Help Your Dog Shed Some Pounds

Many of you may have seen Obie, the 77# Dachaund, who received national news coverage a few years ago.  I am thankful that I have no patients that are this morbidly obese, but I do see too many overweight patients in my office.  Obesity is a common discussion in my exam rooms.  

The Association of Pet Obesity Prevention reports that 53% of dogs in the United State are obese.  Overweight dogs (and cats) are at risk for health problems such as heart disease, orthopedic injury and arthritis, circulatory problems, pancreatic disorders, diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease and many forms of cancer and a decreased life expectancy of 2 years.  All this comes at a estimated cost of over $14 million a year in veterinary bills.  

I have recently agreed to be part of Bourbon County's Chapter of Walk Kansas, by providing information and support exercising with your pet, a new addition to their annual exercise and nutrition event.  I am really excited for the chance to help more people become more aware how vital it is that pet owners maintain a healthy weight for their beloved family pet.

How can you tell if your dog is overweight?  Any weight above 15% of your dog's ideal body weight is overweight. You can also check by this simple test that I do with every physical examination of my patient.  Run you hand along his side, with no pressure, if you cannot feel ribs, it's time to start a weight reduction program.  If your dog does not have a waist, it is time to start a weight reduction program.  

How do I help my dog loose weight?  Cold Hard Fact:  in most cases, our dogs are obese because we feed them too much!  Since they cannot dish up their own plate nor open the refrigerator in search of a snack, we have to take the responsibility for our pets nutrition and exercise.  So, how do you start?

1. Go to the vet.  Many health conditions can cause a dog to eat too much, become intolerant of exercise, and gain weight, such as Cushing's Disease and Hypothyroidism.  We need to rule out those factors before doing anything else.  Your veterinarian can also help you develop a program for weight loss and exercise. 

2. Weigh your dog.  Getting an accurate weight and monitoring it is crucial. Without that, you have no idea if your efforts are paying off, or not. And if you're really cutting back his food and being honest and accurate about it, and he's not losing weight, you need to know that, too, so you can dig deeper for medical causes. 

3. Stop leaving food down all the time. Have your veterinarian help you decide how much food your dog needs per day for an ideal body weight. Measure the desired amount of food, put it down for 15 minutes or so, then pick up the food. One meal twice daily is all a healthy adult dog needs. And if you have multiple pets, you need to separate them when you feed them. Crates can work, or put one pet in the bathroom or a laundry room and close the door. 

4. Ditch the bowls. We make our dogs work for their food. Buy food puzzles and use them instead of bowls. They also provide a great form of mental stimulation and play, great for these cold winter months. 

5. Exercise. All dogs need to get panting tired at least twice a day. However, before you exercise him, you need to clear it with your veterinarian, and get some guidelines from her. I take Port out for nearly every day, unless the weather is too hot or too cold for me.  If time or weather prohibits some exercise then we play with in the house or because I have a treadmill that is utilized by me, Port loves the treadmill (something you could teach your dog)  If your dog is exercise intolerant or fat,  or arthritic, before you exercise him, consulting your veterinarian is even more important. 

6. Stop guessing. Diet food isn't always necessary, but portion control is. Unless your dog has a medical problem, he is obese because you're giving him too much food. Get him medically cleared, ignore the portions on the bag, measure every single ounce of food you give him, and start gradually reducing it by the amount your veterinarian recommends. Also those fat laden treats and people food are going to have to go!  i usually suggest using part of your dog's measured kibble for treats or fresh raw or steamed veggies such as broccoli or carrots.