Obesity is a common problem in dogs, so if your dog is packing on a few too many pounds these days, it is not alone. Suppose your veterinarian agrees with your observation of weight gain. In that case, the key is to then identify the possible causes before starting a comprehensive weight management program that can result in controlled weight loss and maintenance of an appropriate weight.

Understanding Obesity In Dogs

From a purely clinical perspective, obesity is defined as an increase in body weight beyond the limitation of skeletal and physical requirements, resulting from an accumulation of excess body fat.

Obesity is caused when caloric intake exceeds caloric expenditure; in other words, your dog eats more energy (calories) than it uses and stores the excess energy, most likely as fat.

There are a few common factors that contribute to obesity in dogs. Among them are:

• Overfeeding 
•  Inactivity 
•  Breed 
•  Age and gender 
•  Spay/neuter status 
•  Diabetes mellitus (When the dog secretes too little insulin hormone from its pancreas or the insulin is not recognized by the body.) 
• Hyperadrenocorticism (also known as Cushing’s disease) results when the dog’s adrenal glands secrete too much cortisol. 
• Hypothyroidism (When the thyroid fails to produce a sufficient amount of hormones that help with metabolism and other bodily functions.) 

Your dog uses fat as its primary energy source. When your dog becomes overweight, it stores fat more readily when calories are consumed in the form of fat than if they are from carbohydrates. An overweight or obese dog should be fed a low-fat diet to restrict calories available from fat.

A typical fiber level, provided as a moderately fermentable fiber source, helps create and maintain healthy digestion. Healthy digestion is essential to your dog if it’s on a diet. Some weight-loss foods for dogs dilute calories with high levels of fiber. High-fiber foods may reduce the digestibility and absorption of many nutrients, including fat. These foods reduce weight by providing what could be considered poor-quality nutrition. These high-fiber diets may also result in large, frequent stools and decreased skin and coat conditions. Diets that provide essential fatty acids, like those found in vitamin-rich fish oils, help maintain your dog’s healthy skin and coat, despite lowered fat levels.

Dog Weight Management 

The goal of a good weight management program should be gradual weight loss. Your rotund dog should lose 1% to 2% of its initial weight per week. You can accomplish this by reducing the caloric intake by 30% to 50% of maintenance. 

A total weight management program can lead to successful weight loss in your dog. A tailored exercise program can help to keep the extra pounds off too. But before beginning any weight loss program with your dog, be sure to discuss the proposed plan with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may also provide you with additional tips tailored to your dog’s particular health, age, size, and needs.

Global Trends on Weight and Fitness in Dogs

In the best-selling book French Women Don’t Get Fat (Vintage), writer Mireille Guiliano explains how les femmes françaises indulge in baguettes, champagne, and chocolate without sacrificing their ability to slip into their curve-hugging sweaters. The question now is: Does the seemingly miraculous European food effect carry over to continental dogs?

In America, fat versus thin gets a lot of press these days, but more often than not, it’s about us and not what veterinarians are saying about the big, fat problem of American dogs. Below, Trisha Joyce, DVM at New York City Veterinary Specialists, weighs in on fatness and fitness in dogs globally and offers ways to make your dog très,très fit, and healthy.

International Dog Diets

Like human preferences, pet tastes are influenced by cultural surroundings. “Dogs that live in households with people of Japanese or French or American descent will get table scraps and acquire the same preferences and tolerance for that kind of cuisine,” says Joyce. “In my practice, I see dogs that don’t get spicy food often who eat an Italian sausage and show up at my door 24 hours later with colitis, while dogs that are used to fatty, spicy foods are much less sensitive to it.”

In industrialized countries, though, commercial dog food is similar or often precisely the same as what’s available in the states. “When I was in Japan, I saw Iams and Science Diet,” says Joyce. “There’s probably someone making commercial Japanese dog food, too, but the biggest companies are international.”

Priming Your Dog’s Palate

If experience shapes preferences, should you be sharing your favorite dish with your favorite dog? “No way,” says Joyce. “Veterinarians in this country, myself included, tend to be pretty strict about not feeding people food to dogs. It contributes to obesity and other related health problems.”

