Some owners mistakenly believe that to reduce the dog's weight they should just
feed less food. It is not only the quantity of food that the dog eats that is
the problem but more the quality of food and lack of exercise.
Cutting
down on the amount of food may result in the dog lacking vital vitamins and
minerals. A visit to the vet is necessary before embarking on a weight reduction
programme. The dog should be weighed and given a thorough health check. Vets
usually aim to reduce the dog's weight by losing 1 – 3% of the dog's bodyweight
per week. The vet will prescribe a reduction diet that is protein rich but low
in calories.
What often goes unnoticed is the amount of table scraps and
treats the dog consumes per day. Leftover junk food is as harmful for dogs as it
is for humans being high in fat, salt, carbohydrates, preservatives and
additives. Feeding table scraps in addition to the dog's usual meal can quickly
contribute to the dog becoming overweight. Of course not all scraps are
unhealthy. Scraps of meat or vegetables should be fed as a part of the dog's
meal rather than in addition to it.
Some owners habitually feed their dog
a snack each time they consume food themselves. When questioned many owners
admitted feeding their dog's tea and biscuits, bowls of cereal, cakes,
sandwiches, pies and crackers. This is in addition to the dog being fed treats
and rawhide chews.
One single bone-shaped treat can contain as much as
20-30 calories. Bearing in mind that an average 20lb dog needs 690 kcal per day,
a handful of treats represents a substantial portion of the total daily
calories.
Reward training based on using treats is adopted by the
majority of dog owners. If using treats in training sessions choose ones that
are healthy such as snippets of dried liver, carrot sticks or cubes of apple.
Any other treats used should be taken from the dog's daily meal
ration. |