As a dog parent, we pledge to make our pets happy and healthy, ensuring that they enjoy every moment of their all too short lives. We walk our dogs, play with them, buy them sweaters, leashes and bowls. We try to feed the best foods and treats, hoping that our dogs remain fit and healthy. We sometimes feed them from our own plates, letting them savor left over morsels of goodness. Who can resist those big sweet eyes peering up from under the dining room table? Over time, any dog parent will find themselves guiltily handing over a piece of fried, boiled, stewed or sautéed human food to an anxiously awaiting drooling dog.
January is the month of resolutions, and a time when many Americans vow to work out, eat healthy and lose weight. Magazines and television programs detail ways we can all try to live healthier, get ready for swimsuit season or simply live a longer life. If you are jumping on the health wagon, why not bring Fido along for the ride?
Americans live a hectic lifestyle which often leads to less activity for the family and less activity for our dogs. In honor of our furry friends and the pounds they too may have put on, there are a few simple steps pet parents can take to help our furry friends become healthier and happier.
Before making a trip to the doggie doctor, check your dog’s food package for feeding guidelines. Most food packages list consumption guidelines based on the weight of your pet. Not measuring food portions can sometimes be the only reason little Fido is packing on the pounds. The ASPCA recommends feeding healthy adult dogs twice a day, dividing the portion amount listed on your dog’s food by half for each feeding. If you find that you have been over-feeding your dog, decrease the amount gradually until you reach the appropriate portion for the dog’s weight.
Activity levels decrease as pets get older, sometimes due to the sedentary lives of their human counterparts. West Side Pet Hospital in Evansville recommends adding in extra, increasing amounts of exercise for your pet. Barring any health conditions, West Side Pet Hospital says that exercise should be progressively increased over a two week period in order to build up to an increased activity regimen. Dog parents looking to lose weight themselves might find that taking Fido for extra walks or playtime may help them lose weight as well.
For dogs with severe obesity, it might be more important to rule out any underlying health problems before changing feeding routines or adding in additional exercise. Once health conditions are ruled out, your veterinarian can suggest proper feeding guidelines and activity regimens for senior pets.
Most importantly, decrease or discontinue feeding your dog human foods. Just because you are eating dinner doesn’t mean that your dog should have an extra helping as well. There are many human foods that are healthy for dogs such as; carrots, lean meats, cottage cheese, peanut butter, bananas, green beans and many others. According to Drs. Foster & Smith:
“You can give your pet table scraps, provided that they are low in fat, salt and sugar, but treats developed for pets are a much better choice. Just make sure that treats or table scraps do not comprise more than 10% of your pet's total diet.”
If you do resort to feeding your dog the same foods you eat, make sure to feed as a treat and not while you are eating at the dinner table. In addition to feeding only healthy foods, there are several people foods that should not be fed to dogs and can be toxic in certain amounts. WebMD lists the following foods as toxic to dogs. NEVER feed your dogs these foods:
Avocado
Alcohol
Onions/garlic
Coffee/tea/caffeine
Grapes/raisins
Macadamia nuts
Candy/gum
Chocolate
Fruits with seeds and pits
Raw eggs
Yeast dough
By adding in a little activity, feeding proper portions and decreasing the amount of table scraps, your dog will shed the pounds and be back to his svelte physique in no time!
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