Are You Killing Your Dog With Love? The Dangerous Side of Indian Pet Parenting!
Nikita Kanyal | Feb 27, 2025, 23:10 IST
Are you killing your dog with love? Indian pet parents often pamper their furry friends, but too much love can be deadly! From overfeeding roti, milk, and sweets to skipping exercise and smothering them with over-pampering, many common habits are shortening your dog’s life without you even realizing it. Shocking, right? This article exposes the dangerous side of Indian pet parenting and how you can fix these deadly mistakes before it’s too late! If you truly love your dog.
Indian pet parents, listen up! You love your dog, you pamper them, you give them the best food, and you treat them like family. But what if I told you that your love might be harming your furry friend instead of helping them? Yes, too much love can be dangerous and in India, where we mix human habits with pet care, many common practices are actually shortening our dogs’ lives! From overfeeding desi food to smothering them with the wrong kind of care, we might be making serious mistakes without even realizing it.
1. Overfeeding – Love in the Form of Obesity?
We Indians love feeding our loved ones, and that includes our pets! Whether it’s roti, rice, paneer, or ghee-laden food, we believe more food = more love. But guess what? Obesity is one of the biggest killers of pet dogs in India!
Common Indian Pet Feeding Mistakes:
What to Do Instead?
✔ Feed protein-rich meals (chicken, fish, eggs) instead of roti-rice.
✔ Control portions—small, frequent meals are better than one overloaded plate.
✔ Avoid feeding oily, salty, and spicy food—dogs’ digestive systems are not built for it!
2. Ignoring Exercise – Is Your Dog Becoming Lazy?
Think about it: Would you be healthy if you just ate and slept all day? NO! The same goes for your pet. Many Indian pet parents think a small walk is enough—but most dog breeds need at least 1-2 hours of daily exercise!
Signs of an Under-exercised Dog:
What to Do Instead?
3. Over-Pampering – The ‘Lap Dog Syndrome’
Do you let your dog sit in your lap all day? Do they sleep in your bed? Are they always carried instead of walked? If yes, you might be over-pampering!
Why This Is Harmful:What to Do Instead?
✔ Encourage independence – Let them walk, explore, and socialize.
✔ Teach them alone time – Give them a cozy dog bed instead of your bed.
✔ Set boundaries – Love them, but don’t smother them!
4. Neglecting Regular Vet Checkups – ‘Mera Kutta Bilkul Fit Hai!’
Many Indian pet parents believe, “Agar dog healthy lag raha hai, toh sab theek hai!” (If my dog looks fine, there’s no problem.) WRONG! Dogs can hide pain and illnesses until it’s too late.
Health Issues That Go Unnoticed:
What to Do Instead?
✔ Take your dog for a vet check-up every 6 months.
✔ Get vaccinations & deworming on time.
✔ Watch for small changes (eating habits, mood, weight loss/gain).
5. Lack of Socialization – Why Is Your Dog So Aggressive?
Ever seen a dog bark like crazy when a guest arrives? Or hide under the sofa when they hear a loud noise? That’s poor socialization. Dogs need to meet people, other pets, and experience different environments to be well-adjusted. But many Indian pet parents keep their dogs locked indoors out of fear!
What to Do Instead?
✔ Start socializing early – Take your puppy out, introduce them to different people.
✔ Let them meet other friendly dogs – Parks are great for this!
✔ Expose them to different sounds, smells, and situations.
Love, But the Right Way!
Loving your pet is amazing, but blind love can be dangerous. Many Indian pet parents unknowingly shorten their dogs’ lives by overfeeding, under-exercising, and neglecting vet visits. True love means caring for your pet’s health, happiness, and well-being! So, are you killing your dog with love, Not anymore! Now that you know the dangers, you can make better choices and ensure your furry friend lives a long, happy, and healthy life!
1. Overfeeding – Love in the Form of Obesity?
Obesity
( Image credit : Pexels )
We Indians love feeding our loved ones, and that includes our pets! Whether it’s roti, rice, paneer, or ghee-laden food, we believe more food = more love. But guess what? Obesity is one of the biggest killers of pet dogs in India!
