Wellbeing and Weight Control Guide

Should I increase my dog’s exercise?

Increasing exercise will be helpful, but on its own will not achieve the weight loss you are looking for. You must remember that dogs are naturally very active so to increase their exercise in a way a human would by going to the gym is almost impossible to reach those exercise levels. As with all forms of exercise, you should begin gently and build it up slowly, being especially careful with older dogs and wherever possible seeking veterinary advice first.

A good rule of thumb is to try and take your dog out at least twice a day, and whilst you are out, introduce them to active games rather than leaving them to slowly wander down the street at their own pace. You can then build on this by increasing activity levels when they are back home, by giving them toys that will encourage them to move around more. You should also remember the other benefits of nonfattening exercise; they go a long way towards improving the bond between you both and help you as an owner with your health too.

However, whilst you have taken the important step of increasing your dog’s exercise, you must remain vigilant for signs of fatigue, and rest if you notice signs like heavy panting.

If you simply don’t have the time to give your dog these extra minutes of exercise, hire a dog walker or a teenager who is looking to earn some extra cash. Doggy day care centres are a good choice if your dog will be otherwise spending all day on their own.

What should I do if my dog isn’t losing weight whilst on the diet?

First check that everybody in your household is sticking to the rules, and not sneaking snacks and treats to your dog which will increase its calorie intake. If indeed everybody is sticking to the plan, the diet needs to be reviewed. It would seem as though the dog is still being fed more calories than it actually needs, but you should consult your vet for this advice. Some dogs will simply burn calories more slowly than others, and this may need factoring in to the diet regime.

Could there be an underlying medical reason stopping my dog losing weight?

Just like human beings, dogs can be faced with many health issues, so if a controlled programme of diet and exercise is not having the desired effect, it is likely that an underlying health condition has triggered the weight gain. A veterinary surgeon will be able to take blood samples, to test for low thyroid levels and hormonal imbalances. Overweight dogs can face a large array of health complications, so a failed diet with the correct levels of investigation could actually go on to save your dog’s life.

How long will it take for my dog to reach its target weight?

If your dog looks overweight, it is likely they will weigh at least 15% more than they should do. For the diet to be safe for the overall health of your dog, you will be looking for it to lose about 1% - 1.5% of its bodyweight each week, so significant improvement could take several weeks.

When your dog reaches its target weight, go back to the three questions you asked yourself at the beginning. If you still cannot see your dog’s waist or feel its ribs, and it still looks as though it has a bit of a paunch, there is every likelihood that your dog is still overweight, so you should seek professional advice about a new target weight.

Successful weight loss in dogs is a slow and steady process, and the secret to success is patience.

How will my dog maintain its new healthy weight?

If your dog has reached their healthy target weight, the challenge now is to prevent weight creeping back on again. Therefore, it is advisable to speak to your vet about a weight maintenance programme, which again will be centred around the calories your dog needs to maintain their healthy weight.

Hopefully whilst working towards your dog’s target weight, you have developed some healthier habits as a dog owner. It is now important to stick to these and get the whole family to understand the importance of the overall healthy approach for long term healthy weight management.

Continue weighing your dog as you gradually increase their food intake. If weight is regained consistently for two weeks, you should go back on the diet programme.

Does this regime mean I will never be able to give my dog treats again?

Treats are a useful tool when you are training a dog, but other than for this, they absolutely do not need them. If you really feel the need to treat your dog, you should discipline yourself to give them a treat no bigger than a finger nail. If you are feeding your dog a dry food, when you weigh out a portion, you can always take out a few kibbles and feed them as treats throughout the day. If you are feeding wet foods then raw vegetables like a small piece of carrot are useful alternatives.

Does a diet mean I need to get rid of my dog food puzzle toys?

Puzzle toys are a useful challenge to keep dogs stimulated, as your dog will have to shake or roll the toy to get the food out. However, if you are putting dry dog food inside, you must make sure this is taken off the daily food allowance agreed for your dog. Also, if you have more than one dog, using these toys will make it very difficult for you to keep track of exactly what your dieting dog is eating.

