Just like humans, animals can be overweight. As pet owners we are responsible for our animal's feeding and care. Animals don't get fat without a little help from us.
According to the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), about half of all dogs are overweight or obese. Fat is not fit. Obesity in dogs is a serious medical problem. Fat dogs are more prone to injury, have more stress on heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, joints, and are more at risk in surgery. Excess weight can worsen osteoarthritis, cause respiratory problems in hot weather and during exercise and generally lessen the quality of life for a family pet.
How can you tell if your dog is overweight? Just look at him. When you look down at him, you should see a waist, not a block of dog. Put your hands on him. You should be able to feel the ribs easily beneath a layer of muscle and fat. Can't feel the ribs? He's too fat.
If your dog is overweight, it is taking in (eating) more calories than it needs. Set all excuses aside...excessive weight in an otherwise healthy dog is a direct result of consuming unnecessary amounts of food. If your dog is overweight it should be examined by a veterinarian for heart, thyroid or other metabolic disorders. A detailed history should be taken with emphasis on frequency of exercise, amount and type of food being provided and other parameters relative to calorie requirements.
A common myth maintains that spaying or neutering your pet causes obesity. This is absolutely false. Any pet, neutered or not, will gain weight if it is overfed relative to its energy requirements.
An owner can control a pet's weight by realizing that food is not a substitute for attention or a cure for guilt and that firmness can and should be applied to the relationship. An owner who cannot resist a dog's soft, pleading eyes whenever food enters the vicinity is an owner contributing to the dog's obesity and may even be shortening their beloved dog's life.
So what's a dog owner to do? Be aware that obesity is a potential problem if the dog controls the amount of food he gets by begging or looking sad. Get a head start by realizing that an empty bowl is not a clue that your dog needs more food. Dogs are scavengers; an empty bowl is often a trigger for pleading or browsing behavior and does not mean that your dog is starving. The pet food industry has painted the picture for us of the "eager eater". The impression is that a happy, healthy pet will eat every meal with gusto. Please do not try to entice your dog to eat if it is not interested.
Cut back a bit on the amount of kibble in the food bowl. If your dog looks stricken and keeps looking for more, toss in some green beans, carrots, or other low-calorie vegetables as long as they do not cause stomach upset.
Feed appropriate snacks. If you can't resist offering your dog an evening snack, try specialties from natural food bakeries for pets or carrot sticks, apple slices or bits of banana instead of potato chips, pizza, or ice cream. If you split a burger with your pooch, be sure to cut back on his next meal.
Provide opportunity for prolonged exercise a couple of times a week. Long walks, play sessions, and strenuous training sessions help keep muscles in shape and bodies functioning. Time alone in the yard is not sufficient.
Watch the fat content in the food that you buy. Fats are energy sources; if the energy isn't expended, fats merely add unneeded calories. Fat content of dry food for adult dogs generally ranges between 11-16 percent, with sedentary dogs needing a lower percentage than active dogs.
Check the calorie content of the food that you are feeding. When changing foods, watch for changes in your dog's coat, exercise level, and general condition because dietary changes can influence overall health even while reducing weight if the food is not compatible with the dog.
Unfortunately, some breeds seem to have a head start on thickening waistlines. These include Labrador Retrievers, Beagles, Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, Cocker Spaniels, and Shetland Sheepdogs. If you own one of these breeds, you can take steps to make sure your dogs gets enough exercise to work off his daily food intake so he doesn't gain too much weight.
How long will it take to see results? As with people, aim for gradual weight loss and expect significant improvement to take several months. The ideal would be a loss of 1% to 2% of the initial weight per week. Avoiding between-meal snacks and treats, regular exercise, and controlled food portions is the key. Getting the whole family into healthy habits is essential for long-term weight management.
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