Everything You Need To Know About The Importance Of Keeping Your Dog A Healthy Weight

Overweight dogs don’t choose to be that way. Sure they eat when given food but they don’t know the ramifications of doing so when done in excess. What most dog owners aren’t unaware of is there are similar dangers associated with having an overweight pet. 

Studies  show that as little as 5 extra pounds will make a dog susceptible to diabetes, heart issues, respiratory disease, hypertension, intra-abdominal cancer and osteoarthritis, plus extremely overweight or obese dogs can die up to 2.5 years sooner than healthy weight dogs.

This course features video lessons with actually dogs to showcase what a normal and overweight dog look like. As well it offers step by step instructions on assessing your overweight dog and how to adjust their diet accordingly. 

Learn To Recognize The Important Of Keeping Your Dog A Healthy Weight: 

  • What Is Fat?:
 Fat is actually a highly physiologically active tissue that produces hormones. These hormones, called Adipokines, in excess cause damaging inflammation and physiological “stress”. 

  • Medical Conditions Related To Excess Weight :
     Excess weight present for a long time, can lead to many undesirable health conditioning including, arthritic changes and osteoarthritis, adhesions, loss of or change to cell function, or changes to cell function causing cancerous tumors.

  • How To Recognized Your Dog Is Overweight The length of time and the severity of which your dog is overweight is proportional to the damage done. Even though 56% of dogs are overweight, 93% of dog owners think their dog is a healthy weight.Understanding that your dog is overweight is essential to preventing the healthy issues associated with excess weight.

  • Exercise To Help Your Dog Lose Weight  According to one study, dogs burn an average of 0.8 calories per pound per mile. This means a 20lb dog walking @ 4mph will only burn about 64 calories during a one-hour walk. Even at twice a day it's only 128 calories. Working the weight off your dog is going to take a health conscious lifestyle. 

  • Safely Help Your Dog Lose weight Excess weight already puts stress on your dog's joints and spine. Certain types of physical activity can become detrimental to their long term well being. As well even though we need to cut the calories your dog still needs the necessary nutritional intake.

The Martial ARFS Healthy Weight Awareness Video

Healthy Pet Awareness Promo

Having a health pet is more than just routine check ups at the veterinarian. Overweight dogs don’t choose to be that way. Sure they eat when given food but they don’t know the ramifications of doing so when done in excess. Awareness it the key to improving the health of your pet for the entirety of their life.

About Your Instructor

The Martial ARFS Veterinary Advisor

Eve Pugh DVM, CVA, CCRP

Emergency, Rehabilitative & Holistic veterinarian Eve Pugh DVM, CVA offers her 17 years of experience, knowledge and expertise for many of The Martial ARFS online courses.In 1999, she graduated from Cornell School of Veterinary Medicine. Prior, she attended Arizona State University where she received Bachelor’s Degrees in Chemistry and Zoology, Summa Cum Laude.In 2003, she was certified in Veterinary Acupuncture through the College of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado StateIn 2005, she attended the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine's program and received advanced training in Canine Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy and is a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner.From 2005-2006 she was North Shore Animal League’s Chief Medical Director and was their Lead Veterinarian during their rescue efforts immediately following Hurricane Katrina.From 2005-2013 she competed in local and regional disc dog competitions with her Border Collies Ripley and Sabre.After years of treating dogs of all ages, both canine companion and canine athletes, in 2013, she started Progressive Pet Therapy which specializes in alternative therapies and pain management for companion animals and canine athletes including Acupuncture, Physical Rehabilitation,  Laser Therapy and pain management.Her passion for holistic and preventive medicine led her to the realization that a dog with an active healthy lifestyle prevents the vast majority of conditions that need to be treated with veterinary medicine. Her desire to provide a service to treat animals before they become ill was the inspiration for the Martial ARFS. She has been Veterinary advisor to The Martial ARFS since its inception 4 years ago.