Making sure your dog is living a happy, healthy life is an important part of pet ownership. According to the PDSA, around 51% of dogs are overweight or obese, and very few causes of overweight dogs are medical. Owners therefore play a huge role in weight management, but how can you help your dog lose weight?
In this blog, we will explore why weight plays such an important role in the life of dogs, how you can help your dog lose weight if necessary, and how you can identify whether your pooch is overweight.
Why an overweight dog isn’t a happy dog
First things first, let’s talk about why weight needs to be managed in the first place. An overweight dog isn’t going to be as happy or as carefree as one that’s fit, but why is that?
In addition to not being able to run and play as they like, being overweight can cause long-term medical challenges for dogs. Even a modest weight gain can put significant pressure on their joints and bones, leading to long-term damage. It can also cause heart disease, urinary issues, diabetes, osteoarthritis and other health conditions. Most importantly, being overweight can stop your dog from enjoying life to the fullest.
We certainly don’t want any of these things to happen, and that’s why it’s time to ensure every dog, everywhere, gets the life they deserve! Thankfully, you can play a huge part in supporting your pooch, so let’s look at how to help your dog lose weight.
How to create dog diets for weight loss
At Closer Pets, we know the key to tackling overweight dogs is making small but positive changes to their diet and lifestyle. As their owner, you can take steps to ensure they both eat an appropriate amount of food and exercise regularly.
Before delving into our top tips, we recommend doing a quick survey of your dog’s life and habits. How much do they eat? Do they have access to unlimited food? Do they get a lot of treats in a day? Do they go out much? By looking at some of their potentially bad habits, you can utilise the most relevant advice!
Here are our essential dieting tips to help you devise a strategy for helping your dog lose weight.
1. Control food intake
Controlling your dog’s food intake is really important. Slightly reducing the size or frequency of their meals is a simple yet effective way to diet a dog, and they shouldn’t notice any reduction in calories.
If you’re out at work all day and tend to leave food out for your dog, try using one of our automatic dog feeders. These products can dispense a set amount of food on a schedule, making portion control easy and seamless.
2. Reduce the number of treats or improve the quality
Depending on how often you treat your pet, you can also support weight loss by reducing the number of treats they get per day or improving their quality. If you treat your dog a lot, try reducing it or switching from food treats to hugs, a game, or quality time with you.
If you typically buy packets of treats, try making your own instead. By trying dog-friendly recipes at home, you can give your pup treats that contain less fat, sugar, salt, or artificial ingredients.
3. Balancing diet and exercise
We cannot stress how important regular exercise is for dogs. While they might love lying in front of the fire or on your lap, they are outdoor animals, so make sure to combine a happy diet with plenty of running and play.
To lose weight, dogs must burn more calories than they take in. Exercise is a critical part of their life and should be an enjoyable time for both of you. Walk more, play more, and let your dog run their dinner off. As long as your vet says it’s okay, let your dog be a dog. They really will thank you for it!
Exercise benefits dogs in so many ways, helping them reduce stress, keep their muscles moving, burn off their dinner, and generally enjoy being dogs. Exercise is also a great bonding exercise, so spending quality time outside will bring you closer to your best friend and have huge psychological benefits for both of you.
How to tell if your dog is overweight
Every dog is different, just like their humans. They come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, so it can be difficult to tell whether your dog is overweight. Fortunately, there’s a simple trick you can use to find out.
Stand over your dog and run your hands down its body. There should be a thin layer of fat and skin over the ribs, and you should be able to clearly feel the ribs. If you cannot feel the ribs clearly, chances are your dog is overweight.
Other signs that your dog might be overweight include:
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Loss of defined shape
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Needing to loosen the collar
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Getting out of breath faster than before
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Sleeping more than usual
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Not playing with their friends as much or running for as long
If you’re still unsure whether your dog is overweight, we recommend taking them to the vet for a checkup. They are the experts after all, and you will also be able to ask any questions you might have!
What causes weight gain in dogs?
There are a few causes of weight gain in dogs, not all of which are due to overfeeding. Even if your dog is getting just the right amount of food and exercise, you can still look out for the following causes to help your dog stay healthy:
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Age: Older dogs will be less active and may gain weight if their diet isn’t adjusted to their activity levels.
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Breed: Some breeds are more predisposed to gaining weight than others. We’re looking at you, Chocolate Labradors!
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Medical issues: While rare, certain medical conditions and medications can cause weight gain in dogs.
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Neutering: Some dogs will gain weight after being neutered as their metabolism slows.
If you have any questions about these causes of weight gain, we recommend speaking with your vet, who can provide detailed information about your dog’s health and medical history!
Healthy dog products at Closer Pets
At Closer Pets, nothing is more important to us than the health and happiness of our customers’ pets, and that’s why our dog products are specially designed to help every pooch live their best life. From mealtimes to day-to-day fun, find everything you and your four-legged friend need right here!
Across our range, we have products to make life simple and fun for you and your pets. Make feeding easier than ever with our automatic dog feeders or give your pet the freedom they crave with our dog doors – whatever you’re looking for, find it right here at Closer Pets.
If you have any questions about our products and how they can help, you can easily get in touch with a member of our team who will be more than happy to answer.