Overweight Dogs: How to
Slim Them Down to Keep Them Healthy
By Lisa Selvaggio
Sure, you might find your pudgy pooch
super cute and you would never think to call him fat or make him feel
bad for his size, but the truth is that an overweight dog is an
unhealthy dog. And unless you can get your pooch’s weight under
control, you’re increasing his risk of running into more serious
health
problems in the future, including heart troubles, arthritis, and
diabetes.
Just like humans, canines need to
maintain a healthy weight in order for the entire body to function
optimally. Once an overweight dog slims down, you should notice that
his energy levels increase and other ailments improve or disappear.
Determine If Your Dog is Overweight
The first thing you need to do is
determine if your dog really needs to shed a few pounds or not, as
different dogs come in different shapes and sizes, just like people.
In addition to having him weighed at your vet’s office, where you
can be told whether or not your pet is overweight based on his breed
and age, you can also do the following:
Stand above your dog, looking down to
see if there’s a definitive waistline, sort of like an hourglass
figure on a woman. Generally, there should be a tapering between the
hips and the ribs. If your dog lacks this figure and looks more like
an oval, he’s overweight. You should also be able to slightly feel
the ribs with a layer of muscle and skin above them. If you can’t
feel the ribs in this manner, your dog is overweight.
What You Can Do
If your pet is overweight, your vet
will be able to check him for other health problems and also guide
you in what foods you should feed and how often, as well as what
exercise schedule you can put your dog on to help him slim down.
- The Right Food and Activity Level
You should switch
to a canine-appropriate diet that contains high quality animal
proteins and good fats. Your dog’s body will use fat
and carbohydrates for energy so that protein can be utilized to
build and maintain muscles and tissues instead. But to avoid weight
gain, your dog needs to be active enough to actually burn off the fat
and calories he’s consuming.
A grain-free diet
is a good option, as it will reduce the amount of carbohydrates that
can contribute to weight gain, especially if your pet isn’t very
active. Stick with foods that contain higher
quality carbohydrates and sources of fiber, such as barley, alfalfa,
flax, and oats. Stay away from potentially allergenic grains like
soy, wheat, and corn.
- Portion Control Throughout the Day
Portion control is
also key in helping your dog lose weight, so talk to your vet about
how many calories your pet should be eating and then feed the
appropriate amount only at mealtime. When it comes to treats, switch
to all-natural,
grain-free varieties that are low in calories and contain no
artificial ingredients, meat by-products, or preservatives.
- Weight Loss Supplements
You can also
supplement your dog’s diet with a product like K-9
Slim Down, which works by blocking the body’s ability to absorb
calories from carbohydrates. This can be really helpful if your dog
isn’t very active, especially if it’s due to another health
condition, such as joint pain.
Again, once your dog has slimmed down,
he’ll be able to move around more easily, will be in less pain if
the weight was putting too much pressure on the joints, and will be a
much happier and healthier companion.
Animals have taught Lisa all about unconditional love and forgiveness, and she loves sharing her home with her fur babies. After volunteering in animal rescue, she acquired her certification in canine and feline nutrition and continues to study holistic health for both people and their pets.
