Putting Your Dog On A Diet

diet, obesity, weight - By Staff Writer on Wednesday, August 25, 2010 - 14:46

So it is confirmed that your dog is fat.  You have done a physical inspection and have decided that on the nine point scale your dog is obese and your vet agrees.  If you have narrowed the cause down to overeating and exercising it is time for your dog to go on a diet!  Below are the steps you need to take to get your dog back into shape.

Change Your Dogs Food
Speak with your vet about moving your dog to a low calorie diet.  Many brands have low-calorie options and your vet might have a particular brand that they have had success with.  If you decide to switch your dogs food do it gradually so as not to upset her stomach.

Measure The Amount Your Are Feeding
If you are used to just filling up a big bowl for your dog it is time to break out the measuring cups.  Read the dietary requirements on your dog food and stick to the amount stated on the package.  If you still find your dog is overweight you can slowly begin to cut back on food.  Until you know exactly what your dog is consuming you won't be able to tell how much is too much.

Feed On Schedule
If your dog grazes stop this now.  Start to feed your dog on regular intervals.  Pick a regular feeding schedule with your dog and don't diverge from it.  You can decide if you want to feed once a day or a few times a day, depending on what works for your schedule.  Once you set the schedule do not feed your dog at any other times.  Your dog will get used to the schedule and will adapt to it quickly.  Having a schedule allows for a bit more control over what your dog is consuming.

Give Healthy Snacks If You Must
We highly recommend stopping the snacks but if you simply MUST treat your dog stick to low-calorie treats like carrots.  Small pieces of frozen raw chicken is also good as it will keep your dog entertained for a moment while it tries to eat the frozen treat.  Stay away from processed dog treats and people food.

Do Not Feed Scraps
This is a must.  You must stop feeding your dog table scraps and people food.   If you cook for your dog keep it low-calorie and simple and never give your dog large quantities of your leftovers.  People food tends to be higher in fat and have cream and sauces that will only pack on the pounds on your pup.  It is not that people food is inherently bad, it is just that if you are feeding scraps constantly it is difficult to determine the added calories you are giving your dog.  Since your dog is already overweight it is better to cut out scraps all together and stick to dog food until you get a better handle on their weight. 

Prevent Food Theft
For some dogs this is more of a problem than others.  Beagles for example are known thieves and will go to great lengths to get into trash cans, on to counters to take food or will even take food right out of your hand if given the opportunity.  Make every effort to keep your dog off the counter and tables where food might be, out of the cat food and lock up trash cans so they cant be munching on leftovers you discarded.  Not only is this annoying and dangerous for your dog,  these calories add up so take this seriously and stop the bad behavior.

These changes combined with proper exercise should have your dog back on track in no time.