Illusion Japanese Chin Information Fat Chin

Obesity is the number one nutritional disorder among Japanese Chin. Studies suggest that
approximately 25% of the Japanese Chin presented to veterinary clinics are overweight.

"But my Japanese Chin doesn't look fat!" Your Japanese Chin may look absolutely fine.
Unfortunately, that doesn't mean he's not carrying extra weight. You'd be surprised how much
bulk can be spread over a Japanese Chin, or well hidden under a full coat of fur.

Take the test. A healthy Japanese Chin is lean, firm and well-muscled, with an adequate layer of
fatty tissue under supple, elastic skin. Exactly how much fatty tissue is adequate? Enough to keep
the ribs from being plainly visible, but not so much that it submerges them completely. Try
pressing gently on the skin over the ribs: if you Japanese Chin has the proper amount of fatty
tissue, you should be able to feel the ribs without effort. If you have to press hard to feel anything
-- and especially if you able to fold more than 1/2 inch of the skin over his ribs -- then your
Japanese Chin is probably overweight. And he's crossed the line into obesity if his body appears
square-shaped, with no waistline definition or "tuckup" between ribs and hindquarters.

"What's wrong with a little extra fat?", you might ask. Some owners are reluctant to admit that
their Japanese Chin is fat, while others consider it a sign of good health and are reluctant to follow
a weight reduction program. Here's a newsflash for those owners. Overweight or obese Japanese
Chin are prone to increased health problems, including:<p>Heart, respiratory, and digestive
impairment.

The first step to helping any overweight Japanese Chin is this: visit your veterinarian. It's true that
in the majority of cases, canine weight gain is due to overeating combined with lowered levels of
physical activity. But your vet should rule out other causes such as a reaction to a medication or a
metabolic disorder. Your vet can then set a weight goal and give you food and feeding guidelines.

No more table snacks! Food is oftentimes used as a sign of affection or reward. And for the
owner, it often becomes a way to handle guilty feelings like "I can't stand those sad eyes watching
me while I'm eating." So Japanese Chin end up eating too many nutritionally unbalanced snacks
and it's up to you to keep this behavior under control. Restricting calorie intake is the first step in
shaping up your dog.

Move it and lose it. Exercise is the second part of the equation that is commonly overlooked. If
you and your Japanese Chin have developed a "couch potato" habit together, it will do both of
you some good to get out of the house for a stroll around the block. Or even a game of fetch in
the backyard if you aren't feeling up for a walk. Start slowly into an exercise program if your
Japanese Chin has been sedate. Take a 20 minute leisurely stroll the first day and gradually work
your dog up to a brisk 1-hour walk. Plan your walks for the coolest time of the day. If you can't
get out of the house one day due to bad weather or not enough time, have your dog follow you
around while you do chores. Ask the Japanese Chin to do a sit while you make the bed or do
some dusting. This is basically the canine equivalent of doing situps and works to tighten his
hindquarters and abdomen.

The moment of truth. You will need to keep tabs on your Japanese Chin progress throughout his
weight loss routine. You may think he's looking thinner, but the scales cannot lie. Take him to
your vet for the occasional weighing to keep track of his progress. We've never run into a vet yet
that charges for this and actually most are glad that you are taking your Japanese Chin weight
problem so seriously. Don't get discouraged if it doesn't seem like your dog is losing weight. It
could take a little while and will occur more gradually on a small dog. With patience and
commitment to the regimen you should see significant weight loss within 4 to 8 weeks. And when
you've reached your goal, celebrate...with playing. Or a fun walk. Or a new toy. And definitely
without too many snacks!