Thursday 21 October 2010

How to Help Your Dog Lose Weight

How to Help Your Dog Lose Weight

_ With 35 million or 45 percent of American dogs overweight
or obese,[1] putting your pooch on a diet might just be on the
cards. Do you know if your dog needs to lose weight or are you still
calling it "puppy fat"? While owners are busy spoiling their canine
friends with treats, extra food, and cookies as a show of love, the
reality is that an overweight do is neither happy nor healthy, and
if your dog falls into this category, it's time to fix it,
immediately. Overweight dogs are prone to illnesses such as heart
disease, cancer and canine diabetes, constant fatigue, and other
debilitating and life-shortening problems.[2] To get your dog's life
back into shape and to get you_ retrained too, follow the
suggestions in this article.

!! Steps !!

Know the signs of an overweight or obese dog. A 12 pound yorkie is
the equivalent of an average female human weighing 214 pounds.[3]
Obesity is the number nutrition-related problem in dogs,[4] and
while it can be caused by a metabolic disease, the main cause is
over-feeding by the dog's owners. Unfortunately, many owners are in
denial that they have a fat dog, known as the "fat gap".[5] To tell
if your dog is overweight, do the rib test, as follows:

* Rib test: Run your hands down the side of your dog. Feel for them;
if you cannot find them easily, your dog is plump and needs to
lose weight. Check her profile from above; a normal sized dog will
have an obvious waistline and her tummy will not be under her
ribcage when viewed from the side.[6] A plump dog's tummy will
sag, her back will seem broad and flat, and you'll have a hard
time gauging whether or not she even has a waist.[7]

* Weigh your dog at home. The best method for weighing your dog is
to know your own weight first, then pick up your dog and stand on
the scales together. Subtract your own weight from the total and
you'll have the right figure. If your dog is large, be sure to
pick her up carefully to avoid hurting your break or dropping her;
crouch down low, gather her around the body and legs and use your
legs to lift you back up.[8]

* Check the weight of your dog's breed against a trusted chart. The
Association for Pet Obesity Prevention provides a good one here:
http://www.petobesityprevention.com/ideal-weight-ranges/.

Visit your vet. Explain your concerns to your vet and discuss the
options for dieting and resetting your dog's metabolism. The vet
will help you evaluate your dog's weight, and give you an idea of
how much your dog needs to lose. Knowing how much your dog needs to
take off is the _most important_ thing to find out.

* Ask your vet for advice specific to your dog in relation to a
weight loss program. In particular, the aim will be to reduce
caloric intake (to about 60 percent of the current intake) and
increase exercise.[9] You can help your dog cope with the calorie
reduction by feeding her smaller portions more frequently through
the day. It also helps to feed your dog at the same times every
day.

* Ask your vet for a reduced fat/weight reduction dog food. Your vet
will help you evaluate how much your dog should be eating.

* If you draw up a specific plan with your vet, be sure to follow it
carefully.

Monitor the changes of diet. It's a good idea to keep a daily record
of what you're feeding your dog and the amount of exercise he is
getting. Either make a chart or download one from the internet
purpose-made for doing this.[10] Take this along to your vet so that
your vet can measure the weight loss progress.

* Use a measuring cup.[11] To stop yourself from guesstimating the
right amount of food for your dog, use a measuring cup to ensure
that the proportions of food given are appropriate.

Reduce the treats! Cut out all treats from your dog's diet. Table
foods or treats should _never_ exceed 10 percent of your dog's daily
calorie needs.[12] Replace the unhealthy and fattening treats with
healthier dog treats when treats can be added back in. Some examples
of suitable healthy treats include: carrots, mangoes, broccoli,
celery, apples, _lean_ string cheese, green beans, etc., as well as
reduced calorie biscuits suggested by the vet. Always check that
foods given to your dog are suitable and safe; some common human
foods are toxic for dogs.

* Find out the caloric content of commercial treats. You'll be
shocked and realize why it's important to minimize them
enormously, or cut them out completely.[13]

Plan a regular exercise program; dogs need regular exercise to
prevent weight problems. Exercise will improve your dog's muscle
tone, metabolism, and weight. Start out little, then go large. If
you have kids you can even make exercising the dog a daily task. The
following suggested program is just an example – talk with you vet
and tailor the exercise program according to your dog's specific
needs. Note that walking may not be appropriate in the case of an
obese dog, and water training could prove a useful substitute
because it bears the dog's weight – talk to your vet. Use a head
halter or walking harness; leads can compress the trachea
(windpipe); choose padded harnesses.[14] Use protective booties for
snow walking, and take along water for hot weather (and a
collapsible dog bowl).

