Dog diets help for the overweight dog
Ask The Vet Home > Dogs > Dog Care > Nutrition
Dogs don't just get overweight overnight. It's a gradual process. Contrary to what people believe, a chubby dog is NOT a healthy dog. What's a little padding around his waste? That little padding predisposes him to diabetes, joint problems and in entire dogs, could result in infertility. The growing number of obese pets we see at veterinary clinics is alarming to say the least. The main reasons for a dog stacking on the weight is too much food and too little exercise. Most veterinarians will try to rule out underlying medical conditions eg hypothyroidism, Cushings disease before they decide to put a dog 
on a diet. So before you try to put your dog on a weight watchers diet, it's best to consult your local veterinarian first. That way, you can also ensure that there are some regular check points along the way eg weigh ins at the vet clinic to ensure that you are putting your dog on a diet safely.
If your dog is over 15% of his ideal body weight, he is classified as obese. To address the 2 main reasons for putting on weight, we need to first of all reduce the number of calories he gets in his diet. The trick to achieving healthy weight loss is to do it gradually. Sudden crash diets don't work because the dog's body suddenly thinks that it's in a famine and you will find yourself not only starving the poor animal but making it harder for it to lose the desired weight. So the idea is to feed the dog enough to make it feel it's getting sufficient and not facing a major food crisis. These principles will apply:
1. No more treats. If you want to feed treats, then just offer vegetables.
2. Change the dog food to a reduced 
calorie formulation - make sure you do this gradually. Read about how to introduce your dog to new food in Dog nutrition frequently asked questions. Space out the rationed amount through the day into 2-3 smaller meals not just one big meal at the end of the day. Most weight loss diets for dogs have increased fiber in them and lower fat content so it keeps the dog 'full' whilst reducing the amount of calories it receives.
3. Aim to lose no more than 4% per week.
4. Stay strong - be sure to let EVERYONE in the family know that your dog is on a diet and to ensure that EVERYONE follows the rules - I had one client who kept insisting that she had put her dog on a diet and adhered to it strictly and it was only after interrogation of her mother (who was living with her) that we realized that she was slipping treats and extra food to the 'poor dog' because it was looking at her with those big brown eyes and she couldn't help herself.
What about exercise? Weight loss can be achieved quicker by increasing the amount of calories your dog burns off during exercise. Again as with the diet change, start off slow. If your dog is only used to the twice daily walk, don't charge out and force him to run a mile on day 1. Start by increasing the length of walks, then gradually increase the pace slowly. As your dog loses more weight, you may want to introduce other things eg fetching a ball, running beside your bike etc. Think of the amount of exercise you will be getting too!
Weight loss doesn't happen overnight but then again the weight gain didn't happen overnight either so stick with it and you'll be rewarded with a happier, healthier dog.
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