This post is sponsored by Hill’s. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Hill’s® Science Diet® Perfect Weight 10 Week Turn Around, but MyDogLikes only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. is not responsible for the content of this article.

For months we have been sharing information with you about helping your pets find and maintain a #PerfectWeight. It might be hard to believe, but nearly 50% of pets are considered overweight. Research tells us that just a few extra pounds can cause serious health problems, reducing the healthy, happy years that you and your best friend will share together.

The Human Parallel

As humans, it’s not uncommon for our weight to fluctuate throughout the year by a couple of pounds (especially around the holidays). It’s easy to think a couple of pounds won’t make a big difference for our pups but this couldn’t be further from the truth! Hills’ Human Parallel Calculator, shows that 5 extra pounds on large dogs like ours can compute to nearly 9 lb (and a dress/pant size) on a 125 lb woman. Even more startling, that same 5 lb on a 30 lb dog computes to over 20 lbs on a 125 lb woman!

Shedding More than the Winter Coat…

Feeding a healthy diet is the foundation of finding and maintaining a healthy weight! Hill’s® Science Diet® knows how hard it can be to keep your pet at a healthy weight and they are making it easier for pet parents to do so with their Perfect Weight Formula.

Now available for adult dogs and small/toy breeds, Science Diet Perfect Weight contains a breakthrough blend of natural ingredients and prebiotic fibers for gentle digestion. How effective is this formula? 70% of cats and dogs who used Science Diet Perfect Weight lost weight within 10 weeks!

Change Your Life in 10 Weeks!

When trying to lose weight, exercise combined with a healthy diet tends to work for people. While the “calories in, calories out” concept works for dogs too, as pet owners we often overestimate the amount of exercise that our pets get!

Weight loss isn’t a sprint, and being consistent is the key to making lasting changes in your dog’s health! Below find some tips on how you can win the weight loss marathon!

Exercise

Keep that Pup Moving! – While a walk around the block can be mentally stimulating, it doesn’t burn a ton of calories. Think of what your dogs loves and do more of it! I use a fitness app on my phone to keep track of the distance that we have walked and to help me estimate the calories burned during our shared activities!

Consistency – Try to get out and do something everyday.

Brain Play – Don’t forget about indoor fun! Its important to remember that your dog is a social animal and needs some love, pets, and snuggles to be happy and healthy! Check out Dognition for some fun and stimulating games that you can play with your dog.

Feeding

Time – Feed at the same time so that you dog’s body can get used to a routine. We come to expect and anticipate food at certain times of the day, and so do our dogs!

Measure – Start with the feeding guidelines on your bag of food then adjust based on activity level, age, observing your dog’s behavior, and consulting with his/her veterinarian. Once you know how much to feed, use a measuring cup so that every meal is carefully portioned ensuring that your pet is not getting too little or too much.

Treats – Stay away from kitchen leftovers! Just a few too many unplanned snacks or table scraps can put the brakes on weight loss goals!

Get Started….Keep going!

Consistency is key. That means staying on schedule as best as possible so that you know your pet is getting exactly what he/she needs! We like to use a positive approach to living a healthy lifestyle. Using the 10 week Turnaround Calendar to keep track of our progress, we have designed a points system based on making healthy choices!

Our points system helps us to set minimum point goals and stay on track! Work with your veterinarian to develop a points system that is tailored toward your dog’s needs! In the meantime, download your own copy of the 10 Week Turnaround Calendar and join in on the fun!!

Healthy Points System

Ready for your 10-week Turnaround!?

For families that need a little help kick starting their pet’s weight loss Hill’s Science Diet has a sweepstakes going on where you can enter to win 10 Weeks of Perfect Weight dog food!

Enter Here