Did you find the cookie jar empty, again? Bummer! Is your dog’s treat container looking a little low too? Yikes! The holiday season may have had you and your dog indulging in those sweets a little more than usual, adding some numbers to the scale in the bathroom. Being aware of your pet’s weight can really help them in the long run, so we’ve compiled a list of some essential advice to help shed those pounds off your pet for a healthier start to the new year.

If you need a quick way to assess if your dog needs help shedding some extra pounds, take a look at these 3 questions:

1. Does your dog have an hour-glass shape when you stand behind them and look down?

2. Do they have a waist?

3. Can you easily feel their ribs?

If you have a ‘no’ for each answer, your pup has most likely added a few pounds and could use help shedding them. Pet parents should know that the first step in helping their dog with weight management is simply awareness. Knowing what your dog’s weight should be and keeping on top of any fluctuations. So let’s look at five ways pet parents like yourself can help their canine friend lose some of that extra weight.

1. Factor in the Food!

Just like us humans, one of the things to help with weight loss is food. It’s essential to have a benchmark on how much to feed your dog so as not to let them overindulge. The food bowl, indirectly, becomes the essential item that can help your dog lose weight and keep it down. Standard dog food guidelines are too broad for just one dog breed, so owners can end up over-feeding based on too generous and too vague suggested portion sizes; so watching what and how much you put in the food bowl can ultimately help your dog with their weight maintenance. Finding lower carb, whole, fresh food is an important part of weight maintenance for your canine friend since most processed foods are full of carb-based fillers, which can help pack on some unwanted pounds if you over feed. 

2. Treats Always Count!

Every dog loves a good treat, just like every human loves a good snack food, but pet owners need to remember that giving treats count as food throughout the day. Being aware of how many treats your dog gets a day can help cut back on their caloric intake, since every treat you give has extra calories for your dog. Treat counting and finding healthier alternatives can help your pup cut out some extra weight. Treats should account for no more than 10% of your dog’s total daily calories. Try giving a smaller portion of the treat as a reward to help cut back, or even dabble in some non-food rewards that your dog loves: extra belly rubs, a longer head scratch or even a quick throw of a ball or favorite stuffed toy. Finding a healthier alternative, food or non-food, can help cut back on calories with treats, leading to helping that ultimate goal of weight loss. 

3. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise!

No weight loss plan or weight maintenance program is complete without exercise. The most important activity (and possibly the easiest) is walking. Regular walks don’t just exercise your dog’s body, they provide crucial mental stimulation and a perfect opportunity for them to sniff and be free. The recommended minimum amount of exercise a dog needs is 20 minutes, twice a day but this can vary from breed to breed, so check with your vet on how much activity and movement your dog needs to stay within a healthy range of weight. If your dog needs to lose weight, try to slowly increase their exercise to get them moving more often. So if that means your dog rarely gets any exercise or no exercise, start with short intervals of walking to help them build up to longer walks. If you’re already exercising your dog, try lengthening your walks or activity. It’s always a good idea to start small and slowly work your way up to longer periods of exercise, whether it be walking, playing fetch or hiking in the woods. Make exercise fun for your dog - the goal is to make them healthier, not get them hurt.

If you’re finding yourself wondering how you’re going to keep up with your dog's exercise, Going Mutts Pet Services would love to help. We are here for your dog and any level of physical activity needed to help them lose some weight. Short walks around the neighborhood, long walks at a park or even a nice afternoon hike; we can help with whatever you need for your dog to feel more refreshed for the day. Contact us today to talk about a customized plan for your pup!

4. Water Bowls Are Important

Like humans, dogs may turn to food when they are, in fact, actually thirsty. Make sure your dog’s water dish is topped off with fresh, clean water, and keep an eye out for signs of dehydration in your dog. Good hydration has many health benefits for dogs, including softer skin and a shinier coat. If you have a beggar, try to encourage your dog to take some sips of water to hold them over to distract them or give them some ice cubes in their bowl for something different. Hunger disguised as thirst is one way to put on the pounds, so make the water bowl fun, full and essential.

5. Rule Out a Medical Condition 

If you find that you’ve been watching what your dog eats, counting those treats and calories on top of giving them plenty of (safe) exercise daily, it might be time to talk to your veterinarian. Shedding pounds is a lot of work and it’s more of a marathon, not a sprint, so if you’ve been working hard for a while and seeing no rewards, you’ll want to rule out a medical condition for your dog. The most common medical cause for obesity in dogs is called hypothyroidism, which is an underactive thyroid that causes the metabolic rate to slow down, leading to an increase in weight gain and lethargy. Visiting your vet can be a great way to rule out a medical condition when it comes to weight maintenance for your dog.

Weight loss is no easy journey, for humans or for our four-legged friends. It’s easy to just brush off a few extra pounds with your dog by saying they are getting ‘furrier’ or ‘they’re just getting ready for the winter.’ In actuality, a dog putting on some extra weight can cause health issues and mobility problems that could have easily been avoided by pet owners being aware and proactive. Help your dog keep those pounds off and get outside to motivate each other to have fun exercising - we all could use those couple extra steps and deep breaths of fresh air each day!

We understand finding time to get walks and playtime with your dog is harder in the winter with the shorter days of sunlight, so why not let us help you? Going Mutts Pet Services wants to help you have peace of mind knowing your dog is being taken care of while you’re away at the office and we want to help your pup get outside for some fresh air while they wait for you to come home. Contact us to see how easy it is to add some daily walks to your dog's routine!

Sources:

https://www.thefarmersdog.com/digest/how-to-help-your-dog-lose-weight/

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/hypothyroidism-in-dogs