Is your dog a little overweight? If so you’re not alone. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, over 50% of American pets are overweight. And unfortunately that that extra weight can cause health issues for our pets. If your dog needs to lose a few pounds here’s a few simple steps you can take to help your dog lose weight.
Cut Down Your Dogs Caloric Intake
The feeding recommendations on dog food labels aren’t going to be right for every dog. Food label recommendations are estimates based on a dogs size, not their activity level. A working Border Collie on a farm is going to need more calories than a Schnauzer whose daily activities include sunbathing and lounging on the couch. Yet they’re roughly the same weight, so if you were to go by what’s recommended on the food label you’d feed them the same amount.
So if you’ve been feeding the same food for awhile and your dog’s been gaining weight it’s time to consider cutting down their portions. Start by cutting small increments and keep track of your dog’s weight. If you’re not sure how much to feed your dog I recommend consulting your veterinarian. They’ll be able to come up with a diet plan that’s right for your dog.
Measure Out Your Dog’s Meals
To help your dog lose weight be sure to measure out all of their meals with a measuring cup or scale. When it comes to measuring out meals we’re horrible at guessing portion sizes. Keeping track of the exact amount your dog is eating every day will help determine whether your weight loss plan is working or not.
When it comes to feeding your dog one miscalculation of just a few grams or ounces can have a big effect on your dog’s weight, especially with smaller dogs. If you feed your dog 1 cup (8 ounces) a day and you end up giving them just one extra ounce by miscalculating that’s a 12% increase. Stay consistent by measuring out all of your dog’s meals.
Provide Your Dog With Regular Exercise
Do you walk your dog every day? If not it’s time to start. Daily walks will help your dog lose weight, and they provide a lot of mental stimulation that your dog can’t get indoors. It’s the one time of the day where they get to go out and explore and find out what’s been going on in the world around them.
Besides your daily walk one of the funnest ways to get your dog active is to engage them in more play. A few short sessions of play every day not only burns calories, it will enrich your dog’s life by giving them a sense of purpose and routine. A few of the games you can play with your dog to keep them active are:
- Fetch
- Tug of War
- Chasing Bubbles
- Frisbee
- Hide & Seek
When starting a new exercise plan for your dog remember to take it slow by gradually increasing their daily activity. Like us, our dogs can injure themselves and get pretty sore if they over extend themselves.
Cut Down on Extra Snacks & Treats
Our dogs love treats, and it’s really easy to get carried away when we see how happy all those extra snacks make them. But remember all those extra calories add up, and as we all know those extra calories are really hard to work off.
If you still want to reward your dog with treats try cutting them in half or quarters. Our dogs don’t care about the size of snacks, they’ll just be happy that they’re getting them. If you don’t have any low calorie treats use some fruits & veggies that are safe for dogs such as:
- Apples (remove the seeds)
- Strawberries
- Carrots
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Cucumber
- Celery
- Watermelon (remove the seeds)
Keep Track Of Your Dogs Progress
When starting a weight loss program for your dog it’s important to keep track of their progress. Take note of how much exercise they’re getting, how much food they’re eating and how many extra snacks they get each day.
Weigh them regularly to see how your plan is working. A safe rate of weight loss for dogs per month is about 5% of their total weight. So if your dog started at 50 lbs you’d be aiming for them to lose of a couple pounds per month.
If you don’t have a scale at home to weigh your dog you can take a trip to the vet’s office and use theirs. Not only is it a convenient way to weigh your dog, it’s a nice way to let your dog know that the vet’s office is more than just a scary place where they get poked and prodded.
And remember that all dogs are different, and some will lose weight quicker than others. If your dog still isn’t losing weight after putting them on a a weight loss program it’s time to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out any medical issues.
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