What is the best diet for an overweight dog? Get Your Pet Thinking

What to Look for in an Ideal Weight Loss Product

For successful weight loss, choose a quality dog food with…

A higher protein content helps a dog feel more satisfied with less begging. This makes it easier for you to stick to the diet.

These products also help combat muscle loss… an unwelcome side effect with dieting.

Lower calories allows your dog to eat more and still lose weight.

Weight loss is often easier to achieve by adding canned food to your dog’s feeding regimen.

Canned products usually have higher protein, lower carbohydrates and fewer calories compared to a similar sized quantity of kibble.

It’s also possible to achieve a good high protein weight loss diet by combining a high quality commercial dog food with low-calorie home-cooked foods. This should be accomplished with the help of your veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist.

Forty percent of American adults do not participate in any leisure time physical activity. So, no doubt our dogs are just as sedentary.

In humans, physical activity has been proven to

  • Aid in weight loss
  • Lessen heart disease
  • Lower cholesterol levels
  • Decrease the risk of diabetes
  • Control anxiety and depression
  • Reduce the risk of certain cancers
  • Slow bone loss associated with advancing age
  • We can probably expect many of these same benefits for our pets.

    So, get your dog moving. Take a walk. Run. Play fetch. Swim. Climb the stairs. Provide at least 30 minutes of brisk exercise every day to facilitate weight loss.

    How to Monitor Your Dog’s Weight Loss

    Monitor your dog’s progress. Weigh your dog at least every 1 to 2 weeks. Using the recommended guidelines, overweight or obese dogs should lose about 1% to 2% of their body weight each week.

    If your dog is not losing weight, the daily calories may need to be restricted further.

    Also make sure no one in the house is cheating by giving extra food or treats.

    Once the ideal weight is reached, the amount of food your dog is eating will likely need to be increased.

    It’s important to continue weighing and monitoring your dog for any future change in weight.

    So, keep a log. And make any necessary adjustments throughout your dog’s life to maintain an ideal weight.

    How Excess Weight Affects Your Dog

    A dog’s body is built to carry only a certain amount of weight and any extra places higher demands on both the organs and the skeletal system (9).

    One of the problems is that pet owners incorrectly assess their pets weight and body condition.

    More recent studies show that proper assessment can increase dogs lifespan, leading to better overall health.

    As veterinarians, we have seen an increase in number of obese pets (10, 11).

    In my practice, I often deal with pet owners looking for advice on how to slim down an overweight dog.

    The most common health issues caused by excess weight include those mentioned below (12, 13, 14, 15).

  • Diabetes is one of the most prevalent conditions found in overweight dogs. The production of insulin is increased because there is a higher glucose level in the blood, and if the demand continues to increase over a long time, the pancreas (responsible for the production of insulin) fails to keep up and may eventually give out. The result is diabetes.
  • Increased blood pressure is common in overweight dogs, just as it is in overweight people. The heart has to work harder to pump blood to the extra tissue, which may eventually lead to heart failure.
  • Birthing issues are also not uncommon. An overweight bitch is much more likely to require veterinary assistance while birthing, with the high possibility of a C-section birth.
  • Digestive disorders including constipation and flatulence are not at all pleasant for dog or owner and are often a problem with overweight pets.
  • Breathing difficulties are likely to develop as the body struggles to inflate the diaphragm encumbered with extra fat. Obviously, the extra weight also puts more strain on the body, as the lungs have to supply oxygen – the result of breathing difficulties may be respiratory disease.
  • Damage to bones, joints and ligaments is also likely if the skeletal frame is subject to more load than that for which it is designed. Studies have shown that 25% of dogs that are overweight suffer from severe joint complications. Osteoarthritis is just one of such complications.
  • A dog with a bad heart or lungs due to excess weight may also experience problems associated with anesthetics and/or surgery procedure thats due for other health reasons.
  • An overweight dog will also have a decreased lifespan and are at higher risk of sudden death (16).

    In short, obese dogs will require more costly veterinary care, arent going to lead an active and enjoyable life and cannot be expected to live as long as dogs at optimum weight.

    Dog Weight Loss Diets – Where Do You Start?

    You have determined that your dog is overweight, so now what?

    Before you embark on any diet, consult your veterinarian and discuss your weight loss treatment options.

    Be sure that your pet is not suffering from any type of medical ailment that is causing the weight gain.

    Too many dogs are put onto a diet, and down the road, their owners find out that disease, not a wrong diet, was the cause of their weight gain.

    The daily caloric needs of your pet will vary according to his age, stage of life, and daily activities.

    Factors such as pregnancy will also increase daily needs.

    Your vet will also advise you on the correct daily caloric intake for your pregnant dog.

    Armed with the knowledge of how many calories your dog needs in a day, and a few weight loss dog food brands in your cupboard, take an objective view at the food your dog will be consuming, calorie-wise.

    Don’t forget about the extra treats you give him for good behavior.

    Treats should only comprise about 5% of his total caloric intake during the weight loss plan.

    Some of the best vet recommended dog food brands for weight loss and weight maintenance are:

    2 DIETS that make dogs lose weight!? | Veterinary approved

    As feeding dogs kibble has come more prevalent, the number of overweight dogs has increased. Now, more than half of dogs in the U.S. are overweight.

    Although correlation doesn’t equal causation, the likelihood in this case is that the two are related. That dry dog food is often half or more grains, has artificial flavors and additives, and is full of carbohydrates.

    This will provide your dog with calories to make them feel full, but not with the nutrients they need. As a result, these calories will turn into fat rather than feeding the body with what it needs. On top of this issue, many dog owners fail to acknowledge that their dog is overweight or see it as a serious health problem. An overweight dog can easily become obese as well as a list of other health issues. With this guide, we hope to help you help your dog lose weight they need to reach optimal health!