Weight Management in Dogs

Has your dog been particularly interested in “Larry the Cable Guy” and the Nutri System ads lately? If so, he may be worried about his weight, and perhaps you should be too. Although any dog can become obese if overfed, the breeds most prone to being overweight include Labradors, Dachshunds, Beagles, Cairn Terriers, Cocker Spaniels, Collies and Shelties.

Health Risks Associated with Obesity – Your dog’s weight can have a significant impact on his quality of life and on his longevity. Like their human friends, obesity in dogs is related to the development of diabetes and other health problems including liver, orthopedic and respiratory conditions.

Observation and Assessment – To determine if your dog is overweight, take a look at your dog from above. He should have a definite waistline behind the ribs. You should also be able to feel the dog’s ribs with a small layer of fat over them. Your veterinarian will have a chart showing the view of dogs from above ranging from too thin to too fat.

Dietary Changes – Be honest about how much you feed your dog. Your vet may recommend a reduction in the amount of food by 20-40% depending upon the dog’s ideal weight and his maintenance energy requirements. In some cases, you may need to change the type of food to one specially formulated for weight management.

Healthy Treats – Table scraps are definitely out for the dog with a weight problem. Also, compare the caloric content of common dog treats. For example, at medium sized Milk Bone is 40 calories and a large one is 115. Healthy alternatives to traditional treats are cooked green beans, carrots, and small slices of frozen canned dog food.

Exercise – Provide your dog with plenty of exercise. Daily walks, group play in a doggie daycare environment, herding classes and agility training can all increase your dogs caloric expenditure. If you dog is already experiencing health problems such as orthopedic or respiratory problems, start out slowly and gradually increase the dog’s level of activity. Keep moving – both you and your dog may be a little slimmer by the end of the summer!

Contributed by Michele Alexander, owner of Camp Bow Wow in Carmel IN.

Originally posted 2008-12-07 05:55:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter