How To Help A Dog Lose Weight Safely?

Dogs of average weight can live up to 15 percent longer. So if your dog is a little too heavy, you can help a dog lose weight safely. Most dogs easily accept small changes in play and eating habits.

In addition, your dog doesn't care if they are overweight. As long as he can chase a squirrel and jump on the nearest soft object, he's happy. However, for dogs with arthritis or joint problems, being overweight can cause pain so we should help a dog lose weight safely on a priority basis.

If your dog is getting fat and has already been classified as obese by your veterinarian, you need to know how this will affect his overall health.

Obesity carries with it the risk of many serious and complex diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, arthritis, and a weakened immune system. Most importantly, however, it shortens the life span of the dog. 

How to help a dog lose weight safely?

How to feed a dog to get rid of excess weight and prevent its reoccurrence? Some factors that cause overweight and obesity in the dog.

Causes of obesity in dogs:

Overweight and obesity in the dog arise due to improper nutrition, although they have a more profound basis in various factors. These can be divided into three groups:

(1) Genetic factors -

These are predispositions related to the dog's breed, sex, and finally, individual characteristics. Various observations show that the Pug, Dachshund, Labrador, and Cocker Spaniel are the most prone to weight gain.

Females put on weight more often than males. Ultimately just like humans, each dog has their metabolism. One (even of the same breed) will need a hundred grams of food, while another will be malnourished.

(2) Consider physiological factors:

Dog age, contraceptive / post-contraceptive condition, due to certain illnesses. Older dogs require less energy than younger dogs.

Castrated bitch and castrated dogs do not require as much energy as animals with normal gonads.

(3) Owner-caused factors or generally poor nutrition:

Many dogs are fed food that is consumed at home, which is a fundamental mistake. Dogs should not eat bread, butter, yellow cheese, cold cuts or other meats, fatty meats, spicy foods, powdery foods, or sweets.

Inadequate nutrition can lead to overweight, obesity, and many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and endocrine glands.

This applies to all dogs without exception-large and small breeds (Labrador, Yorkshire) and crossbreeds.

In addition, there are factors such as lack of movement by the owner. 

To help a dog lose weight safely,  walking your dog outside a park or city to give your animal the necessary exercise is part of the dog's ownership.

This promotes healthy weight and fitness, and maintenance of good muscle tissue.

Diagnosis of overweight:

According to veterinarians, a dog is overweight when its body weight is up to 15% higher than the norm for the breed or the optimum for the animal's size and build. When this size is exceeded, we can already speak of an obese dog.

To help a dog lose weight safely, the BCS (Body Condition Score) method is used to assess a dog's condition accurately.

This method is based on a visual and tactile assessment of subcutaneous fat, musculature, and abdominal obesity on a point scale.

Veterinarians assume that a dog is overweight if its body weight is up to 15% above the breed standard or optimal for the animal's build and size. When this size is exceeded, we can already speak of an obese dog.

The BCS (Body Condition Score) method is used to assess a dog's condition accurately. This method is based on a visual and tactile assessment of subcutaneous fat, musculature, and abdominal obesity on a point scale.

5 tips to help a dog lose weight safely.

Blood and urine tests should be done before weight loss. This is necessary because, after weight loss, further tests will determine if the treatment was successful and if blood and urine parameters improved after weight loss.

Pretreatment tests also answer how to feed the dog: whether a live diet is sufficient and whether special food is needed. Or whether a homemade diet might be better.

A dog's weight loss diet should contain all the nutrients it needs, but it should be in a proportion that is appropriate for the cause of overweight and obesity. Different diets are used for thyroid, kidney, and liver disease.

Special diets are also used for dogs, bitch, and old dogs that have undergone contraceptive or neutering surgery.

(1) Calculation of the caloric content of meals.

The starting point is the aforementioned blood and urine tests and an assessment of the dog's general health by the veterinarian, who should supervise the entire course of the weight-reduction treatment.

