If you own a pug, one of your key concerns should be keeping it healthy and fit. Weight is an important indicator of health in dogs. And an overweight pug is likely to face a host of health issues. If you have noticed your pup putting on some extra pounds, you will need to take action. Don’t worry, it is not complicated at all. You can easily start the weight loss process at home.
How to Get Your Pug to Lose Weight?
You can help your Pug lose weight by altering their food and diet, changing their lifestyle, introducing new habits like exercise, as well as making some more changes. Let’s take an in-depth look into how you can do this successfully:
Is my Pug overweight?
Most of the time, you will suddenly realize that your Pug’s weight has changed. Your first instinct should be to check their weight and then act accordingly. So, how would you know what a healthy weight is?
Normally, both male and female pugs weigh between 14 and 18 pounds. Weighing a little less or more than this is also normal. But sometimes, it can be hard to figure out if your Pug really is overweight.
Remember that pugs have a high natural tendency to gain weight as they are over-eaters. They can continue to gain weight fast and become obese quickly.
To check if your Pug is overweight, you can do a visual examination first. I’ve written a post on how much Pugs should weigh and how to tell if they are overweight.
If you’re concerned that your Pug is overweight, I highly recommend reading it. But basically, you want to run your hands under its abdomen and see if you can feel the ribs.
If you can see the ribs poking out, this means your Pug is skinny. If you can feel them while lightly pressing, the Pug’s weight is average. If you cannot see or feel the ribs, this means your Pug is overweight.
How to Help My Pug Lose Weight?
You can use a combination of different methods to help your Pug lose weight.
Make Homemade Food For Your Pug
One way to control your Pug’s diet and ensure that they are getting the proper nutrients is by making homemade food. Commercial foods mostly contain fillers like grains as well as chemicals and preservatives.
Processed food also contains a large amount of starch and fiber rather than protein.
A healthier alternative is to go with natural homemade food. Or you can even choose a raw diet for your Pug. You should cut down on carbs and avoid giving too much fiber. This will improve their diet and also help in reducing frequent hunger.
Ideally, a diet made up of proteins, fresh vegetables, and fruits is the best way to make your Pug lose weight.
Also, try to avoid offering additional snacks to your Pug. Allot meal times and practice strict portion control to avoid overfeeding.
Manage An Over Hungry Pug
Pugs are known for their love for eating. They also keep begging for food when it comes into their sight. Hence, it can get tricky saying no to these hungry doggos.
You can manage this behavior by following a few simple tricks:
- Feed them food more frequently without increasing its amount. Keeping the portion smaller and giving it in small breaks will keep your Pug’s cravings satisfied.
- You can add more water or fibrous vegetables to their bowl. This also helps to keep pugs full and happy without adding up the calories.
- If your Pug is fixating on food and is begging for more, try to distract it and engage in play-time.
- You can also switch to a weight-control formula to feed your Pug without gaining too much weight.
Exercise for An Overweight Pug
Exercise is an essential weight loss tip for any dog. However, vigorous exercising is not suitable or safe for pugs. The reason for this is that pugs are a brachycephalic breed, which can restrict their breathing.
Your overweight Pug will benefit from some extra exercise for losing those pounds. However, you must make sure that you do not put their health at risk.
So, keep the intensity of exercise low. Here are some tips to help:
- Take your Pug for a daily walk.
- If your Pug is overweight, increase the daily walk by 5 minutes every week. This makes it easier for your dog to adjust to the increase in exercise.
- Play games with your Pug and keep them active. Some games include frisbee, fetch, hide and seek.
- While engaging your Pug in these activities, you must make sure that they are not having any trouble breathing. If you notice your Pug getting overtired, it’s a sign to turn the intensity of exercise down.
Weigh Your Pug from Time to Time
It is extremely important to keep noting any weight-loss progress your Pug has made. Record your Pug’s weight every week to see if there are any improvements.
Just like we keep track of our weight, especially when we’re trying to lose it, you need to track your Pug’s weight every week.
This will let you know if you’re on the right path or if you need to work even harder to help your pup lose weight.
Put Your Pug On A Diet
It can be challenging to put your Pug on a diet, but helping them lose weight can help them live longer. I’ve written an in-depth guide on putting a Pug on a diet to help you get started.
Visit The Vet for Weight Loss Help
It may be possible that you have tried all of the tips mentioned and still do not see any weight loss in your Pug. You should immediately consult a vet and ask them to rule out any possible underlying condition that may be contributing to their weight gain.
You should also turn to a vet if the weight gain is too sudden.
An overweight pug is at a higher risk for infections, heatstrokes, and other health issues like arthritis. You should always focus on keeping your Pug slim, fit and healthy.
Final Word
We hope this article helped you in understanding how to make your Pug lose weight. Remember to regularly check your Pug’s weight and track it to ensure that your Pug is healthy.
This is essential for giving your cute little Pug the best quality of life they deserve. After all, you can’t help your Pug lose weight if you don’t keep track of their weight regularly.