It’s an unfortunate fact that over 40% of our pet dogs are overweight or obese. The excess weight they are carrying not only reduces their quality of life, but also the length of that life.

Many of the problems that an overweight human has to deal with also occur in our dogs.

One of the most significant effects obesity has on a dog’s body is the increased stress on the joints . The more weight the joints have to carry, the more wear and tear on those joints. The end result is pain and difficulty in moving around.

There is a connection between obesity and the health of your dog’s heart. If your dog is a bit on the heavy side, the heart has to work a lot harder to push the blood through his body. Hypertension, or increased blood pressure, is also directly linked to obesity in dogs. The end result is heart disease, and an increased risk of heart attack.

Overweight dogs are also more prone to sleep apnea. This is a condition in which your dog has difficulty breathing while he’s asleep. Diabetes is more common in obese animals, and an increase in weight can play havoc with regulating a diabetic dog’s blood glucose levels. You can try an all natural supplement like Sleepytime Tonic if your dog is having trouble sleeping (or if you are having trouble sleeping!)

There is another condition we may not always associate with obesity in dogs, and it too can make them quite uncomfortable. Overweight animals often have more skin folds than a lean dog. These folds can trap dirt and debris, and this may lead to skin irritation and scratching. If moisture accumulates in these folds, bacteria and fungi may grow and cause skin infections which can be painful. Click here to read more about caring for wrinkly dogs.

Why Is It So?

There are several causes of obesity in dogs, and you may need help from your vet to determine which is the cause of your dog’s weight problem.

One of the most common causes is simply over eating. All dogs need to eat a certain number of calories per day. This number varies depending on factors such as their breed, size, age, and level of activity. For instance, the more active your dog is, the more calories he will need to eat to provide energy and maintain his body condition. Some dogs just eat too many calories, and don’t use them up by exercising, so the excess is deposited on their waistline.

If a dog has a fast metabolism, it uses up calories very quickly, so it can cope with an increase in food without putting on weight. Dogs with slower metabolisms aren’t so fortunate, and you need to watch closely how much you feed them. Neutering does slow a dog’s metabolism, so a neutered dog won’t need as many calories after their little operation.

There are some medical conditions that can cause your dog to gain weight. Hyperthyroidism and Cushings Disease are two such conditions, and can be diagnosed with a blood test.

Let’s Move That Weight!

There are a few logical steps to getting your dog back to a healthy weight.

Firstly, take him along to your veterinarian for a full checkup. If there is a medical reason for his obesity, you’ll have to deal with that before you try any other strategies.

If all is okay, then look at what he’s eating. You need to feed him a good quality balanced diet with a low fat content. Many dog foods have a feeding guide on the packet, however it’s better to "feed to condition". If you’re feeding the recommended amount, and your dog is too heavy, then that’s obviously too much for your individual dog. Feed the amount of food that keeps him in good lean condition, even if it is less than the pet food manufacturers recommend. While he’s losing the weight, skip any table scraps or between-meal snacks - they all add to the calorie count.

The other important part of weight loss is exercise. This can be difficult, because a heavy dog often has sore legs, and doesn’t want to walk very far. Swimming is an excellent exercise for an overweight dog, because he can burn calories without putting any weight on his legs. You may also be able to find a dog physical therapist who has an underwater treadmill, so your dog can walk while his body is supported by water. Read more about caring for a dog that likes to swim.

While you’re working hard to help your dog lose that excess weight, don’t forget to treat any obesity related conditions, so he feels more comfortable. Joint Resolution contains natural ingredients to help restore damaged cartilage and reduce wear and tear on his joints.

If you do find any moist itchy skin folds, the colloidal oatmeal in Comfy Dog Shampoo will soothe inflamed skin and make your dog feel so much better. It doesn’t lather excessively, which makes it easy to work into those skin folds, and easy to rinse off. Click here to read more about colloidal oatmeal.

Your dog didn’t gain his excess weight overnight, and he won’t lose it quickly either. Be strong and stick to your plan, and you’ll both enjoy a longer, healthier life together.

Submitted by Lisa Holcombe, Head Chef of Dog-A-Roo 

Whether your “kids” have a coat of fur or not, obesity is a growing problem.  Childhood obesity and all the diseases that accompany it are in the news and on the rise.  And guess what, our furry little bundles of joy are no different.   

You’re Kidding – Right?!

In 2000, a Gallup Survey of pet owners found that weight issues were the second most prevalent problems pet owners faced.  Canine obesity has become such a problem that the pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, recently announced a new drug for fat dogs called Slentrol.  Now you know and I know there’s no magic bullet for losing weight!  If we could all just take a pill and *pouf* be thin, Sara Lee would be running the world.  So why in the world would we think there would be a magic pill for dogs?!  If your customers are thinking about opting for medication for thier fat dog - -um –RED FLAG!!  The rules for our four-pawed babies are the same as for our two-footed ones – diet and exercise.  

