Wait.....what about Weight?
When
people come into the Bakery looking for information about dog or cat
food, the number one question we get is about food allergies. A close
second is about weight management. From the simple questions about how
much to feed to the
more difficult questions about what to do about an overweight dog. In
this article, I am going to outline some suggestions to help you manage
your dog’s weight. My first suggestion would be to talk to your vet and
make sure there is no medical condition causing the weight gain. Thyroid
imbalances can lead to weight gain, so can diabetes. Once your dog has
been given a clean bill of health, these suggestions and tips will help
you control your dog’s weight.
My second suggestion
is to avoid the weight management dog foods. Many of the formulas add a
calorie free filler like cellulose to decrease the calories. These
fillers are indeed calorie free but they are also nutrition free. You
want to cut back on calories, not nutrition.
For those who read
our earlier blog about us, you know we have Golden Retrievers. Our
oldest, Buddy, was more than a little over weight when Karl and I first
met. Karl had been feeding him a weight management formula dog food for
several years and Buddy kept gaining weight. I wanted to help Buddy lose
weight at a slow, steady rate so he wouldn’t think he was being
starved. (Buddy is very food motivated). So we switched to a regular dog
food and then replaced half the recommended amount of dog food with
vegetables. Buddy went from 118 lb to 95 lb over about 6 months. As his
weight went down his energy and mobility increased so his weight loss
went faster.
The
choice of vegetables you can use is pretty much endless. Dogs like
variety so you can mix it up depending on what’s in season. We used
steamed carrots and green beans fresh out of the garden because they
were in season, also steamed summer squash. A cup of vegetables has only
about 40-60 calories, but adds nutrients and fiber to help your dog
feel full. You can also add fruit in small amounts for variety and
nutrition. Fruit has a higher calorie content due to the fructose or
fruit sugar. If you’re are using canned vegetables, give them a good
rinse in running water to get rid of the salt added during the canning
process or buy salt free varieties. Fruitables makes a weight loss
supplement, a blend of pumpkin and oatmeal that has 68 calories per cup.
Dogs love pumpkin and it is very good nutrition and fiber for them.
You
can still give your dog treats while reducing weight. Choose smaller
treats, Zuke’s has a mini treat in a variety of flavors that are 3.5
calories per treat. Fruitables also has several mini treats available.
Our handcrafted treats are available in small sizes, too. Carrot slices
or other veggies make a nice treat, and most dogs love them.
- Now for the dreaded “E” word, exercise. If your dog is an overweight couch potato, you don’t want to suddenly increase his or her activity all at once. Start slowly with short walks and as his or her weight goes down and energy goes up increase the distance. The more calories that are burned off with exercise the faster the weight loss goes.
Once
your dog has achieved an optimal weight you can gradually increase the
dog food and decrease the vegetables. Feel your dog’s ribs once a week
to make sure you are where you should be. Ribs should be easy to feel
but not overly prominent. By maintaining your dog at a healthy weight
you decrease the risk of diabetes and joint problems, adding to the
quality of your dog's life.
