It is well known that obesity can lead to decreased longevity, in both humans as well as our beloved pets. Over one third of Canadian households own a dog that they love, and yet it is estimated that over half of these animals are considered overweight.
Although there are several factors that can lead to obesity in dogs, overfeeding and lack of exercise are the two main culprits. Because weight gain can happen slowly over time, many dog owners don’t see the gradual increase in their dog’s weight. In addition to regular check-ups at your local vet clinic, there are ways to identify if your dog falls into the “obese” category. First of all, if you run your hand across your dog’s ribcage, you should be able to feel their ribs without pushing too hard. From a side view, you should be able to see the upward tuck of the stomach and from the top view you should be able to see a narrowing in the area between the ribcage to the hips. If your dog doesn’t fit the picture of what is described, then you likely need to take some action.
Once you have identified that your beloved pet needs to enroll in a weight loss program, there are many ways to achieve this goal. Most important of all is to create and maintain a structured diet. This means actually measuring out your dog’s meal (level, not a heaping scoop) of a good quality brand dog food and limiting the time frame of when your dog has the opportunity to eat. If your dog doesn’t consume what you offer it within 10 mins, then they likely aren’t hungry and that’s okay. People often are worried if their dog won’t eat then they will starve, but unless there are underlying health issues, your dog will eat when it’s hungry. And just like people, there are some dogs that will eat until they are full, and others that will eat until the bag is empty.
We also love to spoil our dogs with the “occasional” treat and that is okay, but you need to adjust your dog’s regular meal amount if you want to feed treats. Just remember, your dog is just as thrilled with one tiny piece of cookie that you have broken up into four pieces, compared to the entire cookie. We love to spoil our dogs, so next time instead of giving them that extra cookie, give them that extra scratch behind the ear and they will love you just as much.
submitted by Angela Ewtushik and Rick Rauwerda of R&R Pet Paradise
