Is Your Dog Too Fat??
Overweight dogs are an increasing problem in the UK.
A recent survey showed that out of every 100 dogs in this country, 37 are overweight and another 15 are obese!
OVERWEIGHT DOGS LIVE 2 YEARS LESS THAN DOGS OF THE CORRECT WEIGHT!
Could you say goodbye to your best friend two years earlier than you should do??
Overweight and obese dogs are at greater risks of serious problems such as
♦ ARTHRITIS: extra weight on a dog’s joints causes the cartilage to break down more quickly than in a dog of normal weight.
- Arthritic dogs can suffer considerable pain and need daily anti inflammatory medication: for a 40 kg Labrador, one months worth of metacam costs £38!! That’s £456 a year!!! Can you afford that?
- Arthritis which has become too severe is a common reason for euthanasia of peoples beloved pets. That sad day is much sooner in overweight animals.
♦ DIABETES: this is when your dog can no longer produce the hormone that controls their bloods sugar level and they will have massive sugar highs and sugar crashes. You may then need to give them daily injections. Could you cope with that? Blood tests that diagnose diabetes cost up to £100.
- Diabetic dogs lead shorter lives. Your friend deserves to live as long and happy a life as he can!
♦ INCREASED SURGICAL RISKS: If your dog needed surgery for any reason his risk of anaesthetic death would be increased, because the fat places physical weight on his heart and lungs.
And think of all that money you could be wasting on dog food! If you are feeding a 25kg dog a third more than it needs on James Wellbeloved, you will get through 17 bags a year not 13, costing you a whopping £112!!!
I’m sure you can think of better things to spend £112 on than dog food!?!
Why Is My Dog Overweight?
Remember: only very clever dogs can open the fridge themselves!
WE are responsible, as caring loving owners, for what our dog eats every single day!
On the face of it, it is very simple:
To keep a dog’s weight the same:
|
CALORIES EATEN IN FOOD AND TREATS |
= |
CALORIES BURNED OFF: EXERCISE |
A dog that is gaining weight:
|
CALORIES EATEN IN FOOD AND TREATS |
IS GREATER THAN |
CALORIES BURNED OFF: EXERCISE |
The top reasons we hear for a dog gaining weight are:
♦ “He gets hungry and he begs for food, I just can’t resist him when he looks at me like that!”
If every time your dog has given you “The Look” he has been rewarded with food, then of course he will keep doing it! He is not hungry, he just knows that if he hovers around he’ll get given something really tasty…and calorific!
RESIST THE PUPPY DOG EYES! Shut them out of the room when you are eating or give them a toy to play with instead. Every little treat adds up to those kilos of wobble round his waist!
♦ “My dad is always feeding him treats, I tell him not to but he just won’t listen”
Many people equate giving food to a dog as giving love to a dog. It is natural to want to give treats and food to our pets to show we love them. A dog does not see it that way, food to a dog is JUST food. If there are one or two people that you cannot stop from feeding the dog, either substitute the treats for kibble out of his dog food allowance for the day for them to give or encourage them to play with the dog instead! Tug toys or fetch games are great as they will also burn off energy!
The dog belongs to YOU at the end of the day, and you will be the one stuck with it and its expensive health problems when the obesity starts causing trouble.
♦ “I don’t get time to walk him, work is too busy at the moment”
Every dog, no matter that size, needs exercising AT LEAST once a day. The more the better. This is a responsibility of which we are all aware when we take on a dog. However life can be hectic. Energetic young dogs will rip your house to shreds at first if they do not get enough exercise, then get bored and start eating!!!
Dog walking services are an ideal compromise. Your dog gets attention while you are out at work, and most importantly EXERCISE.
OK, I Get The Message … so What Do I Do?
Its simple….cut the food, increase the exercise!
IMPORTANT POINT: Feed your dog to the WEIGHT YOU WANT HIM TO BE NOT THE WEIGHT HE STILL IS! For example if your lab is 40kg, feed him to a target weight 35kg (for exact target weight for your dog ask your vet / vet nurse).
You can often find guides on how much to feed on the packet of dog food itself. If these are confusing, make an appointment with a vet or vet nurse and they can help you figure it out.
WEIGH your dog’s food out every time. That way you are 100% sure that he is getting only what he is supposed to get. If he has treats take these out and put them aside and feed what is left.
If your dog doesn’t seem to be losing weight on his normal diet, contact us and we can order in a special weight loss, calorie controlled diet for them.
Remember: TREATS ARE EXTRAS.
So:
- Bring in your dog to one of our nurse run weight clinics and they will help you put together a weight loss plan.
- Begin your calorie controlled feeding and increased exercise plan (don’t hesitate to ask a vet or vet nurse for advice)
- Bring the dog back in a fortnight and see the weight loss!!!
- We will record the new weight and from that we can keep a track on how your dog is doing.
- Carry on until the target weight is reached (to get advice on a target weight ask a vet or vet nurse)
- Give yourself a pat on the back
- Maintain your dog’s excellent slimline new figure!! (This is the tough part…now they’re skinny you can’t go feeding them all those treats again or all your hard work will be wasted!!!)
We are here to help every step of the way! Ask for advice at any time.
Hoylake Vets – For Peace Of Mind 24 Hours A Day
