My dog has been battling obesity for quite some time now. She has been slowly gaining weight ever since she reached adulthood, and she was 15 lbs overweight when I took her weight problem seriously. I just increased the frequency and duration of her daily walks. Exercise certainly helps in weight loss; however, without proper dietary control, it doesn’t do much good. What I’ve experienced with my dog was that she would get hungrier and ask for more. And unfortunately, she has been free feeding ever since she was a puppy, she had been consuming significantly more than what was recommended.
Dealing with obesity in dogs is similar to that in humans. Essentially, you want to cut down the calories, whether through exercise or a controlled diet. Stick to 3 general rules.
Obesity is never good for anyone, so I first started looking for a well-balanced diet that is lower in calories but wholesome. Personally, I’m against a raw diet due to bacteria that harbors, so my choices were limited to dry foods. My dog has been on Blue Buffalo, but I switched to Acana’s Light and Fit as a dietary measure for weight loss.
Acana’s Light and Fit is a relatively new kibble from Acana that is designed for dogs who are in need of losing weight or weight management. Each cup of Light and Fit provides 348 kcal, with a 38% protein content. You can refer to the feeding guide that Acana provides, it lists recommended rations for weight maintenance and weight loss.
Light and Trim does not sacrifice on quality even though it is specifically formulated for weight loss. It keeps the carbohydrates (34%) and fat (28%) contents low and makes it up by upping the protein content (38%).
My dog has been on Light and Fit for about a month now, and she has dropped 3 lbs! Her belly is noticeably slimmer, and she is more active. She still has a long way to go, but it’s a promising start. And I certainly don’t want her to lose much weight too drastically since it can invite other health issues.
Exercise is a healthy way to increase your dog’s metabolism and stimulate muscle movements. Most dogs love taking a walk a few times a day, so increase the time and frequency of each walk gradually. Ever since I stopped free feeding my dog, exercise has been boosting my dog’s diet because she does not compensate for her lost energy by eating more kibbles.
And lastly, minimize treats, if possible. I know there are certain times that treats are necessary, like sending your dog to her den or rewarding any kind of positive behavior. Stick to smaller treats or healthier treats. Instead of giving out the whole biscuit or jerky, break them into thirds and stretch. The goal is to reduce the overall calorie intake. Besides, too many cookies don’t do any good.
I suggest making your own batch of dog treats with chicken strips. Any chicken strips would do, preferably made from lean meat like chicken breast. All you have to do is bake them at a lower temperature until the moisture dries up. Because homemade treats don’t contain any preservatives, I make my batch every week.
There are so many low-calorie dogs treats out there ranging from treats from commercial brands to frozen vegetables, so I don’t necessarily suggest a brand or name. Whichever your dog loves, break it into smaller pieces!
As long as you stick to the daily feeding guide, minimize treats and incorporate longer activities, your dog is going to lose weight. Otherwise, your dog might be having some other health problems, so I encourage making a vet visit to get blood work (like thyroid). Hope she can lose all 15lbs, and until she does, I intend to stick to those rules and Light and Fit kibble.
My dog has been battling obesity for quite some time now. She has been slowly gaining weight ever since she reached adulthood, and she was 15 lbs overweight when I took her weight problem seriously. I just increased the frequency and duration of her daily walks. Exercise certainly helps in weight loss; however, without proper dietary control, it doesn’t do much good. What I’ve experienced with my dog was that she would get hungrier and ask for more. And unfortunately, she has been free feeding ever since she was a puppy, she had been consuming significantly more than what was recommended.
Dealing with obesity in dogs is similar to that in humans. Essentially, you want to cut down the calories, whether through exercise or a controlled diet. Stick to 3 general rules.
Obesity is never good for anyone, so I first started looking for a well-balanced diet that is lower in calories but wholesome. Personally, I’m against a raw diet due to bacteria that harbors, so my choices were limited to dry foods. My dog has been on Blue Buffalo, but I switched to Acana’s Light and Fit as a dietary measure for weight loss.
Acana’s Light and Fit is a relatively new kibble from Acana that is designed for dogs who are in need of losing weight or weight management. Each cup of Light and Fit provides 348 kcal, with a 38% protein content. You can refer to the feeding guide that Acana provides, it lists recommended rations for weight maintenance and weight loss.
Light and Trim does not sacrifice on quality even though it is specifically formulated for weight loss. It keeps the carbohydrates (34%) and fat (28%) contents low and makes it up by upping the protein content (38%).
My dog has been on Light and Fit for about a month now, and she has dropped 3 lbs! Her belly is noticeably slimmer, and she is more active. She still has a long way to go, but it’s a promising start. And I certainly don’t want her to lose much weight too drastically since it can invite other health issues.
Exercise is a healthy way to increase your dog’s metabolism and stimulate muscle movements. Most dogs love taking a walk a few times a day, so increase the time and frequency of each walk gradually. Ever since I stopped free feeding my dog, exercise has been boosting my dog’s diet because she does not compensate for her lost energy by eating more kibbles.
And lastly, minimize treats, if possible. I know there are certain times that treats are necessary, like sending your dog to her den or rewarding any kind of positive behavior. Stick to smaller treats or healthier treats. Instead of giving out the whole biscuit or jerky, break them into thirds and stretch. The goal is to reduce the overall calorie intake. Besides, too many cookies don’t do any good.
I suggest making your own batch of dog treats with chicken strips. Any chicken strips would do, preferably made from lean meat like chicken breast. All you have to do is bake them at a lower temperature until the moisture dries up. Because homemade treats don’t contain any preservatives, I make my batch every week.
There are so many low-calorie dogs treats out there ranging from treats from commercial brands to frozen vegetables, so I don’t necessarily suggest a brand or name. Whichever your dog loves, break it into smaller pieces!
As long as you stick to the daily feeding guide, minimize treats and incorporate longer activities, your dog is going to lose weight. Otherwise, your dog might be having some other health problems, so I encourage making a vet visit to get blood work (like thyroid). Hope she can lose all 15lbs, and until she does, I intend to stick to those rules and Light and Fit kibble.