Weight gain can happen to all dogs, but you'll most likely see it in elderly dogs. Just like humans, metabolism rates start to drop, physical activity becomes less, and the unwanted weight gain can lead to other health problems like heart disease. Here are three tips to help your pup get control of their weight.
1. More Protein, Less Carbohydrates
The proportion of carbohydrates to fats and protein is substantially more important than just looking at the caloric intake of your dog. Carbohydrates are delicious but lean meats are even better for helping your dog maintain healthy weight and building muscle. A diet high in protein, moderate in fat, and low in carbs will satisfy their appetite.
2. Reduce your dog’s food portion size.
This might be the obvious answer but does need to be executed in a strategic matter. Try cutting their food back by five percent each week or two. The math comes out to about a reduction in 1 ounce per pound. Do not look for quick fixes, weight loss should be a slow, steady progress. Once they reach their optimal weight, then maintain the amount of food you are giving them.
3. Measure what your dog eats.
A lot of dog owners don't even know how much they feed their dog. They'll simply just fill the bowl to the top and be done with it. Nothing wrong with that when you have a dog maintaining a healthy weight, but when it does come to overweight dogs - weighing food is a must! You don't necessarily need a scale but try to find a cup to consistently portion out food. However, a scale would definitely help if you are decreasing food by five percent each week.
Aside from these you can also take some time to take your dog on walks. Even something as easy as taking your dog on a walk can help it be more active. Leave a comment below to let us know if these helped!