Around the world, though, food practices can vary. “In other cultures, it may be a little looser,” Joyce says. “The traditional role of dogs was to clean up the extra food, and some older societies still relegate them to that position. In certain cultures, they’re still considered scavengers.” She adds that a different trend is occurring in America. “In the U.S., our dogs have evolved into being family members, with the unfortunate side effect of being overfed.”

So Are American Dogs Fatter?

Suppose feeding table scraps leads to obesity, and veterinarians outside of the U.S. tend to be less, ahem, dogmatic about feeding human food to dogs. Shouldn’t it stand to reason that dogs in other industrialized countries would be heavier? Guess again. While no hard-and-fast data is comparing the dogs’ weights country-by-country, Joyce hazards a guess that American dogs are more likely to get fat.

“Obesity is a huge problem in pets in this country. Heavier people tend to have heavier children and probably are also more prone to having heavy pets,” says Joyce, who indicates the weight gain may have to do with inactive lifestyles and overfeeding. While French women may indulge in chocolates and cheese, they stay fit by eating fatty foods in moderation and consuming smaller portions.

How Do I Keep My Dog Fit?

In the fight against fat on Fido, your veterinarian is truly man’s best friend. Your dog’s doctor can give you an ideal weight range for your pet and suggest ways to reach or maintain that goal; this can include a diet and exercise program. Most veterinarians will offer a meal plan, which is easy enough to do when kibble or canned food is the diet mainstay. But limiting your pet’s caloric intake might also require examining your eating habits. 

“If a pet owner uses food as a way to soothe and reward himself,” says Joyce, “he is likely to soothe and reward his animals in the same way. I have clients who say, ‘I felt sorry for him. He was alone all day, so I gave him a few treats.'”

To combat this, Joyce recommends thinking twice, or even three times, before using food as a quick way to make your dog happy. “Trust me, your dog would rather go outside and play,” she says.

As the thinnest of the French doggies will surely tell you, a romp in the park is better than even the stinkiest cheese.

Article written by Author: Darcy Lockman and Timothy Brill

If you’re like most Americans, you’ve made at least one New Year’s resolution. And according to health provider, Kaiser Permanente‘s “New Year’s and Health Issues Survey,” nearly 60 percent of these resolutions are health and fitness-based. As pet lovers, most of us consider our dogs to be almost human and an integral part of the family. So, while watching the ball drop on December 31st, consider making a resolution to improve the quality of your canine’s health, as well.

Exercise programs that involve more than just a leisurely sniff-and-stroll around the block can get your pup’s heart pounding, diffusing all of that excess energy, ultimately making it less hyper and much healthier overall.

Before starting your dog off on a workout regime, here are some things to consider.

• Get a Veterinarian Checkup 

Have a veterinarian examine your dog first, says pet expert Arden Moore, author of Healthy Dog: The Ultimate Fitness Guide for You and Your Dog. You’ll want to know if your dog has health issues that could affect its ability to exercise. Of course, if you plan on working out with your dog, you should visit your doctor as well.

• Know Your Dog 

A walk around the block will give you an indication of your dog’s condition, but the type and intensity of exercise you undertake also will depend on your dog’s breed. Toy breeds and dogs with what Moore calls affectionately “hunched-in faces,” such as Pugs or Bulldogs, won’t be suited to long-distance running. Short-legged, stocky dogs, such as Corgis or Dachshunds, can manage short bursts of energy and steady-paced walks, while long-legged, light-framed dogs make fine jogging partners.

• Read the Signs 

Be aware of when your dog has had enough. “Don’t be excited because the dog is going to keep going,” cautions Moore. “You don’t want to risk injury.” A drooping tongue, rapid panting, and hesitation in responding are all indications your dog is done for the day. The TV test also works, says Moore. If you’re watching TV at night, relaxing, and your dog is trying to distract you, the exercise probably wasn’t challenging enough. If your dog is napping on the floor, barely moving a muscle, it was too intense. If your dog is napping lightly, happy and content to be with you, you probably hit the right note.

What Exercise Program Would Suit My Dog?

With those cues in mind, here’s a look at some exercise routines for dogs at three points on the fitness spectrum:

The Beginners Plan

First, practice patience, says Jonathan Rudinger, founder and president of PetMessage Health and Fitness Center in Toledo, Ohio. Build endurance and speed slowly. You might have your dog walk on a treadmill for 10 minutes at three miles per hour three times a week, suggests Rudinger. While dog treadmills are available, Rudinger says any treadmill can work. He modifies a treadmill, blocking off the sides to make a chute, using PVC pipe and a dog crate‘s sides.

