Dieting Tips and Tricks for Dogs
If given the chance, the average dog would eat to its heart’s content: plates of ribs, pounds of ground beef, buckets of chicken, maybe even a bag of freshly mowed grass for good measure. Dog’s love of food is, perhaps, only second to their love of us and that makes things tricky.
We love and cherish our dogs and we want to make them happy. Since food accomplishes this, it can be hard to take away that joy. But it’s important to the health of a pooch that we put the kibosh the kibble.
Many dogs are already overweight: between the treats we feed them and the table scraps that fall from a toddler’s chair at dinnertime, calories add up. And so do issues.
When Charlie gets chunky or Rover gets round, they don’t have the self-awareness to do anything about it. That means it’s up to us, their owners, to tip the scales in their favor.
There are several tips and tricks to tackling the tummy, including:
Exercise: Your dog might love to eat, but they also love to exercise. Take
advantage of this and spend more time at parks and trails. If you have an older dog with aching joints, take short walks. You might even consider adding swimming into the mix.
Focus on protein: Calories are important to weight loss, but so is the ratio of protein to carbohydrates. The most ideal doggie diet is one that is high-protein, low-carb, and moderate-fat. The latter might have a bad reputation, but fat is helpful in moderation. It satisfies the appetite and makes your pooch feel fuller, longer.
Make your own food: You don’t need to cook your dog rack of lamb every
night but making their own meals – filled with lean meats, lean vegetables, and low-fat dairy – might be better than anything you’ll find in a store. Opt for healthy meats, like chicken, turkey, and fish, and stay away from pork, beef, and – yes – rack of lamb. You can also sneak in vegetables, using them as a replacement for higher calorie food. But don’t go too green or you’ll risk serving your dog a protein-deficient dinner.
Use the right fats: As mentioned above, fat is not the food enemy we’ve
painted it to be. But not all fat is created equal, either. Fats that are healthy for humans, omega-3 fatty acids, are also the ones that are healthy for dogs. You can add things like fish oil to your dog’s dish to enhance its nutritional value. This will promote weight loss while benefiting your dog in numerous other ways (like reducing inflammation).
Reduce portion size: Skipping meals is not healthy for your dog (and it’ll probably lead to you waking up in the middle of the night, only to find your pooch standing over the bed, glaring in your direction). Instead of nixing breakfast, reduce portion size. This allows the dog to stick to its routine (predictability is important for pooches) while reducing how much food it consumes.
Of course, none of the above will work if your family isn’t in on the gig. Putting your dog on a diet only to have your toddler feed it a bag of chips won’t be very effective. So, make sure your family sticks to the plan in order to make a true difference. Chicken good, Cheetos bad.
JJ Keeler lives in Colorado with a house full of pets. She owns three dogs, two cats, and a hamster she bought as a bribe to get her daughter to ride the school bus. She has a BA in English Literature from the University of Colorado and has worked as a professional writer for fifteen years. Her clothes are perpetually covered in pet hair.
