Miss Zoe the black lab (pictured here) asks a great question about weight loss: Can you tell my Mom, on a nutritional level, what she should be doing? It's mid summer and I still am unable to fit into my two-piece. Lots of love and licks, ZoeZoe
Weight management is something many pet owners struggle with. An estimated 43 million dogs in the US are overweight or obese*. That's a staggering amount! Especially when you consider that dogs who keep a healthy weight live 15% longer than their overweight counterparts**,that's nearly two additional years! So, how do we help them keep a healthy weight?
First things first - Get a clean bill of health from the vet. Before starting any weight loss regimen it's important that your pup gets a thorough exam as well as blood, thyroid & urine tests to rule out any medical conditions for the extra weight and ensure your pup is healthy. Often, your vet can give also give you an ideal weight to achieve.
Detox - Detox - Detox - So, you have a clean bill of health, an idea of how much weight your dog needs to lose and you're ready to get started. So, is it all about feeding less? Not quite. To get started on a healthy weight loss regimen we recommend detoxing your pup. A high-quality detox will help flush toxins as well as improve organ function. Both of these things will aid in weight loss, increase metabolism and help your pup feel better overall! The detox can be done in conjunction with food restriction & exercise. One detox we love is:
Food Restriction - Keep in mind: your pup needs to lose weight slowly (taking weight off too fast can cause discomfort as well as lead to medical issues). We generally recommend decreasing food by approximately 20% to start. You can slowly take this percentage up to as much as 40% as your pup becomes accustomed to the amounts. Make sure that you are feeding a food that contains high-quality protein to ensure your dog feels full & satisfied.
Sounds simple, right? This is where people struggle the most. Some owners will cut back the amounts at mealtime but give into their dog's pleading looks later or offer high-calorie treats throughout the day. Our best advice: Keep a food journal! Writing down everything your pup eats will help keep you honest about what your pup is really consuming and also give you an idea of where you can cut back. You might notice that your pup is getting treats at the bank, the coffee shop, the pet store, and during a training session. Skipping those extra treats can help cut back on calories as well as choosing a low-calorie training treat (Many people love Zuke's training treats. We recommend cutting each treat in half, that makes them just 1.5 calories each)! As part of a food journal, I recommend tracking weekly weigh-ins at the vet to help you map weight loss progress.
Supplements - There is one supplement we readily recommend for dogs on a diet. It is high in essential vitamins & minerals and can also help restore an active and healthy metabolism in dogs. That supplement is organic kelp. We love this one:
Exercise - Yes, weight loss is the same for pups as it is for humans. Less calories in - more calories out. If your pup is a couch potato, try getting them out & about for just 5 extra minutes a day...then you can take it to ten or even fifteen extra minutes. Play fetch or frisbee, engage in a good game of tug - even better, fetch and tug! Walk around the block an extra time or stay at the park a bit longer. Many cities also offer exercise classes for you and your dog: Hiking groups, walking groups & even Doga. Making small changes will be easier on your pup and you might find that you enjoy those few extra minutes as well!
Ideal weight - A healthy weight for every dog is going to be different. But ideally you should be able to see a 'waist' and easily feel all of their ribs (that's feel.. not see). If you have been keeping a food journal, it will be easy for you to see how much food is required to maintain this ideal weight once you've achieved it.
We've tried it all - From time to time, I hear from a client who has received a clean bill of health from their vet for their pup, limited food intake, increased exercise and still can't get weight off. Now what?
- Be sure to make sure everyone in the house is on board. If your children or spouse are feeding extra treats or food to your pup, this could easily sabotage a weight loss regimen!
- Write it down. I know I've stressed the importance of a food journal already. But our lives are crazy, and we can often forget throughout the day just how many treats/chews/food our dog has consumed. Jot a note on your smartphone if you need to, just keep track!
- Stretching and Massage. Both of these can help increase blood flow throughout the body, making organs function more efficiently as well as just getting things moving!
- Be patient...don't expect instant results! It will take some time, so stick to it!
Okay...we know this wasn't exactly a 'fast answer', but we hope it helps you! Working on a weight loss regimen might require a bit more work on your part, but the results will be worth it!
Good Luck!
(If you have tried everything and your pup is still struggling with weight, consider hiring a nutritionist to help you create a custom weight loss regimen. Contact us for more details!)
*Association of Pet Obesity Prevention
**Purina Pet Institute
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