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Fat dogs: how to maintain a healthy weight in your dog
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Beau the Rottweiler lives in the UK.
Obesity in dogs is on the rise. Is your dog fat?
I once had someone stop me in a pet store and tell me my dog was too skinny. Wishing they would have just minded their own business, I replied "No, you're just used to seeing fat dogs." My dog is not skinny, he is lean. He has a waistline, and you can see his last two ribs, but he's also muscular.
An overweight dog has a shortened life span. Obesity in dogs is the fault of their owners, and can be corrected through diet and exercise.
Two reasons why dogs are becoming obese...
The Dogs:
Many dogs simply love to eat. Labs, for example, are notoruous for their affinity for food. For dogs who live relatively boring and mundane lives as house pets, feeding time becomes a peak highlight of their day. They can become almost obsessed with feeding time. Dogs are natural opportunistic scavengers, and pets sometimes garbage-dive for food. This may be not just true hunger, but is boredom eating.
Certain breeds are also more prone to obesity, such as Dachshunds, Basset Hounds, and Labs, to name a few. Dogs can also gain weight as they become seniors and are less active. In-tact males have a different body type than castrated males, with more lean muscle and less body fat. Neutering and spaying can lower the metabolic rate of a dog.
The Owners:
Responsibility for fat pets ultimately falls on their owners. Often, there is an emotional component to owners contributing to their dogs obesity. Food is a way of nurturing, and it makes people feel good to hand a treat to an eager dog. Some dogs beg and bother their owners for table scraps and treats, to the point they feel guilty if they don’t give them more. It is important for owners to remember not to equate treats and food with love. If you love your pet, you need to have the dicipline to not be handing treats to him 15 times a day. Treats should be earned through special behavior, not handed out like candy on Halloween.
How to tell if your dog is overweight
1. Run your hand lightly along your dogs side. You shoud not feel ribs when lightly touching, or your dog may be underweight. But if you press slightly, you should be able to feel ribs through a thin layer of fat.
2. View your dog from above. You should see a dip below the ribcage, this is the waistline. This also depends on the breed as to how much the belly tucks up, but in general, all dogs should have a waistline.
Body type varies by breed. Greyhounds have a lean body type, with less than 16% body fat and a tucked in waistline. They may look thin to some people, but they are not, it is just their body style. On the other hand, breeds like Pugs and Bulldogs may look more rounded and stout.
Risks of Obesity in Dogs
Being overweight is dangerous. Studies have shown that in humans, being overweight is even worse than smoking. In dogs, extra pounds put strain on the organs like the heart and lungs and can cause diabetes. Weight causes wear and tear on joints, and is especially bad for large breed dogs. Overweight dogs are more likely to suffer joint or ligament injuries. From a health risk standpoint, it is riskier for a dog to be slightly overweight than slightly underweight. There is not a good quality of life for a dog who gets out of breath and winded easily and has trouble getting around. Simply put, if your dog is overweight, his lifespan is shorter. People who allow and encourage their dogs obesity are, in a way, slowly killing their dogs.
How to lose weight
Many people’s first response is to buy a dog food marketed for weight-loss or healthy weight. These foods have reduced protein and fat, more carbs and fiber, and are lower in calories per volume. However, I do not believe this is a healthier diet for dogs. I prefer to feed a grain-free, low-carb diet to overweight dogs. High-quality, animal-based protein is what all dogs need to maintain a healthy body. I only feed my dogs a raw diet, and it is great for health and weight loss, but some people prefer kibble. The dog food I most often recommend is Innova Evo Reduced Fat. It is a grain-free, low-carb kibble with many healthy additives. When you read a bag of dog food to see how much they recommend your dog eats, remember to go by your dogs target weight. If your overweight dog weighs 60 pounds, but is supposed to weigh 45, feed what the bag says for a 45 pound dog. They key is feeding less, and encouraging activity It’s as simple as that!
- Do not starve your dog on a crash diet, it’s unhealthy to gain or lose weight fast.
- Don't just feed one meal; Break the daily feeding amount into 2-3 small meals a day
- Feed a high-quality, high-protein & grain-free diet
- Measure the food out with a scoop, don’t just guesstimate
- Feed only healthy treats, and subtract those calories from the daily feeding amount
- Some low-cal treats are carrot pieces, puffed treats, and small pieces of lean meat
- Do not allow your dog to have table scraps or beg while you’re eating, no begging!
- Have your dog work for his kibble meal by putting it into an interactive treat ball
- Exercise and activity- play or running in an open area, or playing with other dogs burns calories
- Get regular vet check ups
- And finally, don’t give in! You are doing this for your pets health and long life.
If you have any questions or concerns for your dog’s health, or if you are not sure if your dog is overweight, please ask your veterinarian. Obesity can have medical components, such as thyroid problems, Cushing's Disease, or diabetes, which requires blood testing. Constult your vet before beginning any new diet and exercise program.
For More Info:
Evo reduced fat dog food: www.evopet.com/products/default.asp?id=1492
Body Condition chart w/pictures: www.purina.com/dogs/health/AdultBodyCondChart.pdf
Chicago Dog Training: Dynamic Dogs Chicago has dog classes, behavior counseling, and training bootcamps, private lessons with a trainer, and aggressive dog training, protection training, puppy training, Chicagoland in-home, suburbs, beginner to advanced, method works with every dog.
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