Watch that Waistline!
Grains, salts, sugars and fats. 90% of the pet foods on the market today rely on these ingredients for palatability, to increase appetite, and create addiction. They actually spray fat onto kibbled food! No wonder, when offered a healthier alternative, our fur-kids turn their nose up at them. (Yep. Just like us. *sigh*) These diets are not species appropriate. They don’t nourish their bodies. This is causing serious weight issues for them.
Since foods are composed of protein, fat and carbohydrate in varying combinations, reducing carbohydrates necessitates increasing either protein and/or fat. Many, if not most, diet or weight loss/management pet foods are low fat, high fiber diets. Ironically, many dogs get fatter on these foods. The increase in carbohydrates, though fat free, are calorie dense, and these excess calories are not burned off, they will be converted into fat and stored. If you are nutritionally savvy, you understand that this is contrary to the dietary requirements of carnivores. Your dog may be physiologically full, but cellularly and chemically they are starving and malnourished on these types of foods. A chronically hungry dog can become irritable and anxious.
So, what is the best way to facilitate weight maintenance and loss? First, consider feeding a raw or home cooked diet. Cans are another good option. If you want to continue with kibble, get one over 28% protein.
Weigh your dog weekly. Be sure your fur-kids weight is going in the right direction. Weight loss for a 100# dog should be about 1-1.5# a week. A fifty pound dog shouldn’t lose more than half a pound. Small dogs are going to only need to lose a few ounces a week.
How much to feed? Use the feeding guidelines for your fur-kids IDEAL weight, not their current weight. If you are feeding a healthy, natural, quality food who put ingredients before income, use the lowest end of the feeding recommendation. If your fur-kid is seriously overweight, inactive or older, you may want to cut back another 15-30%. Your fur-kid will need to be fed a calorie deficit to lose weight.
Don’t forget portion control Use a REAL measuring cup, level or scant, to measure kibbled dog foods. Buy a scale to weigh raw and home cooked foods. If the bowl looks empty, buy a smaller food dish. It will help you mentally if the dish looks fuller. Don’t forget to factor in treats and table food! Add treats into the measuring of your food, then set them aside. If you like to feed table food, reduce the amount again.
Add exercise. If you are good at this, weighing will be important. You may have to increase the amount you are feeding if they are burning off additional calories. However, exercise is not a walk around the block. It needs to be aerobic/cardio vascular exercise. You need to get your fur-kids heart rate up for 20 minutes consistently to reap real benefit.
If you have recently had your dog spayed or neutered, it will reduce their metabolism. So does aging. The amount fed will need to be reduced too.
If you are doing these things and your dog is maintaining or gaining, it is time for a visit to your vet. Endocrine disorders may be contributing. Ask your vet about this.
And don’t forget: Water, water, water. Filtered water. This can help with satiety, absorption and elimination.