Will a diet affect how much fluid my dog should drink?

Water is as essential for dogs as for human beings. Water makes up 70% of your dog’s body and is essential for circulation, digestion and waste removal.

Dehydration occurs through either reduced water intake or increased fluid loss. Often only a vet can provide a proper diagnosis and treatment for dehydration. So, whilst your dog is dieting, they should still have plenty of clean cold water available for them at all times, as part of their healthy diet.

Are some breeds of dog more prone to obesity than others?

Some breeds of dog are typically slim and probably the most common one is a greyhound. Conversely, some breeds are more prone to obesity. Examples of different sized breeds with a propensity for excess weight are listed below:

Small breeds: Cairn Terriers, Dachshunds and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Medium breeds: Beagles, Cocker Spaniels and Basset Hounds

Large breeds: Labradors, Golden Retrievers and Rottweilers Giant breeds: Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards and Bernese Mountain Dogs

However, these dogs can still live long and lasting healthy lifestyles with the correct diet.

How will my other dogs react if one dog is on a diet?

If you have several dogs, feed your overweight dog separately to stop them stealing any leftovers.

Do crash diets work?

You should never starve your dog to try and get them to lose weight quickly. If you believe you are already carefully following advice to feed your dog a recommended daily allowance, reducing their food intake by more than 15% without the right levels of supervision will mean they won’t get the right balance of essential minerals and vitamins, which are vital for a dog’s overall nutrition.

Is there an optimum age to start a dog on a diet?

It is quite likely that a chubby puppy will become a fat adult. You should feed your puppy the minimum amount for the body weight recommended on the packaging, and monitor body shape and weight as your puppy grows. Have a chat with your vet about it when you take your puppy for their vaccinations.

It is important that you do not introduce your puppy to human food as this may then lead them to become a fussy eater as they grow older.

If you get your dog’s diet right from the very beginning, hopefully you should never have to consider a weight loss diet for your dog in later life.

Do any veterinary surgeons specialise in weight loss programmes for dogs?

North Yorkshire based VetSpec have joined forces with a number of veterinary groups around the country to deliver The VetSpec Weight-Loss Programme, a forward-thinking weight management programme for overweight dogs.

The dogs are examined before joining the programme, then key to the overall success of it, the dog must only be fed the food the vet provides. The food is specifically designed for weight loss with a lower concentration of calories than other diet foods currently available.

Owner and dog are expected to return approximately every two weeks for the dog to be weighed and measured. If the rate of weight loss is too high or too low an adjustment will be made to the feeding regime.

The vet will demonstrate your dog’s progress on a graph and indicate how this compares with the other dogs participating in the programme.

What brands of food are recommended for a weight loss programme?

The Veterinary Practices that have joined the programme specifically use food manufactured by North Yorkshire based VetSpec. The food is of a super-premium quality and is designed to be hypo-allergenic with no wheat or gluten content.

Most dogs will be fed VetSpec SuperLite LowCalorie Formula which is ideal for dogs needing to lose weight, greedy dogs that need volume but low calories and less active dogs. VetSpec SuperLite Low-Calorie Formula has all the benefits of the supplements in VetSpec Healthy Dog Adult Formula but is on a base food with 20% less calories if fed as directed. This means that you can control your dog’s weight but still feed a delicious feed, packed with high quality vitamins and minerals, that your dog still needs on a daily basis. VetSpec SuperLite Formula is an outstanding Veterinary Specification supplement in a CEREAL-GRAIN-FREE Super Premium dog food including 50% Chicken with added vegetables and herbs.

VetSpec SuperLite Senior Formula has been developed to take care of all the challenges faced by older dogs. As an adult dog ages, lean body mass declines, resulting in a decrease in total energy needs. The total daily energy needs of an average-sized 7-year-old dog may decrease by as much as 20% when compared with its needs as a young adult. If food intake does not decrease proportionately with decreasing energy needs as the animal ages, weight gain results. Added to this, older dogs tend to be less exercise tolerant and therefore burn less calories for work. They also tend to develop issues with joint mobility particularly if they get over-weight.