A new year always brings with it that wonderful tradition of making resolutions. And for so many of us, that typically involves losing weight.
But what about our dogs?
According to pethealthnetwork.com, “Over half our nation’s dogs and cats are overweight. This means almost 80 million pets are at risk for developing crippling arthritis, debilitating diabetes, catastrophic kidney and heart disease, high blood pressure and many forms of cancer.”
So the first step is determining whether your dog is overweight. Check out the chart:
One of the easiest ways to tell at a glance whether your dog needs to shed some pounds is to see if he has a waist. The chart can help you fine tune exactly where he is on the body condition scale.
OK, let’s say your dog has a little more padding than he needs. Now what?
Here’s what we recommend:
- Take a trip to your vet. Before you begin switching dog foods, cutting out carbs or increasing exercise, discuss your dog’s current state of health with your vet, and see what he or she recommends.
If your vet agrees losing weight would be a good idea, here are some suggestions:
- Monitor how much your dog is eating. You can carefully regulate how many cups of kibble he gets in a day, but what about all the extras? Just like with people, watch out for the daily treats, the plates that get licked … and don’t forget whatever he might grab that fell on the floor or was lying outside. It all adds up — keep an eye on it.
- Create an exercise plan. This is the most fun because you get to do it together and it benefits both of you. Even if your dog has a lovely backyard where he enjoys playing fetch, there’s no reason you shouldn’t clip on the leash and take him for a brisk walk. Depending on your dog’s size, age, health and stamina, figure out how much more exercise you can safely give him to help him lose weight without causing any negative side effects. (For instance, a dog with arthritic hips may not be a good candidate for an hour-long hike. Again, check with your vet.)
- Skip the store-bought treats. Pet supply stores are loaded with incredible treats — but many of these are highly caloric and not necessarily beneficial to your dog’s health. Try bananas, carrots and apples for a healthy treat. (Try small amounts at first to make sure your dog’s digestion isn’t adversely affected.)
- Measure the kibble. If you’ve been feeding your dog the same amount of dry food for a number of years, it’s easy to “eyeball” how much you’re giving him. But just like with people, that’s how you can run into trouble. Get out the measuring cup and make sure you’re not giving your dog more than he needs.
The truth is, losing weight for dogs is just like people trying to lose weight: It’s all about taking in fewer calories than one burns.
And while weight loss is never an easy challenge, it’s probably a lot easier to get our dogs to lose weight than it is to lose our own extra five pounds!
Have you ever had an overweight pet? What have you done to help him lose the unwanted pounds? Let us know in the comments section below.
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