Overweight dogs & 5 steps to a healthier dog.

This weeks alarming fact is about dogs...

 In Australia,  41.5 % of dogs are overweight or obese¹.

 The causes of obesity are varied:

·          Overfeeding may result from unlimited access to food

·          Dogs spend 60-70% of their day lying down with no physical activity²

·          Neutering a pet tends to reduce its energy needs by about 25%²

Weight gain is the result of an increase in body fat. This is usually caused by eating too much, especially when combined with lack of exercise. But there can be other contributing factors too...

1. Age

             - Older pets are less active, have less energy, and require fewer calories.

             - Your dogs metabolism starts to slow down at around 5 years of age

 2. Breed

             - Some breeds are more likely to gain weight.

             - These include Labrador Retrievers, Cocker and King Charles Cavalier Spaniels and Golden Retrievers.

3. Neutering / desexing

             - Clinical studies have shown that the basic metabolism of neutered pets is lower.

             - Neutered pets actually require fewer calories.

4. Medical Problems

             - Very occasionally weight gain is associated with a medical disorder that may require specific treatment.

So what do you do if your dog IS overweight?

Firstly, you need to assess the energy requirements of your dog in order to get to his ideal weight.

How do you do that?!

The best thing to do is to bring him in for a FREE weight assessment at Bondi Vets. We can get him onto an appropriate calorie controlled diet that has significant bulk to ensure he still feels satisfied while losing body fat and maintaining lean muscle mass.

We can also advise on the appropriate amount of exercise for your dog and set up a timeline for his weight loss goals.

Secondly, exercise your dog’s playfulness!

If you’re trying to reduce your dog’s weight or help your dog maintain a healthy weight, you can complement food with simple and fun exercises.

·    Create a natural obstacle course with benches, trees, ditches or anything you encounter along the way that your dog can jump over, crawl under or balance on.

·    Take a 30-minute walk around your neighborhood. This is a great way to exercise and bond with your dog.

·    Play fetch with a ball or toy (never use a stick, as these can splinter and cause injury to your dog).

·    Hide a toy or some kibble and let your dog find it.

WHAT WON'T WORK...

1. Buying the food from the supermarket or pet store and just feeding him less of it.

- This just leads to him feeling hungry and encourages him to scavenge for food elsewhere.

2. Getting advice from people that are unqualified to give advice

- Pet store employees are excellent at pointing you in the right direction for collars, leads and toys but are they really qualified to be advising you on your dog's health and well being? That would be like asking a retail assistant to help you with your own health problem.

3. Feeding a supermarket diet that claims to be for weight loss

- In general dog foods that are sold at supermarkets have lower quality ingredients and most tinned foods contain a lot of fat (as it is very palatable) and water. Not good for weight loss!

- Just because a "celebrity vet" is recommending a dog food doesn't mean that they are giving you specific advice for the well being of your dog!

So here are your "Five steps to a Healthier Dog": -

1. Watch what your dog eats

Different dogs have different needs when it comes to nutrition. That’s why you should work with your vet to make the right food choices for your dog. Together we can the right type and amount of food for your dog’s life-stage and health condition.

2. Track your Dog’s weight

Losing weight can help your dog achieve better health, but only if the weight is lost in a healthy, controlled manner. To make sure your dog is losing weight at a healthy pace, make sure to weigh your dog regularly and use a weight tracking chart to track your dog’s progress which you can get from your vet clinic.

3. Maintain a healthy activity level

Your dog’s weight management program isn’t complete without a healthy amount of physical activity. Whether it’s a game of fetch or a walk in the park, make sure your dog is getting the physical activity needed to get and stay healthy.

4. Visit your vet often

Regular trips to the vet ensure that your dog’s weight management program is going smoothly. Your vet knows your dog’s ideal weight, how fast he should be losing weight and which foods are best for each stage of the weight loss plan. All weight checks are FREE at Bondi Vets!

5. Maintain an ideal weight for life

Your dog’s weight management plan should be life-long. Once your dog has attained an ideal weight, switch to a simple weight maintenance plan that consists of regular exercise and proper nutrition.

References:

1.     McGreevy PD, Thomson PC, Pride C, Fawcett A, Grassi T, Jones B. Prevalence of obesity in dogs examined by Australian veterinary practices and the risk factors involved. Vet Rec. 2005;156:695–707.

2.     Rosenthal, M. Obesity in America: Why Bruno and Bessy are so heavy and what you can do about it. Vet Forum 2007;24:26-34