Is your dog overweight and you don’t know where to start to help them? Are you looking for information on how to put your dog on a diet? You have come to the right place. Learn simple steps that you can start today and your dog will be leaner and healthier in no time.
Sure, to lose weight for people and dogs, they say eat less food and increase exercise. However, if you have ever struggled with your weight, you know it’s not always that easy.
I have raised dogs for almost 20 years and we have had our share of overweight dogs. Helping your dog lose weight can be a struggle. However, learning a few basic and non-basic steps can help your pet overcome their weight loss issues.
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How can I tell if my dog is overweight?
Pet obesity is growing at an alarming rate. According to AKC.org, 55.8% of dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. But how do you know if your dog is one of those dogs?
What’s my first step?
Take your dog to see your veterinarian. Your first step should be taking your dog to see your vet. Having good communication with your vet is one of the best things you can do for your pet’s health.
I suggest vet communication when discussing several topics in this article because of its tremendous importance. Hopefully, you have already developed a great relationship with your vet. If not, see How to Find the Perfect Vet for Your Pet.
While at your vet, they will examine your dog to see if they are overweight. If your vet does determine your pet is overweight, they also can check to see if your dog’s weight issues are caused by a medical condition like hypothyroidism.
It is important to work with your vet throughout your dog’s weight loss journey.
What will my dog look like when they are overweight?
Your dog’s body shape is one way to tell if your dog is overweight. According to Dr. Sara Ochoa, DVM, veterinary advisor for Dog Lab, “If your dog’s rib are prominent and you can easily feel them without having to press hard, then the dog is fit.”
If your dog is overweight, it will be difficult to feel their ribs.
You also want to look at your dog’s body shape from the side. If your dog has a swinging stomach or sagging waist, they may be overweight.
Dr. Ochoa states, “A dog’s abdomen should not be the same level as the chest and should be tucked up.”
Look at your dog’s body shape when standing above them. Dog’s should have an hour-glass shape.
What are my dog’s health risks by being overweight?
Like people, when your dog is overweight it puts them at risk for multiple health problems. Some of those health problems include but are not limited to:
- Breathing problems
- Diabetes
- Pancreatitis
- Cardiac issues
- Bladder and kidney issues
- Joint problems
- Increase need for c-section with breeding moms
Blood work may be included in your vet’s exam of your dog. This can tell your vet if your dog’s weight problems have started to cause any physical health issues. With lifestyle changes, doggie weight loss can improve many of their health problems.
How do I put my dog on a diet?
Now that you know your dog is overweight, how do you help them? What changes do you need to make? The first change to make is with feeding your dog. There are many factors with feeding your dog that can play a part in helping your dog lose weight.
How much food should I feed my dog to help them lose weight?
There are calculations that you can do to determine how many calories your dog should get on a daily basis, like (13.6x dog’s wt in #) + 70 for spayed and neutered dogs. But who has time to do all that? And putting your dog on a diet isn’t just about cutting calories.
Different dogs have different needs. More active and working dogs may need food that is higher in protein. Breeding, pregnant and lactating dogs will have different caloric needs than other dogs. Senior and dogs with health issues may require special diet needs as well. In addition, you need to take into consideration that different breeds can have faster or slower metabolisms.
To know how many calories and any special diet needs for your dog, develop a meal plan with your vet. To help your dog lose weight, you should gradually reduce their food intake by one-third.
You should also discuss with your vet the type of food to feed your dog to help them lose weight.
How do I know if my dog’s food will help them lose weight?
First, you want to choose the right dog food for the breed of your dog. For example, if your dog is a large breed, you want to feed them a large breed formula. Also, many brands of dog food have a formula for weight loss. Our dogs always did well on Pro Plan Weight Control Dry Dog Food.
To make sure you are feeding your dog correctly, check on the bag of food for the feeding recommendations for that brand. You can also check the brands’ website for more detailed information.
But it’s also important to make sure you are giving your dog a good quality dog food that will provide the nutrients your dog requires. One way you can check this by looking at the list of ingredients. The first 2-3 ingredients should be a good quality protein like beef, lamb, chicken, venison or salmon.
Good quality dog food does tend to cost more. However, you get what you pay for. Often, dogs require less food per day when their food is of higher quality. And since they metabolize it better, they tend to have fewer stools. That’s a win-win for everyone!
What other things can I do when feeding my dog to help them lose weight?
Do not free feed. If your dog has free access to food at all times, they might be overeating. Feeding your dog at specific times of the day can help with weight loss.
Measure your dog’s food. To make sure you aren’t overfeeding your dog, make sure to measure their food portions according to the meal plan you developed with your vet.
Slow down your dog’s eating. If your dog tends to eat fast, you can use a slow feeding dog bowl. This will make feeding time more enjoyable and stimulating.
Feed your pets separately. If your dog likes to eat their food, then help your other pets finish theirs, you might want to feed your pets separately. My dogs used to love to eat my cat’s food. Not good for a dog trying to lose weight.
Don’t give your dog table scraps. Table scraps are not treats. They are often high in fat and high in carbs. You should always limit these if your dog is on a diet or not.
Create a food diary. You should have a written diet and weight loss plan that you developed with your vet. But, you should also keep a daily food diary. You might be surprised as to just how much food you are feeding your dog when you see it on paper. This will give you hard data that you can evaluate and adjust as needed.
Can I still give my dog treats when they are on a diet?
We love our dogs. And we often show this love with food, especially treats. However, too much of anything can be bad.
But can your dog still have treats when on a diet? The answer is yes! Just make sure the treats you are giving them are healthy. Treats should also consume less than 10% of your dog’s daily food intake.
