There is a health crisis affecting our pet’s health, and it is on the increase. Excess weight is as big a problem for our pets as it is for us. A study in the US in 2011 by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention showed that 50% of cats were either overweight or obese, where as 53% of dogs were overweight or obese.
I know how hard it is to resist those puppy dog eyes that so often say to us “I’m hungry, can I have a bit of your toast?” Our furry family members know exactly how to soften us up to get what they want, a snack, or an extra helping of food. No one wants to see (or hear) their pet be hungry, and in North America, a lot of time food=love. Here are some facts and tips to help combat those extra pounds on our pooches and help them live a stronger, healthier and longer life.
What can happen to your dog when they are overweight?
They become prone to a lot of the same health conditions that us as humans are prone to. For instance, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and kidney disease are a few illness that are seen more often in overweight and obese dogs. That extra weight also leads to breathing issues, joint and osteoarthritis pain. It has been proven to reduce life expectancy by as much as 2.5 years. Could you give your pet a needle daily if they become
diabetic, or administer daily medications, or keep up with routine monitoring for illnesses such as blood work or xrays? They also can become sluggish, as it becomes more difficult to get up and go. Finally, skin and coat issues become noticeable as they cannot get to many areas to groom properly, increasing odour, itchiness, greasy feeling coat and skin infections.
Tips
Listen to your vet. They should ALWAYS be the first person to talk to about the health of your pet. Friends, family, coworkers, even people like me have great ideas and great intentions, but your vet has the proper knowledge and experience to help you halt the weight gain and start your dog on its weight loss journey.
Follow instructions. Your vet will likely give you recommendations for which food to give, how much to feed, how often to feed, appropriate treats etc. Start by following those recommendations, and as time passes, they will want to keep an eye on your dog’s progress, and adjustments will be made as needed.
Measure their food for the day and put into individual containers. That way it is harder to over feed or double feed. You can also dip into that days ration for “treats” without adding extra calories
Treats are exactly that, treats. Some treats out there pack as much punch for a dog as a chocolate bar does for us 2 legged creatures, and giving 4 a day is as unhealthy for them as it is for us (though I’d love all that chocolate). And a Timbit given to a 10 lb dog is like a 150 lb human eating 15.
Use treat alternatives. Some dogs are happy getting anything, no matter what it is. Try putting food into their treat container, that way it sounds different and they are less likely to care. You can also try air popped popcorn (not microwave and no butter or salt please) sliced up baby carrots, ice cubes, cucumbers, etc. Fruits may have high levels of natural sugars, so avoiding apples, pears etc (and of course grapes and raisins, they are toxic!)
Most importantly is add exercise to the regime. Start slowly if your pet is extremely overweight as it can cause more joint pain and breathing issues. Sometimes simply tossing their dinner to them can get them moving more. Here’s my cat Mace demonstrating this.
Regular weight checks are important, especially at the vets. They can record and monitor your dog’s progress and offer suggestions. They can also help adjust their weight loss program as their weight decreases.
If you have multiple pets and find it too difficult, time feed them and feed them separately, either in separate bowls, or even separate rooms. This goes a long way to help you monitor which dog is eating what and if someone isn’t eating because of a health issue, you know which dog is feeling sick.
Want to know if your pet is overweight? This chart shows you what to look for, or use the healthy weight calculator at petmd.com (this works for cats too).