Obesity in dogs- Canine Couch Potatoes
There is alarming evidence that suggests that over 20% of all dogs in Australia are clinically obese. That means there are more than a million obese dogs living in Australia alone. A large percentage of owners who have obese dogs do not even realise their pet is overweight and that their beloved pooch is in poor health. We all love to spoil our pets but we DON’T want to kill them with kindness!
If a dog weighs in at more than 15% of its optimum weight, it is considered clinically obese. Obese pets have high blood pressure, are exercise intolerant, tire more easily and can suffer breathing difficulties. Just like humans, obese dogs are prone to heart problems and may contract other diseases such as diabetes. And of course, arthritic dogs will have their condition worsened by the fact they are carrying extra weight.
So how do you tell if your pet is overweight? Well a simple test is to stand your dog up and run your fingers along the sides of his chest. You should easily be able to feel his ribs. If you can’t and instead feel a nice layer of padding, I’m afraid your dog is overweight.
Obesity in dogs is caused by exactly the same factors that affect humans. It usually reflects a lifestyle of over-eating and not enough exercise. An overweight dog is taking in more calories than it is expending and the rest is stored as fat.
Some of the common causes include:
- Not adjusting food intake to an animal’s energy requirements
- Providing food ad lib and assuming the dog will regulate its own intake
- Ignoring the caloric value of treats and snacks - you may be surprised how the little treats from you, the sandwiches from the kids and the leftovers from the neighbour all add up.
- In households with more than one pet, you often have one animal helping itself to more than its fair share of food. I have this problem with my dog Toby who sneaks the cat’s food when I’m not around.
- Lack of exercise
- Pampering your pooch and indulging him when he begs for food
- Differences between breeds - some breeds such as Labradors and Beagles are renowned ‘garbage guts’ and will go to great lengths to raid the bin or table scraps. These breeds definitely need to be on a strict dietary regimen from their earliest days.
Before starting any kind of diet or lifestyle change with your dog, be sure to visit your vet for a thorough medical examination to rule out underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism.
TO HELP YOUR DOG LOSE WEIGHT:
- The whole family must follow the same rules
- Cut out all of his snacking or substitute with healthy treats like a carrot stick or slice of apple
- Reduce caloric intake - your vet will calculate the weight loss that should be achieved and provide you with a calorie-controlled diet
- Provide prescription diet foods, which are great because they provide bulk to give the feeling of fullness but with half the calories.
- Aim for your pet to lose about 15% of body weight over a period of 16-18 weeks
- Increase meal frequency - split the daily amount of food into two or three meals. This will help alleviate hunger and burn energy.
- Exercise is a crucial part of any weight loss regimen (and it might just do you some good as well). If your pet is unfit, start with gentle on-lead walking – say for 15 minutes twice a day. Gradually build this up over a month to at least an hour of daily exercise and include off-lead running when possible.
Why not take a new healthy approach to your own lifestyle as well as your dog’s? Motivation is the key - use your pet’s new exercise regimen to enjoy the great outdoors yourself. Make it a team effort and look after your health as well. You can still spoil your pooch with toys and games but it’s up to you to look after his wellbeing so that he can remain your best friend for years to come.
**** Your vet will be happy to give you dietary advice.
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