How to Help Dog Lose Weight? 4 Tips for Helping Your Overweight Dog

Did you know that 56% of dogs in the United States are obese or overweight? ^[1] Having a cuddly, marshmallow pup is most dog lovers’ dream. However, gaining too much weight exposes your pet to severe health complications, including reduced lifespan, skin diseases, osteoarthritis, and respiratory illnesses.

Read on for four tips for helping your overweight pup get back in shape!

1. Determine your dog’s healthy weight

The first step to helping your overweight dog is determining its ideal healthy weight range. You should check the AKC Breed Standard for the recommended weight for your pup’s breed. ^[2] If your pup’s weight is higher than the recommended standard, you should consider consulting a vet. A vet can evaluate your pup’s condition and diet to determine whether or not a weight-loss plan is necessary and the weight you should strive to help your furry friend achieve.

2. Proper diet

Food is the most crucial factor when trying to reduce or manage your dog’s weight. Losing weight for dogs and humans is 30% to 40% physical activity and 60% to 70% diet. To ensure your furry friend eats a proper diet, you should:

• Swap a high-carbohydrate diet with protein-rich food.
• Cut back on table scraps and eliminate nibbling on your food to reduce calorie intake.
• Invest in high-quality dog food to lose weight. Ensure the food contains l-carnitine and high antioxidant levels to promote weight loss.
• Reduce food proportions.
• Add lots of healthy fiber to your pup’s diet to help it remain fuller for an extended period.
• Feed your dog healthier treats of foods like celery, carrots, and green beans.
• Introduce non-food reward training to reduce calorie intake.
• Ensure your dog drinks plenty of fresh water.

3. Keep your pup active

An effective way to help your pet cut the extra weight is ensuring that it engages in at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. ^[3] This helps burn off the extra calories. Exercising your dog could consist of playing ball, walking, hiking, swimming, or running. You could even create a stimulating home environment that triggers your dog to move more. If your canine is not used to regular exercise or is obese, be sure to start the physical activity slowly, then gradually increase as it loses weight. For instance, you could begin with a ten-minute exercise and then slowly move to a 30-minute exercise.

Different breeds can handle distinct amounts of exercise, so ensure that you visit your vet or breeder for recommendations on the best activity for your dog. The vet can also diagnose a medical condition that could inhibit vigorous exercise.

4. Rule out medical conditions

Sudden weight gain in your furry friend may signify a medical condition like hypothyroidism or a crushing disease. ^[4] Hypothyroidism occurs when your canine’s thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones leading to metabolic slowdown, which in turn causes weight gain. Your dog contracts the crushing disease when its adrenal glands secrete excess cortisol, the hormone that regulates blood sugar, weight control,  and stress responses. If your dog is suffering from these conditions,  any attempts to help the dog lose weight could be futile, so ensure that you visit your vet to rule out the diseases.

Endnote

Obesity and being overweight weaken your dog’s immune system and increase the risk of diabetes. Implement the above strategies to help your dog lose excess pounds or two to increase their life quality and happiness.

Article Sources:

1. Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. petobesityprevention.org/.
2. “Breed Weight Chart.” American Kennel Club, akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/breed-weight-chart/.
3. Mark, Dr. “7 Exercise Tips for an Overweight Dog.” PetHelpful, 15 Apr. 2022, pethelpful.com/dogs/help-dog-lose-weight.
4. Wooten, Dr. “Cushing’s Disease In Dogs: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment.” Pumpkin®, 28 Feb. 2022, pumpkin.care/blog/cushings-disease-in-dogs/.