Have you been frustrated by your dog gaining lots of weight, and nothing you have tried helps? How to help a dog lose weight is something veterinarians and dog guardians are facing.
Since I was a child, we have always had dogs in our household. They were of different breeds and sizes. Fed the same diet, but some of them would gain extra weight very quickly.
Seeing this, I started to gather information on why some dogs suffered more. I have collated information from advice I got from our vet and my search hours on the internet.
The information I have found is that owners need a different approach for each family pet. Helping your beloved dog lose weight might be easier than you think. Determination to give your dog the best life possible is the first step forward.
Why is it important to help dog lose weight if overweight?
Overweight or obese dogs can have a shorter lifespan than their ideal weight friends as dogs can develop serious health issues if they struggle with weight gain.
If a dog is heavy, they interact less with their family. It is easy to think that dog is just lazy rather than not feeling well due to extra weight.
Some of the common disorders associated with excess weight include:
- type 2 diabetes
- heart disease
- osteoarthritis (arthritis)
- increased frequency of joint injuries
- high blood pressure
- some forms of cancer – especially intra-abdominal cancer (1)
Diet, Treats, Exercise and Monitoring seem to be the backbone of dog lose weight mix.
1. Diet
Before a dog loses weight, put a schedule in place, it is essential to establish what your dog is eating at the moment.
Morning, after the walk, spilled food, after dinner leftovers- do they only get their two meals a day?
How much I should feed my dog is a crucial component to consider for your dog’s wellbeing.
The first dog’s ideal weight has to be known. Your local vet will be able to assist with this. They will take into consideration the size and bread of your pet. If a dog is obese, the vet will give a target weight first.
A dog diet must provide:
- essential vitamins and minerals for optimal body healths,
- favour the loss of fat,
- maintain muscle mass.
Note:
Sometimes if the dog is slightly overweight a change in the amount of feed given and fewer treats, will lead to weight loss. But be aware that if the schedule is not kept, the weight will be put back on fairly quickly.
Ensure that your pet feels full, so they voluntarily eat less. You are relieving it from constantly feeling hungry and begging for food.
Slow down fast eaters:
- maze balls,
- give smaller portions, then add more to bowl when finished,
- hide food in crumpled sheet (make sure they do not eat the sheet),
- spread the food out in the garden for them to find it.
Consistency of the amount is vital:
- separate the daily amount of dog food in a separate container,
- make sure that nobody else in the house feeds the dog more food,
- a cuddle and quality time together can be as rewarding as food if daily amout of food has been reached,
- distraction, like a walk or a play with dogs favourite toy can be used.
2. Can I give treats when trying dog lose weight teqniques?
We all like to give our pets treats. And our pets enjoy them, but treats have lots of carbs and other fillers, which can add to daily calories.
However, the bottom line is- we can give treats to dog.
Follow these tips below:
- no more than 10% of their daily food intake,
- stick to lover calory treats like veggies
(ranging from low calory commercial treats to carrots, green beans, popcorn, and rice crackers)
- we can keep back some of the dog’s daily allowance food to give as treats,
- treats are things that bring joy,
- It does not have to be food– quality time with the owner, a walk, play. Both parties will feel rewarded by this and dog lose weight plan will still be on track.
3. What is the best exercise for a dog lose weight strategy?
An exercise is an essential tool for any weight loss program. After all, if you increase energy spending, weight loss might be a result.
Yet, exercise without reducing feeding amount will not give desired results.
Increase the length and frequency of regular exercise like walks is a great starting point.
Be aware that an obese pet will get tired quicker. As dogs get fitter, they will be able to exercise more. That will be great to see and an excellent marker to their improved quality of life.
Be careful to throw a ball. The force involved with somebody stopping or turning can result in an injury, such as ligament damage.
Consider joining dog training or agility class. It is a fantastic physical and mental workout and provides you and your pet with a fun and pleasant experience.
Controlled exercise such as hydrotherapy is an excellent strategy. It is especially appropriate for animals suffering from joint disease. Also great for owners who cannot exercise dogs more regularly by other means.
Dog lose weight exercise for pet means:
- maintenance of muscle,
- acts as a treat,
- takes away the temptation for us to give them snacks,
- help them stop begging for food,
- mental stimulation,
- improves our pets quality of life.
4. Monitoring is gold
We want to be sure our efforts for the dog lose weight plan are giving results.
It should aim for 1% -2% of your dog’s body weight loss per week.
A weight loss program is a real commitment, and there is no such thing as a quick fix for a dog lose weight schedule.
The commitment made is well worth it:
A happier, healthier life.
What if we weigh our dog and no weight loss has happened? Do not despair.
Consider items below:
- amount of food might need to be reduced to achieve dog lose weight plan,
- check that none of your family is sneaking your pet extra treats,
- feeding record or food diary might help with this,
- are we ourselves giving in to their begging,
- are we sure that we are feeding the best diet, to reduce begging behaviour,
- maybe they are eating at daycare,
- are they helping themselves to the neighbour’s food bowl.
A little detective work can go a long way.
Regular weigh-in at the vet is a great way to stay on track and measure results.
Your vet will be happy to see an obese dog losing weight, and this enthusiasm will help you be motivated too.
The owner should give a 3-6 month time frame for the ideal weight.
Every little really does help. An ideal weight pet has a better quality of life.
Even a 6% loss of body weight can make a lot of difference to a dog with arthritis.
Dogs general appearance and activity levels can help us to highlight one of the primary reasons for undertaking a weight loss program:
- Consider how much energy your pet have?
- How much they enjoy their walks?
- How fast they run and how quickly out of breath they become?
- How willing are they to play?
- Have they started doing activities they stopped doing or activities they have never done before?
If we consider the different weight loss is making. Then we can be clear of the path we need to take for the pet to achieve a healthy weight.
You have achieved your pets ideal weight. Now what?
Give yourself a big pat on the back!
Dog lose weight plan can be difficult. And it is easy to let things slip back to where they were before.
What’s next?
Your furry friend deserves to be healthy and happy to avoid future health issues, and it’s our duty as humans to help them. Now you know how to help dogs lose weight in 4 actionable steps.
If you need more help and advice, speak to your dog’s veterinarian for help.
Also, if you are willing to take your dog for a bike ride with you, you can check this article.
