| The length and quality of your dog's life can be influenced by three
factors: genetics, including the inheritance of susceptibility or resistance to
disease; nutrition with emphasis on a complete and balanced diet and proper feeding
habits; and general care. Genetics are predetermined but you can have a great
deal of influence on the length and quality of your pet's life in many other ways. One
of the most common problems among dogs today is weight control. It is very important
to help your pet maintain an ideal body condition, to help reduce his risk of
unnecessary health problems or complications which can result from being over
or underweight. Your dog's body condition can be categorized into 3 broad
ranges: very thin, fit condition, or overweight. Particularly, it's difficult
for most people to spot the telltale signs of early weight gain in their dogs
because owners see their pets every day. They may not notice that a problem exists
and suddenly their once fit pet is overweight. And this can be a serious problem.
Excessive weight can be associated with certain health concerns, including elevated
blood sugar levels, heart problems and gastrointestinal disorders. With up to
40% of all dogs being overweight or likely to get that way due to age or activity
level, it is critical for owners to keep tabs on their pets' diet and activity
level. -------------------------------------------------
// ------------------------------------------------ Reprinted with permission
by Ralston Purina Canada | 