There are treats made for weight control such as Greenies Weight Management Dental Dog Treats. But making your own dog treats can be simple and easy. See 8 simple and healthy dog treat recipes that you can start making today.
Are there medications or supplements I can give my dog to help them lose weight?
Do they make medication that could help my dog with weight loss?
The best way for your dog to lose weight is from diet and exercise. However, sometimes this is not enough. There are medications that can decrease your dog’s appetite and decreases fat absorption. You should speak with your dog’s vet to see if this is something that should be part of your dog’s weight loss journey.
What supplements can I give my dog to help with weight loss?
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements and L-Carnitine have shown to help dogs with weight loss.
Dr. Errie Ward, DVM with Pet Health Network has stated daily Omega-3 fatty acid supplements provide dogs many benefits including “ease of achy joints and perhaps encourage weight loss.”
Dr. Ward also stated, “L-Carnitine has been shown to aid weight loss and promote lean muscle mass in some studies.”
Before giving your dog any medication or supplements, you should discuss this with your vet.
How can I get my dog to exercise?
Most of us know, for a diet to be effective, even for dogs, you have to include exercise. Your dog should get at least an hour of exercise per day. This is something you should work up to. But how do you get your dog to exercise?
Walking your dog. Of course, talking your dog for a walk is the most common form of exercise. However, this is something that you should do wisely. If you haven’t been doing this form of exercise or your dog is severely overweight, you should start out slowly, 10-15 min at a time. Add 5 min. a day until you have reached your goal walking time.
Also, depending on where you live and the time of the year, it might be better to walk your dog in the cooler parts of the day like morning and evenings.
What other forms of dog exercise is there besides going for walks?
Allow your dog to run free. Walking your dog on a leash is important for your dog’s safety. However, allowing them time to run free is an important exercise. But it is also great for your dog’s mental stimulation.
If you do not have a fenced yard, consider finding a dog park that you feel safe at. Dog parks can be great if they are kept clean. You also want to make sure you are able to provide quick protection and intervention if your dog comes into contact with another dog that they might not get along with.
Look into Doggie Exercise Classes. Doggie exercise classes are becoming more and more popular, especially in bigger cities. There you can often find dog agility equipment that will provide exercise opportunities for your dog.
Find a dog aquatic center. Truthfully, I didn’t even know this was a thing. Then, I was contacted by the owner of a doggie aquatic center in Chicago. We had a client that was taking a dog she got from us to this aquatic center. The owners loved that dog so much, they contacted us and got a dog of their own.
We often get pictures of the two dogs playing together at the doggie aquatic center. What a great life to have your parents take you to work every day at a doggie aquatic center!
Look for other places to take your dog swimming. Swimming can be a very healthy form of exercise for your overweight dog, especially if they have joint problems. If you have your own pool, you can start there. You can also take your dog to a pet-friendly beach. There are places that have doggie physical therapy that might have pools. Make sure to rinse and if possible wash your dog after swimming in pools or lakes.
Play games that offer exercise for your dog. A good old game of fetch or tug-a-war can provide exercise. Look for games that you can play when you and your dog are stuck indoors.
See Creative ways to increase your dog’s activity for more exercise ideas.
How can my family help my dog lose weight?
Your dog is a beloved member of the family. Therefore, helping your dog with their weight loss journey should be a family affair. Every family member from young to old can help.
Set the rules. To be successful in helping your dog lose weight, consistency is important. You need to set rules with the family that everyone agrees to follow. Make sure everyone knows not to feed your dog table scraps and limit treats.
Have everyone help with exercising your dog. When my dog Copper was having weight issues, my kids helped with his exercise. My teenage son would hit baseballs and Copper loved to run and go get them. Although he wasn’t always the best with giving the baseballs back.
But even younger kids can play fetch or tug-a-war with your dog. When my son was little, he thought it was so much fun to have the dogs chase him.
Make walks a family event. This could be a regularly scheduled time, maybe after dinner every night. This is also a good time to talk with your kids without them on their phones. And you never know, you might get it better shape too!
How long will it take my dog to lose weight?
I’m sure your dog didn’t put on their weight overnight. And their weight isn’t going to come off overnight either. Furthermore, rapid weight loss is not healthy for your dog.
“The ideal would be a loss of 1% to 2% of the initial weight per week.” according to Todd R Tams, DVM, Cheif Medical Officer of VCA Antech. (Pet.webmd.com)
It could take 6-8 months for your dog to reach their weight loss goals. During this time continue to work with your vet to evaluate your dog’s progress.
Louise Murray, DVM, Director of Medicine for the ASPCA’s Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital recommends, “Immediately cutting daily food intake by 15% to 20% for 6-8 week period, then analyze the results.” (Pet.webmd.com)
It will take time and dedication from you and your family to help your dog with their weight loss journey. But aren’t they worth it? I know mine are!
In conclusion, once your vet has ruled out any health issues, work with them to develop a diet plan for your dog. Make sure the food you are giving is good quality and contain the proper nutrients that are needed for your dog. Limit treats and add supplements that are recommended by your vet. Incorporate exercise into your dog’s daily routine and make it a family group activity.
By learning the right steps to help your dog conquer their weight loss struggles, you will have yourself a healthier and happier doggie in no time!
What have you done to help your dog lose weight? Show me your before and after pictures! You can leave a comment below!
You may also enjoy there other articles from The Puppy Dog Momma
- Ideas to exercise with your dog
- 8 Simple and easy dog treat recipes
- Dog joint pain, prevention, symptoms, causes and treatment
- How to choose the perfect vet for your pet
- How to care for your senior dog
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