Canine Weight Management
Keys to Weight Management
Exercise
No table scraps
Food portion control
Lots of Love
It is important to check with your vet to determine a
proper weight management program that is right for your dog. An
overweight dog is susceptible to heart problems, diabetes, hip problems, and
cancer. By taking off just a few pounds you can increase their quality
of life and maybe increase their lifespan by a year or two.
Exercise: As we all know the quickest way
to lose weight is starting an exercise routine as prescribed by your vet.
It can be as easy as starting out slow adding one short walk per day.
Slowly increasing time and distance. Take your dog with you on as many
excursions/errands you can through the day. That extra few minutes
getting out and about will help. Take your dog to the pet store to buy
food, to the local baseball, soccer or football game...that extra activity
will help. Exercise is the easiest because your dog will enjoy
the fresh air and new surroundings. All dogs are usually eager to get
out and about.
Table
Scraps: Instead of table scraps, keep a
jar of diet treats by the dinner table and couch...try dried chicken breast
bites found at your local pet store. Think of table scraps as nothing
but dessert for your dog. How many times a day does your dog get
dessert? So basically they are eating their regular diet, then
snacking all day each time we eat and give them leftovers or that last bite.
Table scraps are also the fattest part of a dogs diet such as the fat cut
off from that steak dinner. Eliminate table scraps and you will notice
weight loss without any other interventions.
Food Portion Control:
Same goes for dogs as in people, often we are feeding our dogs way too
much....much more than the suggested amount by the manufacturer. Read
your dog food label carefully and determine what the manufacturer suggests
is the recommended amount. Most household dogs only need to be fed
once per day. Puppies and working dogs require more. There are
special diets designed to help your dog lose weight. Check with your
local pet store or vet for information on these special formulas. Try
switching to canned foods which may have less carborhydrates than a dry
formula. Be sure to compare labels.
Lots of
Love: Dogs would much rather have a hug than a
treat. Diets are hardest on us because we get those "sad eyes" and
"I'm starving" looks. Remember you are helping your dog live a longer,
happier life. When you get those looks, try petting, playing or a walk
to distract them from the behavior.
Things to look for on your dog food label:
Fat Content below 15%, Fiber Content above 10%, Protein above 25%, First
ingredients should be protein source (meat) and then fiber source (veggies).