The first time or two, you’ll want to straddle the dog with your feet outside the moving mat, making sure the leash stays wrapped around the crossbar, and the dog feels safe. Never leave a dog unattended on a treadmill, he advises. “We don’t want them to be like weekend warriors who get injured if they’re put into a physical stress situation too quickly.”

If you’re walking your dog outside, build from a block-long walk to a two-mile jaunt over several months, says Moore. If you want to make the walk purposeful rather than an amble, you’ll need to keep your dog’s attention by changing pace regularly and varying the walk routine.

The Intermediate Plan

If your dog has been conditioning for a while and has the propensity for more intense exercise, it should be able to handle a 20 to 25-minute run at four and a half to five miles per hour on a treadmill, says Rudinger. Again, you want to do this routine about three times a week, allowing for rest. Outside, your dog should be capable of 20 to 40 minutes of fast walking, jogging, or games of catch and tag. If you’re housebound by weather, consider a game of hide-and-seek.

The Advanced Plan

An advanced dog should handle the same treadmill workout as an intermediate dog, but with more frequency, perhaps four to five times a week. A highly conditioned dog might be able to handle an hour or two of purposeful movement outside, says Moore. Varying the type of exercise is useful, perhaps adding a weekend hike or a 15-minute swim in a safe location. Don’t forget water breaks. And your dog benefits from a stretch and a warm-up says Rudinger.

For any fitness level, the most important thing is to develop a routine. Commit to your dog’s exercise, dedicating sufficient time for it regularly, and remembering that you are your dog’s greatest motivator.

Article written by Author: Kim Boatman

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, an estimated 45 percent of all U.S. dogs are overweight or obese. Luckily, food choices based on sound science can help treat overweight or underweight dogs. So, is my dog a healthy weight?

For many dog owners, determining what’s over or under a healthy weight isn’t so obvious. The most reliable way to find out is to ask your veterinarian, says Dr. Katy Nelson, a Virginia-based vet who has consulted on dog food nutrition matters. Your vet will use one of two scoring systems, with a sliding scale that runs from emaciated to morbidly obese.

An excellent at-home way to measure is to look at your dog’s ribs, says Rebecca Rose, a veterinary technician. 

She has routinely advised pet owners about weight issues over her 23-year career. “If ribs can be seen, your dog is too thin,” she says. 

 “If the ribs can be felt, that is optimum. If the ribs are not felt, then your dog is overweight.”

What Happens If a Dog Is Overweight?

Overweight dogs live shorter lives, according to many studies, with a reduction in life span by two or more years.

Dr. Gail K. Smith, professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, worked on a 14-year study of a canine diet. Smith and his colleagues found that “lean body conformation forestalls some chronic illnesses (in dogs), most notably osteoarthritis. That diet can either mitigate or exacerbate the expression of genetic diseases.” Therefore, dog owners need to keep their dogs lean, with palpable ribs and a distinct waistline.

Selecting an Appropriate Weight Control Dog Food

You should first “determine the number of calories your pet is currently consuming, including main meals, snacks, treats, and toppers,” says Dr. Amy Dicke, an Ohio-based veterinarian. Establish a goal weight with your veterinarian, and then move on to selecting foods.

The foods should offer complete nutrition and contain unique ingredients for weight loss, such as L-carnitine, an element that helps burn fat while keeping your dog energized and feeling full.

In case you ever have a question about the food, quality manufacturers provide a toll-free number on the package. Feel free to call up and discuss your concerns with their pet specialists.

Overweight Versus Obese Dogs

Beyond these basics, you can choose between “off the shelf” weight control dog foods and unique veterinary formulas available through many veterinarians. Also called “therapeutic diets,” these veterinary formula diets are generally designed for obese pets. Obese dogs and cats are 20 percent over their ideal weight. Therapeutic diets are often the most restricted in fat and calorie content.

Once you know your dog’s goal, many specialized foods can help. Here’s a quick rundown for each situation:

What Should I Feed My Underweight Dog?

