We all want our pets to be happy and healthy. Whether you are a dog owner or a cat owner, your pet requires proper nutrition to stay healthy. Both veterinarians and pet food manufacturers have contrary views on suitable nutrition for your pet. Commercial pet foods are regularly suggested as part of an adequate diet for your dog or cat. At times your veterinarian will recommend commercial dog food as part of your dog’s diet.

Your dog must get the maximum amount of nutrition from their food in order for it to maintain superb overall health and performance. The key nutrients your dog needs are water, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. A vitamin or mineral deficiency can cause serious problems in dogs but most dog owners never need to worry about that with commercially manufactured food. Here are some other important tips for keeping your dog happy, healthy and the proper weight:

Keep track of your dog's weight. An overweight dog is an unhealthy dog. Losing even a small amount of weight can greatly enhance its health. However, it is important the weight is in a healthy, controlled way. You want your dog to lose weight at a normal, natural rate, so be sure to weigh it on a regular basis. Some pet owners use a weight tracking chart to help them keep track of their dog's progress. If you are unsure how to properly weigh your dog, ask your vet or visit your vet. Most veterinarians' offices will let you use their scale free of charge

Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. In order for your pet to get healthy, it needs to be active on a daily basis. Maintaining your dog's weight isn’t strictly diet related. It needs a healthy amount of physical activity. This can range from a fun game of fetch to a nice, relaxing walk around the block. Anything to get it up and moving around will lead to a healthy canine.

It never can hurt to regularly schedule a visit with the veterinarian. Many pet owners like to make regular visits to the vet to ensure everything is going smoothly. Your vet knows what your dog’s ideal weight should be, how quickly it should be losing weight and the best foods to feed it during the appropriate stage of the weight management plan.

Remember that your dog's weight management plan is not a temporary thing. It is a lifelong process. Once it has reached its ideal weight, change to a simpler weight plan but keep giving it regular exercise and proper nutrition.