Killing
Them With
Kindness
 January
is typically a time when we look back over the last year and ahead to the
new one. We make plans and goals
for the coming year and call them New
Year’s Resolutions. Each year, loosing weight is at or near the top of many
lists. Time Magazine’s recently published yearly review tells us that 60% of
Americans are overweight and in most states we are 21% - 24% obese.
Studies show that as Americans continue to
gain weight, so do their pets. Their obesity is just as dangerous to them as
it is to humans. Like humans, dogs develop certain diseases when they are
overweight. If not corrected, obesity can lead to more serious complications
such as diabetes and heart disease so it’s important to make sure that your
dog eats a healthy diet and receives plenty of exercise.
There are several reasons that your dog may
be overweight or even obese. The two most common are overfeeding and not
enough exercise. Usually substantial weight gain is caused by well-meaning
owners who tend to give out more treats than is healthy, or think that a
couch potato dog is a happy dog.
Studies have
found a strong correlation
between owner’s weight gains and dogs. Owner’s that are struggling with
excess weigh project their hunger onto the dog and tend to give too much
food or too many treats. After all, we know how hungry we feel and how much
we suffer as we struggle to loose weight! We don’t want our “babies” to
suffer, too. And who can resist those sad eyes telling us though they just
ate, they really ARE starving and need some of your pizza.
There are other reasons why your dog may be overweight. Certain
health conditions such as hypothyroidism or
Cushing's disease may cause your dog to gain weight. If your dog is
overweight, or has had a sudden weight gain (or loss) the first thing you
should do is have your veterinarian do a full exam. This will help
rule out any underlying health conditions.
As
your dog ages, she may also begin to gain weight. Older dogs are not as
active and their metabolism slows. Added weight on seniors is a concern
because of the additional stress on old dog’s heart, hips and elbows. If
your senior dog is putting on weight, you should switch her to a high
quality food specifically formulated for seniors.
Some breeds of dogs are
especially prone to weight gain,
like the Labrador Retriever. Some breeds,
like the German Shepherd, are also prone to hip and elbow dysplasia along
with other degenerative joint diseases.
Since there is a strong correlation between overweight dogs and these
disabling diseases, it is especially important to keep your dog slim and
trim.
Fat dogs are also more at risk in surgery,
more prone to injury, and have more stress on their heart, lungs, liver, and
kidneys. Allowing your dog to become or stay overweight brings with it numerous
potential health concerns. Among those are:
-
hip dysplasia and other
joint disorders
-
high blood pressure
-
high cholesterol levels
-
thyroid problems
-
diabetes
-
respiratory disorders
such as sleep apnea or a collapsed trachea
-
kidney problems
-
mammary and bladder
cancers
-
heat intolerance and/or
heat stroke
-
decreased immune
function
If you are not sure if your dog is
overweight, there is a very easy way to check. First take a look at your
dog. A dog of normal weight should have an indentation at his waistline,
whereas an overweight dog will not have a waistline. Look at him from the
side. His tummy should slope upward as it gets closer to his tail. How much
slope there is will also depend on the breed.
Check out
Purina's Adult Body Condition Chart
Next, flatten out your hand and run it over
your dog’s rib cage. Using slight pressure, you should be able to count each
rib. There should not be a thick layer of fat over his ribs nor should you
be able to count your dog’s ribs just by looking at them. Also, feel the
base of his tail where it meets the body. The bones should be easily
detectable and not covered in fat.
 If your dog is overweight, it’s time to
make a plan to help him become healthy. First, visit your veterinarian to
rule out health issues.
Next, take a look at what you are feeding
him. If you are free feeding your dog, stop! Measure the food you put in
your dog’s bowl. You may be feeding more than you think. Make sure you feed
him smaller amounts twice a day instead of just one large meal. This will
help keep your dog’s blood sugars more steady, and decrease the likelihood
of gastric torsion, which is often called bloat. Feeding your dog a high
quality dog food, such as Nutro Natural Choice, Wellness, California
Natural, or Canidae lets you cut down on the amount given each meal, as more
of the food is used by the dog’s digestive system. Check out this website's
food section
http://www.dogaware.com/dogfeeding.html#TopDry for more choices on
wholesome kibble to feed your dog.
Obese dogs are at risk for many diseases
Change your dog’s food over slowly; mixing
it with the food you’ve been feeding. If you’ve already been feeding your
dog high quality food, remember to cut your dog’s food down a little at a
time. Don’t cut it in ½ immediately but work towards that goal. It
takes time to slim down and even if you don’t see immediate results, it will
happen.
Next, watch how many treats you’re giving
your dog. Like humans, calories count and empty, sugar-laden calories can
really add up quickly. Do you give your dog leftovers from you dinner? Save
the pizza crusts because they love them as much as you do? Let your dog
finish up the end of your nightly ice cream? Does he get a treat or two just
for being such a good boy or performing that trick that you just love? If
so, you may need to cut down a bit. Give your dog four small pieces of pizza
crust instead of 3 entire ones. Buy small dog treats and break them into
little pieces. Your dog won’t mind. Or try substituting pieces of carrots or
other vegetables or fruit instead. (Don’t feed your dog grapes or raisins
though, as they can cause kidney failure).
Rommel, still overweight
but looking so much better!
Be aware that dog’s are scavengers and when
you cut down their food, they may suddenly start raiding the trash or
counter surfing. This doesn’t mean they are starving though, so don’t go
back to over feeding them. Just move or cover the trash and keep food off
the counters until this new behavior stops.
Most importantly, make sure your dog gets
exercise daily. You can do this with long walks, play sessions, or strenuous
training sessions. This will help keep muscles in shape and bodies
functioning properly. Time alone in a yard is not sufficient. If your dog
is overweight, start exercising him slowly. Too much too soon can cause your
dog injury and discomfort, so use moderation. Start with a few slow, short
15-minute walks daily. After your dog has adjusted, step the time up so
you’re walking an hour a day.
It can be difficult to find time to walk
your dog. Most people today are very busy, but taking time to walk with your
dog will help you develop more of a bond, and keep him calmer and happier.
As an added bonus, you’ll be in better shape and walking will help keep YOU
healthier.
If you can’t get out and walk with your
dog, then find another activity that will help him get moving. Teach him to
play ball in your back yard using two balls and have him run hard. Take him
swimming if it’s warm enough or you have an indoor dog pool nearby. Take him
to agility, Rally-O, or doggie dancing classes. If your health doesn’t allow
for you to do any activity with him, don’t give up! There are numerous
people that walk dogs for a living that will come and walk your dog for you.
Or purchase a tread-mill and slowly acclimate your dog to using it. Start
first by having him just stand on it (you can use small treats at first to
bribe him), then slowly walking on it (again using treats until he’s used to
feeling the treadmill move beneath his feet), and eventually trotting along
at a comfortable pace. 
Rommel now slim and trim. He's healthier and happier
It takes time and commitment to help an
overweight dog slim down. We over feed our dogs because we love them and
want to make them happy. But an obese dog’s life expectancy is much shorter
than a healthy, trim dog’s. If you want cuddles and kisses from your dog
for many years, then be careful that you’re not killing him with kindness.
Rommell
after loosing 35 pounds, along with Dan, who helped him do it.
|