* _Small dog_: Start out with a 1/4 mile (400 metres) each day and
work your way up to 1 1/2 miles (2.4 km) of walking every day.

* _Large dog_: Start out with 1/2 mile (800 metres) of walking each
day and work your way up to 2 miles of walking every day.

* Walk as much as your dog is happy to do to begin with, and keep
pushing the length a little more every few days. Once the dog is
used to the fact that you mean business (say, 2 or 3 days of
consistency), start walking for weight loss. Don't permit your dog
to dally on the out leg of the walk, preferring to make him walk
briskly, then let him sniff around on the return leg.[15]

* Play fetch or play with toys for at least twenty minutes a day.

* If your dog and _you_ are overweight, why don't you work together?
You'll be more motivated to lose weight if you and your dog work
together.

* Monitor your dog's weight at least once a week. Buy a
canine scale, or use the weighing process outlined above, and make
a chart. Chart your dog's weight to see progress. Your dog should
also be weighed monthly by the vet until she is back to her normal
weight.[16]

!! Video !!

!! Tips !!

* Vet check-ups should be made twice yearly. During a check-up, ask
about your dog's weight and listen to any concerns raised by your
vet.

* Put a picture of your dog when it is overweight on the treat jar
or food bin, it will make you hesitate about giving Fido extra
cookies.

* Schedule walks with friends who have dogs. If you make it even
more fun to exercise your dog, you'll be more likely to do it
more.

* Before you start getting your dog to lose weight, take a before
picture. Once you've gotten your dog's weight down to the right
size that your vet said, take an after picture. Look at the
difference. It will make you smile.

* Keep up good grooming habits for your dog.

* Remember to wash your dog's bowls every time he eats. Always make
fresh water accessible.

* If your dog is overweight, especially long-backed dogs
(Dachshunds, Basset Hounds, Corgis, Australian Terriers), make
sure that they do not jump up and down on surfaces (couches, beds,
etc.). The extra weight can put stress on their joints, leading to
arthritis when they get older. If you need to, buy ramps to make
jumping onto the couch, bed, or going into the car easier.

* Remember, this is a hard, uphill road. But once you reach the top,
you'll slide down easily. The first few days and maybe weeks are
hard, but once you start succeeding, it'll be easier for both you
and your dog. If in doubt, take a couple of deep breaths and say
"This is for my dog. We're doing great. We have to keep trying!".
If you do all the steps correctly, it's guaranteed your dog's
health and weight will improve.

* Dog agility is a great way for dogs to lose weight by exercising
and having fun. Sign up for an agility class with your dog! But be
careful, your dog could actually _gain_ weight if you use
unhealthy dog treats. Instead, use your dog's favorite toy (they
really do love toys just as much as treats!) or use some of the
healthy food examples mentioned above. Talk it over with your vet
first – if your dog is too obese before starting class, it could
put stress on his joints.

* Dry food is preferable to canned food for dogs because it promotes
healthy teeth and gums, while still providing the same
nutrition.[17]

!! Warnings !!

* Too much strenuous exercise can be a hazard for your dog. Talk
with your vet about how much exercise your dog should be getting.

* Always research foods before giving them as treats to your dogs.
For example, grapes, raisins, and onions can be very toxic to
dogs.

* If you make exercising the dog a task for your kids, make sure
that they know how to properly walk a dog, help her when she is
hurt, etc. Make sure they bring water for the dog. Also, if you
have a young child, always have an adult accompany them on walks
to avoid danger.

* Never restrict access to water; it should always be clean and
freely available unless a vet requires otherwise.[18]

* A dog that is left outside during winter needs double the usual
amount of high quality dog food.[19] Talk to your vet about any
issues this might cause if you have an overweight outside dog.

!! Things You'll Need !!

* Halter or walking harness (padded if possible)

* Water bowl for carrying when exercising

* Dog booties

* Healthy dog food, calorie restricted

* Healthy dog treats

!! Related WikiHows !!

* How to Avoid Foods Dangerous for Your Dog

* How to Walk a Dog

* How to Choose a Vet

* How to Put Your Dog on a Diet

* How to Make Healthy Dog Treats

!! Sources And Citations !!

!! Article Tools !!

* Read on wikiHow

*

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