Foods created specifically for underweight dogs, sometimes called “performance” foods, usually contain higher protein and fat than usual. These higher protein and fat levels can help build muscle mass. They aren’t merely the doggie equivalent of Big Macs, says Nelson. They’re just much more calorically dense than other foods, allowing dogs to eat a “normal” amount but supplying it with more calories per bite.

Nelson believes it’s a better option than giving more significant portions of “regular” food. “If a pet becomes accustomed to eating a large amount per day, it may be more difficult to transition it [back] when it’s achieved an ideal weight.”

How Can I Control My Dogs Weight?

Anyone who has dieted knows that, after losing weight, keeping it off can be challenging. That’s where “weight control” foods come in (sometimes they’re also called “weight maintenance” or “weight management”). They’re used to maintain the ideal weight once it’s been achieved.

“Don’t count on them to reduce your pet’s weight,” warns Nelson. “But they’re wonderful foods if your pet is where it needs to be.” She says these foods can also be used for obesity prevention — for a dog that has the potential to become overweight, such as hypothyroid or “couch potato” dogs.

What Is the Best Diet For an Overweight Dog?

Since 25 to 40 percent of dogs are considered overweight or obese, according to numerous university reports, there’s a good chance you’re living with a rotund Rover. If so, you’ve probably mulled over dog foods labeled with terms like “low calorie,” “lite,” and “weight control.” New research, however, has determined that such diets vary widely beyond the packaging and labeling differences.

There is a wide variety of options for dogs that need to lose weight. Some of these foods are very high in fiber since fiber makes dogs, like people, feel fuller with smaller amounts of food. But Nelson says drawbacks include the increased “output” that results from a fiber-rich diet and low coat quality. Instead, she prefers high-quality dog foods with moderate amounts of carbohydrates and protein.

“Look for products that include L-carnitine, an amino acid that helps ‘escort’ fat into cells to be burned efficiently,” says Nelson. “Also look for vitamin A — it helps fool the brain into thinking that it’s full — and chromium tripicolinate, another fat-burning additive.”

Tufts University Pet Food Study

Scientists from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University recently investigated nearly 100 commercially available pet food diets with weight management claims. “There is so much information — and misinformation — about pet foods. Understandably, people are confused about what to feed their dogs and cats,” says Dr. Lisa Freeman, a nutrition professor at Cummings who holds a doctorate in nutrition and veterinary medicine.

Under federal guidelines, pet foods labeled with terms like “light” or “low calorie” must provide caloric content on their labels. The foods must also adhere to a maximum kilocalorie per kilogram restriction. But Freeman and her team found that more than half of the evaluated foods exceed this maximum. The researchers also discovered that if owners follow the feeding recommendations for many foods, their pets gain weight.

But these foods alone won’t do the trick. “Portion control is the key in utilizing these scientifically engineered foods,” says Nelson. “You can have the best weight loss food on the market in your pet’s bowl, but if you’re dishing out too much of it, giving too many treats or not incorporating physical activity, your diet plan will fail.”

It’s also important to know the proper definition of a “cup” of food. Rose says she’s experienced many occasions where a dog owner’s idea of a cup was way off from the official eight ounces. “Conversations around ‘cup’ varied — is a coffee can is a cup? Or a 24-ounce soda cup? These are not exact 8-ounce servings,” she says.

While it’s essential to select the right weight loss diet, your companionship cannot be packaged or replaced. As Dicke points out, your dog’s “activity level, the home environment, and (your) vigilance” are essential to helping your dog lose the excess pounds and keep them off for good.

5 Step Dog Weight Management Plan 

As you work with your dog on its new weight management plan, Dicke advises that you do the following:

• Step 1: Approach weight loss in a holistic manner. Often, this means starting with a lifestyle change.
• Step 2: Accurately measure the food, and if you are giving any treats or biscuits, consider the calories added to your pet’s daily intake.

• Step 3: If possible, feed the daily food allotment in multiple small meals throughout the day.
• Step 4: Increase daily exercise.
• Step 5: Any human interaction or attention tends to increase activity. If you show interest in your dog and what it’s doing, your dog will be more energetic and engaged.

Lastly, you might wonder how all these foods taste. Are they as unappealing to dogs as many “diet” foods are to people? “You may have to try a few foods to find the one that your pet will like,” says Nelson. “But in general, pets that are obese often do not have the most discerning tastes.”

Article written by Author: Brad Kloza, and The Dog Daily Expert