Food suitable for overweight dogs
The dog's diet should be taken seriously, in order for your pet to grow into a healthy adult dog. It must combine proteins, fats and carbohydrates, with special attention if it is a pregnant or nursing bitch. Vitamins and nutrients should be in sufficient amounts to prevent certain health problems for your dog.
You have just adopted a dog and you want to take care of his health. Dogs have different vitamin and nutrient requirements than humans.
Who could resist his gentle eyes? Is giving her a few treats or leftovers from the meal? Although many owners know that being overweight is harmful to their companion's health, they often act far too late. In general, small bulges are not enough to alert them, they simply do not know how to recognize the beginnings of obesity.
Being overweight is a serious dog health problem that needs to be addressed with a specific diet and activity plan. What measures can help fight against these bulges? How to rebalance food to make your dog lose weight?
The consequences of overweight for the dog
Overweight dogs suffer from illnesses more frequently than their peers of normal weight. Joint diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease are more often detected in dogs who are overweight .
In addition, anesthesia or surgery carries more risks for these dogs. Being overweight reduces the life expectancy of dogs. On average, obese dogs die two years earlier than dogs of normal build.
Before you start fighting your dog's bulges, you should first know the causes. Because even the best diet will have no beneficial effect if the origins of the weight gain are not determined. Knowing that the factors that lead to being overweight are very varied, you should first have your dog examined by a veterinarian. He will be able to enlighten you and determine if overweight is linked to a poor diet or a disease.
Among the triggers of overweight are the genetic predisposition of the breed. Advanced age which negatively affects the metabolism, sterilization or hormonal disease such as hypothyroidism or overactive kidney. Certain diseases can also be the cause of poorer physical activity in the dog. Such as hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis, cardiovascular diseases or respiratory diseases and thus be the cause of a weight gain.
Along with these factors, there are many external influences that can also encourage weight gain. In this case, it is often the owner of the dog who is at the origin. Poor dog posture, a lack of time and activity, poor eating habits all of these promote overweight in dogs.
No body mass index to calculate the ideal weight of a dog exists. The multiplicity of dog breeds and their different anatomy does not allow having a unique formula for calculating overweight. But this rule of thumb will help you spot your dog's overweight on time:
Feel your dog's ribs. If you can feel them with your hands placed under his stomach, your dog is at a normal weight. If you don't feel his ribs on side pushes, your dog should lose weight. If you can see the ribs with the naked eye, your dog is too thin and we recommend that you consult your veterinarian.
If you've noticed that your dog is overweight, you've taken the first step in the fight against the pounds. A consultation with the veterinarian will be the second step. This will clarify the causes of your dog's weight gain and develop an action plan so that he can lose his extra pounds. Admittedly, the market today offers many light products, but these are not necessarily suitable for weight loss.
Since the notion " light " is not legally protected, the estimation of what is " light " or not is at the discretion of the manufacturers. A product that a manufacturer will designate as " light " can contain as many calories as a product from a conventional range from another manufacturer. To find out if the food is suitable for your overweight dog, one glance at the label of the packaging is enough.
Food suitable for a diet
In most cases, it is wiser to go for a diet prescribed by your veterinarian. Unlike the concept of " light " , the name " dietetic food " is protected by law.
A dietetic diet is much less rich in calories than a conventional diet. Despite the reduced energy content, you can be sure that a healthy diet contains the essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
The anti-inflammatory Omega 3 fatty acids present in diet foods help maintain a stable blood sugar level. In addition, high-quality diets are distinguished by a high protein content.
High protein content makes the food tasty for carnivorous dogs but also promotes fat loss while maintaining the dog's muscles.
The right amount of dietary fiber promotes a dog's feeling of fullness. By opting for this type of diet, your dog will remain satisfied and will not constantly crave food. This phase of weight loss will therefore be quite bearable for your dog!
Dog diet: reduce portions?
For successful weight loss, diet foods are usually more suitable than “ light ” versions from traditional manufacturers. It is also not recommended that you give your dog only half of the usual amount of food.
If you significantly reduce his daily portion of food, your dog will absorb a lot less calories and minerals. Watch out for deficiencies! In addition, he will not be full and will start begging for food. It will be difficult for you to stand firm and refrain from giving him treats.
Dog sport, an ally for weight loss
In order to make him lose weight, you should no longer give your dog his usual diet. Rather gradually accustom him to a specific diet.
A change in diet does not necessarily mean success. In addition to this, you will need to make sure that your dog is getting enough energy on a daily basis. Lots of training, sports and games not only help reduce your dog's hunger pangs, but also increase energy expenditure.
The superfluous bulges gradually disappear and your links are strengthened thanks to the sports activities that you share.
Your dog's weight loss will have a positive effect on his health. Also on his zest for life and on your relationship with each other. We wish you much success in the fight against overweight!