measure (测量) your dog's meals exactly by using a measuring cup. You'll need to know exactly what your dog is eating every day to make sure that the portions(份量) are becoming smaller and smaller.