Next, it is necessary to count (preferably write down on paper) all the meals, treats, and treats (even the "stolen" ones!) that your dog eats during the day.

The next step is to calculate your dog's daily energy requirements using the formula for DER (daily energy requirement) and RER (resting energy requirement).

For an obese dog, DER = 1.1 x RER (calculated in kilocalories),

for an overweight dog, DER = 1.4 x RER, with RER = 70 x current bodyweight x 0.75. The dose calculation refers to 70% of the dog's dose to date.

(2) Type of food.

The owner has a choice - ready-made food or homemade diet.

To help a dog lose weight safely, ready-made foods are generally balanced and do not require further supplementation.

However, labels should be read carefully, and remember that the recommended dosage on the packaging is averaged for the dog's body weight, breed, age (young or old dog), etc.

Therefore, it is essential to read labels carefully before feeding the dog. Therefore, before you start feeding your dog, you should weigh and evaluate it according to the enclosed BCS table and determine the individual dosage.

Important:

Pet food should not be used in a reduction diet because if we reduce the ratio by 30%, we simultaneously reduce the supply of vitamins, minerals, and, above all, protein.

Therefore, when slimming your dog, always choose specialized food for overweight dogs if you decide to use ready-made food. If we opt for a homemade diet, the meals should be prepared strictly according to calorie calculations and the vet's recommendations.

Use calorie tables for individual products to facilitate the preparation of weekly menus.

A home-cooked diet should consist of good quality meat and vegetables, but supplementation is also important - natural products do not always contain the required amount of vitamins and minerals to help a dog lose weight safely.

(3) Physical activity - 

Without it, it isn't easy to lose weight healthily. Although overweight and obese dogs are not used to exercise, it is essential. Therefore, the owner's motivation is important.

The best is a long walk together, which is important not only for weight loss but also emotionally - it strengthens the bond between the dog and its owner.

Physical exercises for overweight dogs are initially better divided into shorter parts not to force an animal that is not used to them. Over time, more effort can be exerted, for example, on a treadmill or in a lake to help a dog lose weight safely.

(4) Weight loss diary.

Your dog's weight loss diary is very important to the overall weight loss process and is also helpful to your veterinarian.

You should record the number and composition of meals, the dog's weight (it must be weighed once a week, always on the same scale), the type and time of exercise.

Do not allow the weight to drop too quickly to avoid metabolic disorders or dehydration. Keeping a diary makes it easier to monitor the progress of the weight loss treatment.

(5) Maintaining results.

When the dog's body weight returns to the desired size, do not return to previous habits.

Because there is a risk of a yo-yo effect - not only will your dog gain weight again quickly, but the excess weight will be much greater than it was before the weight loss treatment was started.

Maintaining your dog's healthy weight and suitable condition for the rest of his life depends on maintaining the energy value of his food and getting enough daily exercise.

Examples of diets:

Final Thoughts:

To help a dog lose weight safely, each overweight and obese dog should be treated individually. Nevertheless, everyone has to change their eating habits and lifestyle.

It is also necessary to abandon the old feeding habits at the table and give the dog food that is not intended for him. Most dogs practice begging at the table not out of hunger but out of habit and ignore them.

It is important to make gradual changes to help your dog reach an ideal weight and regain a healthy lifestyle. Start by consulting your veterinarian for nutrition, activity, and other vital points to help a dog lose weight safely.

Thanks  

Please Note: This article is intended for solely informational purposes. We are not qualified to prescribe any veterinary treatment or diagnose any condition. We recommend that you bring your dog to the veterinarian in case they suffer from any medical problem or are experiencing discomfort.

Thank you so much for reading all the way to the end and have a blessed day. I hope you will get some information about how to help a dog lose weight safely by reading this article. Comment down your thoughts on this article below. If you have any queries, then ask My Clear Voice.

Manwarhusen Saiyad.