Many Rottweiler owners over estimate their dog’s weight because of their build. Rarely are these estimates accurate. Veterinary scales are the only way to get a true and accurate weight of these dogs. A majority of Rottweilers seen range from overweight to grossly obese. Why? Because the general public has a mistaken belief that Rottweilers are supposed to look like that! Even many veterinaries are unaware of what proper weight for many breeds looks like. To check your Rottie to see if it is overweight, have your dog stand up and face forward. Look down on your dog's back. Is your dog the same width from shoulders to hips? Rottweilers should have a DISTINCT "waist" when you look down on them. This means the "waist" is decidedly narrower than either the rib cage or the hip area. Next place you hand on your dogs back with your thumb on its backbone and fingers over its ribcage. Can you easily feel both backbone and ribs, or do you need to press down? Ribs and backbone should be easily felt without any pressure but should NOT be visible when looking at your dog from the side. Fat does NOT equal substance in Rotties anymore than it does in humans. Good weight and muscle tone are achieved through measured portion meals and proper exercise. Measured portion meals are a must with Rottweilers as most of them will happily continue to eat and not "self-regulate" at a healthy weight. Being overweight dramatically increases your Rottweiler's risk factor for common Rottweiler health problems like Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, other joint problems, torn knee ligaments (cruciates), diabetes and thyroid malfunctions. These are not only unhealthy and may very well cause pain to your Rottie but can run in the thousands of dollars in vet costs. In addition to measuring meals, providing appropriate exercise and keeping your dog's weight within healthy limits; the quality of the dog's food is also a key factor. We cannot be at optimum health if all we eat is candy and fast food and dogs can’t be at optimum health if they are fed low quality food and junk filled treats (the equivalent of doggie candy and fast food). Dogs are primarily carnivores (meat eaters) so be sure to examine your dog's food bag. The #1 ingredient should be a named meat or meat meal such as chicken, turkey meal, Herring meal etc. The food should contain NO by product meal, soy products, corn or wheat. The protein content should be between 22 and 26% for adult dogs and 24-28% for puppies. The fat content should be between 12-16% for adults and 14-18% for puppies. Any fat should be named such as chicken fat, beef fat etc. and should NOT be anonymous such as animal fat. No chemical preservatives (BHA, BHT, Ethoxyquin) should be listed, nor should there be any sugars or artificial colors. The better quality dog foods are found at pet supply stores, not at grocery stores. Don’t be swayed by expensive advertisements and packaging. Use your own eyes and knowledge! If you feed a quality dog food in measured portions meals, keep your dog at its individual optimum weight and provide mental and physical exercise appropriate for your dog's age and health then your dog will be at its optimum health with healthy skin, shiny coat and abundant energy. Your dog will live longer and have less health problems as well. Remember, "Fat Rotties are NOT healthy Rotties!"

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