How do you manage obesity in dogs?

Talk to your veterinarian for information and guidance when it comes to your dog’s diet and potential weight-loss plan. It’s best to get a professional’s help as you assess your pet’s accurate weight, body condition, and diet, determine if the dog would benefit from a weight-loss plan, and set a target weight to work toward. Keep Your Dog Active Just like humans, exercise is crucial when it comes to helping your overweight dog get healthy. Regular walks and the chance to run and play in a safe off-leash environment are good forms of exercise for your dog. Limit Treats and Table Scraps Even when our dogs don’t beg, many of us volunteer too many treats and table scraps. Measure and Monitor Once your vet has designed a weight-management plan, you should have a clear idea of how much your dog should eat at each meal. Customize Your Dog’s Diet Not all weight-loss foods are created equal, so it’s important to match your dog with a nutrition plan that directly addresses their specific needs. Stick With It Like human, like pet, studies have shown that after successfully losing weight, approximately half of all dogs regained weight.

If your dog is overweight, then any weight loss should be done gradually. You should follow the guidelines on the food packets and give them an amount for their target weight rather than their actual weight. If they’ve been eating a lot more than they should, don’t suddenly switch them to a lower amount but instead cut down gradually over a couple of weeks. Get your dog exercising more – take them for longer walks or use toys and games that get them running around your garden regularly. You should offer your dog a complete dog food that provides all their nutritional needs. Portion control is key – make sure you feed them the recommended amount. Treats should be kept to a minimum and where possible you should switch out higher calorie ones for things like carrot sticks. If you do give your dog something tasty, it should make up no more than 10% of their daily calories. Your dog should see a vet annually for a health check, which includes checking their weight. If you know your dog is overweight and you’re struggling to get it under control they can devise a feeding regime for you.

Start by weighing your dog every month. After consulting your veterinarian about your individual dog's needs, they might suggest a goal of lowering your dog's weight by 3-5% per month. Use a commercial weight-control diet. Be sure you read the label to ensure that it is formulated to the Association of American Feed Control Officials' standards for adult maintenance and that it truly is lower in calories than what you’re feeding now — some aren’t! The biggest benefits of this choice are that you can usually feed the same volume of food, and you are providing the proper amounts of nutrients that your dog needs to stay healthy. If you want to stick with your current food, that’s fine, cut it back 10% and monitor your dog. Limit treats, many pets tend to carry extra weight simply because they get way too many snacks and treats. To help pets feel more full, add healthy veggies such as green beans to their kibble, or add water to their meals. Just like us, dogs need exercise, lengthen the daily walk by 10% per week, if time is a factor, can you add a little speed? Always watch your dog’s reaction to the increased exercise and move up gradually.

The basic components for treating obesity are exercise and dietary changes. Depending on the severity of obesity and current fitness level, increasing the amount of your dog’s daily exercise may need to be done gradually. In general, most dogs can safely exercise for 15-30 minutes per day to start. The duration and intensity can be slowly increased as your dog loses weight and becomes more fit. A simple walk is feasible for most families, but exercise can also include playing fetch indoors or outdoors, swimming, and running. Dietary changes should be made with the guidance of your dog’s veterinary team. The reduction or elimination of extras like treats and table scraps will be helpful, and a change in type and/or amount of food is often needed. A good goal is weight loss of 1-2% of body weight per week, ideally reducing body fat stores while maintaining lean body tissue. Instead of eliminating treats completely, you may opt to switch to baby carrots, frozen green beans, pumpkin, or lower-calorie dog treats if your veterinarian agrees that these are good options for your dog. Meal feeding is often helpful in controlling caloric intake. It is also important to use a measuring cup to ensure consistent feeding of the appropriate amount of food. Once your dog has reached his ideal weight, your veterinarian may recommend transitioning to a maintenance diet. It is important to continue regular exercise and limit extra treats and snacks. Preventing obesity before it even happens would be ideal, and this can be achieved by avoiding excessive treats, and ensuring that your dog gets regular exercise.

It won't surprise you that the common reason for canine obesity is overeating and a corresponding lack of exercise. Unlike us, your canine companion cannot simply decide to take more exercise or eat less, so it’s crucial we, as their owners, employ the lifestyle changes needed to maintain a healthy weight. Your veterinary team at Village Vets can help you with this. After conducting a physical examination and asking you some questions about your dog’s lifestyle, your vet will be able to establish a realistic and long-term sustainable weight-loss plan. It’s often as simple as encouraging more exercise and reducing calorie intake. Reducing after-dinner scraps and reducing treats in-between mealtimes will help. Exercise with your dog can be fun, walks in the park, playing in the garden and using a dog toy with some of their kibble inside will keep your dog strong, healthy and entertained.

They'll be able to give your dog a health check and will recommend a weight reduction programme if they think it's necessary. To help prevent obesity in your pet, make sure they maintain a healthy diet and give them plenty of exercise. If you're concerned about your pet's weight, contact your local vet. Obesity can affect all types of pet. It's mainly caused by eating too much or not exercising enough, although some diseases can also cause obesity.