Common Indian Pet Feeding Mistakes:
- Giving roti and milk – Dogs lack the enzyme to digest dairy properly! Milk can cause bloating, diarrhea, and long-term digestive issues.
- Feeding human sweets – Chocolates, jaggery, and sugar-loaded treats can lead to diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay.
- Too much homemade food – While ghar ka khana seems healthy, an unbalanced diet lacks vital nutrients.
What to Do Instead?
✔ Feed protein-rich meals (chicken, fish, eggs) instead of roti-rice.
✔ Control portions—small, frequent meals are better than one overloaded plate.
✔ Avoid feeding oily, salty, and spicy food—dogs’ digestive systems are not built for it!
2. Ignoring Exercise – Is Your Dog Becoming Lazy?
Lazy
( Image credit : Pexels )
Think about it: Would you be healthy if you just ate and slept all day? NO! The same goes for your pet. Many Indian pet parents think a small walk is enough—but most dog breeds need at least 1-2 hours of daily exercise!
Signs of an Under-exercised Dog:
- Weight gain – If your dog is getting rounder, it’s a red flag!
- Excessive barking & chewing – Bored dogs get destructive. If your dog is chewing everything, they’re not getting enough playtime.
- Laziness & mood swings – Dogs who don’t exercise get depressed, anxious, and irritable.
- Morning & evening walks – At least 30-60 minutes daily.
- Play games like fetch, tug-of-war, or agility exercises.
- Mental stimulation – Puzzle toys, training sessions, and new experiences keep your dog’s brain active.
3. Over-Pampering – The ‘Lap Dog Syndrome’
Lap Dog Syndrome
Do you let your dog sit in your lap all day? Do they sleep in your bed? Are they always carried instead of walked? If yes, you might be over-pampering!
Why This Is Harmful:
- Your dog loses confidence and becomes too dependent.
- It leads to separation anxiety when you’re not around.
- Lack of independence can make your dog fearful and aggressive.
✔ Encourage independence – Let them walk, explore, and socialize.
✔ Teach them alone time – Give them a cozy dog bed instead of your bed.
✔ Set boundaries – Love them, but don’t smother them!
4. Neglecting Regular Vet Checkups – ‘Mera Kutta Bilkul Fit Hai!’
Vet Checkups
( Image credit : Pexels )
Are You Killing Your Dog With Love? The Dangerous Side of Indian Pet Parenting!
Many Indian pet parents believe, “Agar dog healthy lag raha hai, toh sab theek hai!” (If my dog looks fine, there’s no problem.) WRONG! Dogs can hide pain and illnesses until it’s too late.
Health Issues That Go Unnoticed:
- Dental diseases – Most Indian dogs suffer from rotten teeth because pet parents never check!
- Heartworm & tick fever – Deadly but preventable diseases if caught early.
- Obesity-related issues – Heart problems, arthritis, and diabetes go unnoticed until it’s too late.
✔ Take your dog for a vet check-up every 6 months.
✔ Get vaccinations & deworming on time.
✔ Watch for small changes (eating habits, mood, weight loss/gain).
5. Lack of Socialization – Why Is Your Dog So Aggressive?
Socializing
( Image credit : Pexels )
Ever seen a dog bark like crazy when a guest arrives? Or hide under the sofa when they hear a loud noise? That’s poor socialization. Dogs need to meet people, other pets, and experience different environments to be well-adjusted. But many Indian pet parents keep their dogs locked indoors out of fear!
What to Do Instead?
✔ Start socializing early – Take your puppy out, introduce them to different people.
✔ Let them meet other friendly dogs – Parks are great for this!
✔ Expose them to different sounds, smells, and situations.
Love, But the Right Way!
Loving your pet is amazing, but blind love can be dangerous. Many Indian pet parents unknowingly shorten their dogs’ lives by overfeeding, under-exercising, and neglecting vet visits. True love means caring for your pet’s health, happiness, and well-being! So, are you killing your dog with love, Not anymore! Now that you know the dangers, you can make better choices and ensure your furry friend lives a long, happy, and healthy life!