Is Your Dog Over Weight?

No one wants to talk about over eating, yet most of us are guilty of it.   We all know what excess calories can do to our bodies.  I am not so sure that has translated yet to how we care for our dogs.  Maybe there’s more that travels down the leash than our energy.

I’m speaking figuratively.  While food doesn’t physically make its way from our hand down the leash, it can and does find its way from our hearts.  If we feel sad for an animal that was once starving, we may over compensate by giving them too much food.  If they are our dining buddy, we may give them food that would be better left on our plate (or in the garbage.)  We “reward” them excessively because they are such good dogs!

When a dog becomes an extension of the human family, it may take on the habits and certainly the behaviors of the humans where it lives.  Not all dogs can be free feeders in that if food is left out for them on a constant basis, they will overeat (a lot of humans can relate.)  It’s not likely a dog living without human intervention would ever face the diseases and/or illnesses of what they experience from eating the doggy-junk food and from being over weight – even if that weight came from healthy excess calories.

Much like the Mother who tells a child to clean their plate, I witness as humans acknowledge feeling like they need to feed their dog proportions that are excessive because they feel bad that the dog was once starving.  If their dog doesn’t eat what is placed in front of them, they add all sorts of goodies to entice the dog to indeed clean their plate. What if they were full?  What if that particular day, they just weren’t that hungry.  Of course, they will eat when tempted with what to us would be desert!

Below is an excerpt from an article about things our vets may not tell us.  Why won’t the veterinarian talk with us about it?  Talking about our dog being over weight is as sensitive a subject as speaking about it human to human.  If you notice, there are isles in the pet stores dedicated to products that are equivalent to fast food for dogs.  Unfortunately, it has the same affect on them as it does on us.  Considering they age much faster than we do, the negative affects of a poor diet or excessive consumption shows up exponentially.

1. Your pet isn’t “extra-fluffy” or “big-boned.” According to Bernadine Cruz, DVM, member of the Iams Pet Wellness Council, it is estimated that 40 percent of pets in the U.S. are overweight. Obesity in pets can cause a number of health problems, from heart disease to diabetes to skin inflammation. “I wish that more pet owners monitored their pets’ weight,” says board certified veterinary nutritionist Edward Moser, DVM. To do so, Dr. Moser recommends visiting the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine website to help determine the presence or absence of body fat. Though ideal weights vary within breeds, there are general indicators of an overweight pet, including not being able to feel their ribs, seeing a pooch in their abdomen from the side, and panting and shortness of breath. After noting these factors, consult your vet to figure out if your pet needs to be put on a weight-loss plan.

If you have questions about a dog that is a picky eater or one who eats anything (and does), I am happy to assist in any way I can.