Are you overlooking your dog's weight problem?

Are you overlooking your dog's weight problem?

15 January 2010 Pet Advice & Ideas (5)

Now is a great time to develop better habits for your canine companion. Just like in humans, obesity is rampant in America’s pet population. When dogs carry too much weight they place an extra strain on all their organs, and they can be at an increased risk for diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure and pancreatitis. Unsurprisingly, excess weight gain can interfere with a pet’s quality of life and actually shorten their life span.

Fortunately, dogs respond very well to simple weight-loss programs. By increasing your pet’s exercise and reducing the amount of calories he or she eats, you can help reduce your pet’s weight and the risk of health problems associated with obesity.

But how do you determine whether or not your dog is overweight? And, if your dog is overweight, what can you do about it? In this short video, Dr. Sarah shows you how to learn if your dog is carrying too much weight, and gives advice on how to help your dog shed unwanted pounds.

Are you overlooking your dog's weight problem?

Now is a great time to develop better habits for your canine companion. Just like in humans, obesity is rampant in America’s pet population. When dogs carry too much weight they place an extra strain on all their organs, and they can be at an increased risk for diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure and pancreatitis. Unsurprisingly, excess weight gain can interfere with a pet’s quality of life and actually shorten their life span.

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Comments (5) -

  • David Boothman

    1/16/2010 5:19:23 AM |

    This may be the most significant factor underlying health in dogs.  Whether you like it or not canines have no dietary requirement for carbohydrate yet most dog foods contain a high proportion simply for reasons of cost.  Compounding the problem is that the serum insulin this generates results in the carbohydrate being deposited as fat.  There is a general misconception is that fat people are fat because they eat too much.  Metabolically the opposite is true.  Fat people eat too much because the type of fat already on their body keeps them almost perpetually hungry.  This is why diets don't work; eventually hunger overcomes the desire to lose weight.  The only way out of this self-destructive loop is through insulin control by not eating food that boosts insulin.  In the case of dogs the advice here is excellent, feed the highest animal protein diet you can find and containing no junk carbohydrate and this means definitely no grain.  Simply reducing the amount you feed your dog using a junk dog food could be interpreted as cruel and unusual punishment.  If your Vet tells you to be cautious of a high protein diet, send them back to school.  This is a myth that has not been born out by controlled scientific studies, but some folks have perhaps given up reading.  You can find the actual science by searching on the internet but you may need help deciphering the medical language.
    With felines the problem is more serious.  Felines are obligate carnivores and eating other than meat provides a clear path to particular health problems and increased mortality.  

  • candi kusler

    2/1/2010 4:18:22 AM |

    Dr. Sarah,
    Once again you have informed me on how to take care of our George...thank you for your information...I've been wondering if george is gaining weight and how to tell...now I know and will keep an eye on him and exercise him more...I look forward to it showing up on facebook...the eating poop talk was very informative also...we try to keep it picked up and I think he often feels neglected and does it for attention...Thank you again and looking forward to future posts...

  • Meredith Weir

    5/26/2010 1:20:01 PM |

      Question  Does anyone know if life's abundance weight loss formula can be used on a diabetic dog once the dog has been stablized? I have a possible client if it can be used, if not Does anyone know of another Holistic type food she might use?

  • Patricia Schaefer

    11/13/2010 2:37:29 PM |

    My chesapeake bay retriever is a big tall girl and weighs 130 lbs.  She needs to lose at least 15lbs.  Can you tell me the best food to give her to accomplish this.  We do walk every day since I got her at 10 weeks, except lately we havent, which may have contributed to the lastest weight gain

  • Amy Brown

    8/5/2014 7:19:21 AM |

    I have a 4 month old cream retriever (female).  She had digestive issues initially and was put on ID canned food.  I have since added Orijen Puppy dry and have continued to include a two thirds of a can of ID and a quarter pound a day of fresh salmon or tuna.  She has had many bowel movements per day as a result and while it is not diarrhea, my concern is that she is not assimilating  the nutrients for incremental weight gain.  She is 20.2 lbs as of her last vet visit a week ago.  Please advise.

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