The Great Saboteur

There are many of us who suspect that the culprit behind child and canine obesity rests squarely at the feet of high fructose corn syrup!  Yes, all those delightful treats and tasty foods we feed both our kids and our dogs (not that you’re feeding your kids dog food!) are often laced with that cheap substitute for sugar – high fructose corn syrup.  Pet food manufacturers use it for the same reason kid food manufacturers do – it’s sweet; in fact, addictively so!  And the same holds true for dogs as for people, sugars that we get from corn syrup produce unsafe energy highs and lows that stress your dog’s entire system and slowly erode your dog’s health.   Dogs and people often “think” alike — our brain learns to crave anything with this junk additive.  Add to that gnawing craving that you don’t have thumbs, can’t open the refrigerator and you have to eat the same kibble every day – that mishmash of stuff baked at 500 degrees and plopped out in pellets – well, now you know why we’re bribing dogs with sugar and they just can’t get enough.  Also, if your dog inhales his food, he might not be getting enough nutrition from it – it might just be full of empty calories (ouch – that sounds like a familiar rant from my mother about my Count Chocula addiction!)  I don’t think there’s any recorded evidence of a dog in the wild taking down a wildabeat and eating the whole thing in one sitting!  Dogs tend to stop eating when they have met their nutritional requirements. Maybe this is part of the reason why kids and dogs can never get enough marshmallows – hmmmm! 

 

So okay – they put sweetness into dog food and kid food – what’s the big deal?  Well it’s the kind of sweetness that’s used.  The difference between fructose (refined down from corn) and glucose (sugar) is that every cell in our bodies – be they dog or human – knows what to do with glucose.  Fructose on the other hand must be metabolized by the liver and our high fructose corn syrup heavy diets create a huge stress on this organ that filters out toxins. 

Doggie Digestion 101

Your dog’s digestive system is far more simple than your own; it’s shorter and has a higher acid content.  This has its pluses and minuses.  Your dog can eat raw foods (like he did in nature) and not get sick, but more junk from what your dog eats enters his bloodstream.  The impact of doggie junk foods is borne out in a much shorter time frame in your dog’s life than in your child’s but many of the results are the same – high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, arthritis, a shortened lifespan…and just plain floppy, fluffy, fatness. 

You Put WHAT In My Doggie Treats?

Now I’m willing to bet that the recent pet food recalls have you into a label reader!  And, I’ll bet you were surprised to find out what was actually there. The pet food industry uses some handy tricks to rename some of the things they use that you would NEVER knowingly give any pet. (If you haven’t ever tried to break the code of what’s in pet foods, here’s a magic decoder web site: www.api4animals.org and click on the Animal Protection Institutes report on What’s Really In Pet Food.)  One thing you’ll often find is high fructose corn syrup.  You may think twice about ordering those treats to sell in your store.  Step away.  In your label-reading adventures, you’ll be shocked at how similar the ingredient list is on many treats as those snacks you avoid and rarely give to kids.  The dog treat aisle is equivalent to a major Hallowe’en score for your dogs every day.  Opt for treats that are meat based (not meat byproduct based) or are baked yummy things like apple and pumpkin or banana chips.  ! 

I Can’t Believe You Said That!

 

Hot Tips

Has your doggy’s get-up-go got-up-and-went?  Check out happytails® ReBound herbal elixir to help balance your hound’s metabolism.  You can buy it directly at www.happytailsspa.com or at your local pet boutique. 

If you’re like me, and you just can’t spend hours reading kibble labels – try feeding your dog a balanced raw food diet.  Happy Dog makes a base of healthy grains and vegetables that you can simply (and economically) stir in your own grocery-store bought raw ground meat.  You’ll be amazed and less crazed – www.happydogfood.com . 

Dogs like meat – that’s not exactly news.  But this jerky is doggie-crack!  It’s pricey but it’s worth it.  Cut the jerky strips into small bits.  Dogs are all about smell and flavor and not so worried about size.  You can make a package last a long time and don’t forget to refrigerate it after you’ve opened the package.  www.loveyourpetbakery.com and click on retailers to find someone who sells near you!

*Teach your dog to play hide and seek … and work up to your keys!  I’m always misplacing my keys, but my dog Abby can find anything.  We started playing hide and seek with toys and treats and one day, I know she’ll find my extra car key.  Here’s how to do it.  In one room, have your dog sit and stay.  Take a favorite toy (or healthy treat) with you and cruise throughout the house.  When your dog can’t see you, put the toy down in an easy-to-get-to place (side of the bathtub, inside a shoe, on top of a stack of books) and then wander back in.  Tell your dog to go find the toy in your most excited voice.  Celebrate big when your doggie finds the hidden treasure.  Hint for the advanced trick of “Find My Keys”:  Rub your keys with bacon … I’m just sayin’!