Like humans in the United States, many American dogs are overweight. And unfortunately, like a human, an overweight dog is at risk of developing serious and potentially deadly canine health problems.
Fortunately, there are way to help a dog lose weight. The key is to promote gradual but steady weight loss in dogs by making changes in lifestyle and in the dog's diet.
Dog Weight Loss Tip - Feeding a Dog "Health Foods" and a Healthy Dog Diet
The first step to helping a fat dog to lose weight is to implement a healthy dog diet. Premium dog foods like Wellness and Hill's Science Diet are dog health foods - an equivalent to human health food products.
Premium dog food brands are a bit more expensive, but they're actually a better choice because the dog receives more nutrition without "empty" calories from fillers that are contained in less expensive dog food brands.
High-quality brands of dog food enable dog owners to feed smaller portions without losing out in terms of the dog's nutrition.
Weight Loss for Dogs - Exercise and Walks
Frequent dog walks, jogs and even a game of fetch are all great methods to help a dog lose weight by burning calories and speeding up the dog's metabolism.
Not only will more frequent dog walks burn extra calories, but the dog will also gain muscle tone and enjoy improved cardiovascular fitness. Exercise also helps promote good behavior in dogs, as expending pent-up energy improves a dog's receptiveness to obedience training commands.
Additional Methods and Tips to Help an Overweight Dog Slim Down
In addition to feeding a healthier dog food brand, try these dog feeding methods to help fat dogs lose weight:
- Instead of dog treats, feed healthy foods like carrots, celery or chunks of plain, skinless chicken.
- Feed the dog three or four small meals instead of one or two larger meals. This will jump-start the dog's metabolism, helping with dog weight loss.
- Adding canned pumpkin to the dog's meals is a great way to add fiber to the dog's diet, without adding lots of calories.
- The dog will be eating smaller portions, so dog vitamins will ensure that the dog receives balanced nutrition.
Adding hot water to the dog's kibble is an effective way to help the dog feel "full" while consuming fewer calories. Add enough hot water to cover the kibble and wait approximately 10 minutes or until the kibble swells and absorbs the water. This also helps to prevent upset stomach, as the kibble expands before the dog eats, instead of after the kibble has arrived in the dog's stomach.
More Information on Dog Nutrition and Diet
To learn more about dog foods and what foods are not safe for dogs, check out Toxic Foods for Dogs.
To learn more about feeding a homemade dog food diet, check out Homemade Dog Food Benefits.
