Putting the dog on a diet
By Howard Wolinsky for WebVet
You can help your dog lose weight by putting him or her on a healthy diet. Consider this story:
The bad news for Mojo was he had to lose 35 pounds, a daunting task for a person, let alone a dog. The good news for the five-year-old mixed Akita-Rotweiler, and his owner, Sherrie Rose Maleson, 27, is that Mojo has almost reached his goal weight.
Maleson switched Mojo to a weight-management brand of dog food, but also cut the volume of Mojo's ration. Mojo used to eat about five cups of dog food a day. Now, he's down to three cups a day.
Ernie Ward, DVM, president of the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention, said, "Weight loss in dogs is like weight loss in people. Initially, you're losing lots of water weight and it sheds off a little faster, then it gets a little more difficult.''
He said dogs can safely lose 1 to 3 percent of their weight. But he said it is not healthy to be too aggressive.
"About 1 percent a week is great,'' he said.
Stair-step approach to weight loss
Ward recommends a "stair-step approach'' to weight loss in dogs.
He gave the example of a 40-pound dog that needs to drop 20 pounds. "Typically, we would take that 1 percent figure and say, 'OK, that's maybe two pounds per week - whatever we decide is appropriate for the patient. And we'll say 'OK, let's start feeding him as though he weighed 30 pounds.'''
In a month, the dog might lose 10 pounds. Then, the calorie level would be "stair-stepped'' to 25 pounds and then 20 pounds until the dog reaches the goal weight.
Check out calorie demands for dogs at the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention Web site.
Ward said the dieting dog has to make both physiological and psychological adjustments.
"The pet has adapted to a certain amount of calories. In fact, his systems are extremely efficient at storing this extra energy as fat. This is why people yo-yo with their weights when they diet because the body resets what it views as normal,'' said Ward, who is a personal trainer and triathlon competitor. "Over time, it will continue to reset it downward. It is easier for me with single-digit body fat to maintain my weight than when I was a heavier person.''
Psyching out the diet
He said dogs, like people, can link their behaviors with eating food, such as dogs that expect a treat after going on walks. "If you just suddenly say, 'All treats are out. I'm putting the dog on a diet. No more treats,' I think you're going to damage the dog emotionally.''
He said if the pet loves treats, the owner should switch to healthier choices, such as low-fat dog cookies, carrots, and cherry tomatoes. He said dogs, like people, are omnivores that can adapt to vegetarian choices.
"The important thing is trying to get that psychological satisfaction,'' Ward said.
Tips for doggie dieters
Ward offers these other dieting tips for dogs:
- Don't use self-feeders, which he describes as candy machines for fat dogs.
- Pet your dog when he begs for food. Ward says many dogs really want attention, so "flip the equation.''
- Feed the dog small meals often. Divide the daily food servings into small portions.
- If the dog is begging for food, take him for a walk as a distraction.
- If the dog begs, just give him a few kibbles in his bowl, like 10 or 15 rather than a handful.
- Dogs like a crunchy treat. So how about skipping anything fatty and switching to baby carrots, broccoli, celery, or asparagus?
- Make sure the bowl is filled with water. Fresh water may hit the spot.
Maleson said Mojo, who shares a non-crunchy banana with Maleson's American box turtle, Rosalia, has just a few more pounds to go. "He isn't obese anymore. He is more energetic. He's a good boy. I know he'll make his goal weight.''
Mojo's healthier lifestyle has paid off for Maleson as well. Following Mojo's example, she started a healthy diet herself and added more exercise. The result? She lost 30 pounds.
Reviewed by Amy I. Attas, V.M.D.
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Article last reviewed - 8/1/2009
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