Dog obesity–what can you do about it?

Is your dog obese? Nobody ever wants to think that they have an over weight dog but just as human obesity is on the rise, so is dog obesity and it is a serious problem. Take this simple test to see if your dog is the right weight for its breed (if your dog has a lot of hair, it may be better to do this when they are wet):

1. Put your hands on your dog’s abdomen and see if the dog’s ribs are easily felt and the waist and tuck-up (the belly area between ribcage and rear end) are discernible without being prominent.
2. The dog in ideal condition has a thin layer of fat over the ribs.
3. If your dog has increased amounts of fat over the ribs, then they are overweight.

Breed characteristics should be taken into account of course, as some breeds have more prominent ribs and tuck-ups when in optimum condition. In general, dogs with protruding bones and the appearance of muscle loss are too thin.

Obesity in dogs can lower their lifespan, cause heart and other diseases including cancer and diabetes and may cause joint and ligament problems. Is feeding your dog “because you love them” all of those treats worth all of that?

Many people with overweight dogs put them on a “diet” by giving them lower calorie food. Dogs can lose weight with these types of diets but be careful that the dogs are not getting too much fiber and protein. Sometimes they lose weight but their coat suffers and then you put oil on their food to make their coat shine and that counteracts the “diet food.”

Here are a few “tips” on how you can keep your dogs weight in check:

1. If you have a “food motivated” dog, instead of feeding him treats all day, use his food as treats. You can even put his food in a kong or other device that he has to work to get it out. Nothing in life is free; make Fido work for his food!

2. Break treats into little bite size pieces or use carrots or green beans. Does Fido really need a giant milk bone every time he comes in from outside? Many treats have over 100 calories per treat! It doesn’t matter the size your dog gets, it is the gesture that they care about. My dog doesn’t even chew his treats, he swallows them whole! It is all about the fact that he is getting one that he likes!

3. Exercise your dog once or twice daily. Putting your dog in the back yard and thinking that is enough exercise isn’t going to trim Fido’s waistline. They need organized walks, runs, swims or boot camp classes to burn off those calories! Remember that your dog has to build endurance just like a person so please don’t take your overweight dog on a 5 mile run with you. They have to work up to it, small walks throughout the day is a good way to start.

4.  Don’t feed your dog table scraps, especially while you are eating! People food like French fries, burgers, etc., are very calorie dense and you usually don’t only give Fido one! It all adds up. Plus, nobodylikes a dog who begs while you are eating. If you just can’t resist those puppy dog eyes and do feed him from the table, then cut back on his daily kibble.

5. Look at your dog’s activity level. If they are older or a less active breed, then they may not need the recommended serving at meal time.

Jack just wants all of his dog friends to be healthy and happy like him!  We hope to see you in our Leash Your Fitness classes sometime soon!  We help keep dogs in great shape!