By: MMDR
Keeping your dog healthy:
We all know that most dogs love to eat! However, feeding them high calorie foods and
treats can literally kill them with kindness.
Dogs that spend their lives overweight or obese are at a much greater
risk of organ failure, joint problems, digestive upsets, diabetes, and many
more ailments. Underweight dogs are not at their healthiest either, and may begin having issues with maintaining muscle mass or staying active.
How do I know if my dog is a
healthy weight?
The most useful tool in knowing whether your
dog needs to lose (or gain) a few pounds is a chart that veterinarians use to
assign a body score to dogs, cats, horses, and other companion animals. You will assess the look and feel of the
major areas of the body that store fat.
Below is a simplified version of the chart that vets use.
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| *Feed Your Best Friend Better |
It is helpful to have an unbiased person help
you to assess your dog. We all see our
pets through rose-coloured glasses, and it can be difficult to accept that your
dog is overweight! You vet, a vet tech,
or even a groomer or trainer should be more than willing to help you decide
where your pet sits on this chart overall.
Some variation from the ideal is OK, but the closer to ideal you can
maintain your dog, the healthier she will be!
How do I help my dog maintain a
healthy weight?
- Exercise:
Daily exercise is crucial in keeping your dog
fit and healthy! Much like in humans, 30
or more minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise is ideal. Some dogs may need much more than this to
maintain a healthy lifestyle! You do not
have to limit your exercise to leash walks.
Try swimming, agility, or even skijoring (skiing behind a harnessed
dog)! Playing with other dogs can be
great exercise too, if you are able to visit dog parks and doggy daycares on
occasion.- Diet:
A healthy diet is equally important to exercise. Whatever your dog’s main source of food
(kibble, homemade diet or raw food), make sure that he or she is getting the
nutrients necessary without taking in excessive calories. Treats such as fat balls (kibble rolled in
cooled lard), peanut butter or cheese whiz may thrill your dog, but they can
also contribute to weight problems and diseases like Pancreatitis (a painful
condition caused by consuming too much fat).
Some great low calorie treats for dogs include:
·
Carrots
·
Broccoli
·
Apple slices
·
Sugar snap peas or green beans
·
Small pieces of lean meat
(chicken breast, etc)
·
Antler chews provide nutrients
without calories, and even help to clean your dog’s teeth!
Before trying out new foods for your dog,
please talk to a vet or other pet professional to make sure that it is
safe. Also, only introduce one new food
every few days to rule out allergic reactions or stomach upsets!
What kind of dog food should I
feed?
If you are shopping around for a new brand of dog food and choose
to feed dry kibble, make sure that you choose one that is appropriate for your
dog’s age, activity level, and size. Good
quality dog foods have meat or meat meal listed as the first (and preferably
second) ingredients. Meat by-products
are not desirable. Many dogs have
allergies to various grains (wheat, corn, oats, barley, etc.), so make sure you
watch out for itchiness, watery eyes, etc. when you switch foods. Always switch food slowly by gradually
decreasing the old food and increasing the new food over a period of at least
4-5 days; preferably over a week.
Most veterinarians do not currently condone
raw food, but many people do still feed this way! If you choose to feed your dog raw food, make
sure that you practice safe food handling and be aware of how parasites are
spread through raw meat. Talk to someone
who knows how to safely feed raw foods before beginning this transition.
If you opt for homemade meals for your dog,
take care to put in only nutritious, safe ingredients. Lean meats, sweet potato, potato, rice, and
certain fruits or vegetables are great options.
Again, please talk to your veterinarian or pet professional before
attempting to feed a homemade diet to ensure your dog gets the nutrition he or
she needs!
Resources and further reading:
*Borrowed with permission from: Feed Your Best Friend Better by Rick Woodford, published by Andrews McMeel, $16.99
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