Swim your dog back to full fitness
WEIGHT LOSS
Obesity in dogs is a serious medical problem. Fat dogs are more at risk in surgery, more prone to injury, and have more stress on heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and joints. Excess weight can worsen osteoarthritis, cause respiratory problems in hot weather and during exercise, lead to diabetes mellitus, and generally lessen the quality of life for a family pet.
An owner can control his pet's weight by realizing that food is not a substitute for attention or a cure for guilt and that firmness can and should be applied to the relationship. An owner who cannot resist Fluffy's soft, pleading eyes whenever food enters the vicinity is an owner contributing to Fluffy's obesity and may even be shortening her life. An owner who cannot rouse himself for a few hours each week to make sure that Singer gets enough exercise is an owner contributing to Singer's obesity and may even be shortening his life.
Overweight dogs have increasing amounts of fat over the ribs and minimal or absent waist and tuck-up. Obese dogs have heavy fat over the ribs, along the spine, and around the tail. Morbidly fat dogs have protruding abdomens and fat deposits throughout their bodies.
Owners can examine their own dogs for a fat layer on the ribs and the visibility of a waist and tuck-up. Breed characteristics should be taken into account of course, as some breeds have more prominent ribs and tuck-ups when in optimum condition. In general, dogs with protruding bones and the appearance of muscle loss are too thin.
Owners can take the situation in hand right now to prevent obesity in their dogs.Many dog food manufacturers sell low-calorie diets for dogs that are worth a look, and some companies sell prescription weight-loss diets through veterinary practices. However, caution is the rule when using these rations.
So what's a dog owner to do?
- Be aware that obesity is a potential problem if your dog controls the amount of food and snacks he gets ......by begging or looking sad and get a head start by realizing that an empty bowl is not a clue that your dog needs more food. Dogs are scavengers; an empty bowl is often a trigger for pleading or browsing behaviour and does not mean that they are starving.
- At the very least, cut back a bit on the kibble in the food bowl. If your dog looks stricken and keeps looking for more, toss in some green beans, carrots, or other low-calorie vegetables as long as they do not cause intestinal upset.
- Feed appropriate snacks. If you can't resist offering them an evening snack, try specialties from natural food bakeries for pets or carrot sticks, un-buttered popcorn, orange or apple slices or bits of banana instead of potato chips, pizza, or ice cream. If you split a burger with your pooch on an outing, cut back on his next meal.
- Provide some opportunity for prolonged exercise a couple of times a week. Long walks, play sessions, and strenuous training sessions help keep muscles in shape and bodies functioning. This is where we come in.Time alone in a yard is not sufficient; although dogs will run fence lines if a person or animal happens by, they are generally as lazy as people and will not run for the sake of exercise. Swimming helps reduce weight without the risk of injury which could be caused when walking or running by a dog regularly impact over burdened joints. Their fitness stamina and weight will all improve rapidly if a calorie controlled diet is used in conjunction with regular swimming of 2 - 3 times a week. This can be reduced as they get closer to their ideal weight and then a varied exercise program of walks, runs, play can be introduced .
- Watch the fat content in the food you buy. Fats are energy sources; if the energy isn't expended, fats merely add unneeded calories. Fat content of dry food for adult dogs generally ranges between 11-16 percent, with sedentary dogs needing a lower percentage than active or performance dogs.
- Check the calorie/protein content of the food you are feeding and look for a diet with similar ingredients but fewer calories. When changing foods, watch for changes in your pet's coat, exercise level, and general condition because dietary changes can influence overall health even while reducing weight if the food is not compatible with the dog. If your serious about reducing your dogs weight you should be looking for protein levels in their food of less than 20%.
- Watch the supplements you use. Some veterinarians, breeders and trainers recommend adding a tablespoon or two of vegetable oil to the kibble if the dog has a dry coat or skin, but this probably only adds unnecessary calories. It's better for the dog to use a food with sufficient Omega fatty acids or even to supplement with Vitamin E or with a balanced supplement such as Missing Link.
- Unfortunately, some dog breeds (like some people) seem to have a head start on thickening waistlines. These include Labrador Retrievers, Beagles, Basset Hounds, Dachshunds, Cocker Spaniels, and Shetland Sheepdogs. If you own one of these breeds, you can take steps to make sure your pet gets enough exercise to work off his daily ration so he doesn't gain too much weight.
- Don't blame weight gain on hormone changes after sterilization surgery. Some spayed bitches and neutered males may gain weight because of a combination of hormone changes, lowering of metabolic rate, lack of exercise, and consumption of too many calories, but the key is "combination of influences," not "sterilized pets get fat."
- Keep them away from the table at mealtime, separate them from snacking youngsters, and don't let the kids feed them without supervision.
While exercise is vital in any program to prevent or dogs from becoming overweight or obese, some caution is necessary. Diving into a vigorous exercise program can tax underused muscles and, stress heart and lungs so start slowly and increase frequency and intensity of activities with care. An exercise program should begin with a visit to the veterinarian to assess general health. Overweight dogs should be watched closely during exercise to make sure they do not have trouble breathing, especially in hot weather.
Remember, overweight and obesity don't happen overnight and cannot be corrected overnight. But we can help you take a step in the right direction.