OVERWEIGHT DOGS – HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT!

The calculation is actually quite simple: if your dog is too fat, he is taking in too much energy . You should remember that, unlike muscle, fat tissue does not help to increase the activity of the metabolism. The logical consequence is to reduce the energy intake as much as possible. to reduce the dog's weight. That sounds banal, but we know from experience how difficult that is and many a longing look from a dog has made us soften up.

Just like us humans, your dog should not lose weight too quickly. As a guideline, you should expect to lose about 1.5% of body mass per week (maximum 2%). To ensure this, the energy density of the ration must be reduced to 60% of the maintenance requirement for the target weight . Simply reducing the amount of food currently being used is not advisable. This reduces energy intake, but also the supply of important minerals, vitamins and, above all, protein. For this reason, there are so-called "reduction diets" - i.e. diets that are specifically tailored to the needs of dogs who need to lose weight. These reduction diets have a lower calorie content, but are rich in nutrients and proteins. Your veterinarian or veterinarians specializing in animal nutrition will be happy to help you put together a suitable feeding plan .

Most dog owners are not prepared to completely eliminate rewards from the menu when on a reduced-calorie diet. This is not necessary, but you should always keep the energy content of treats in mind: dried tripe, pig's ears or even rice cakes have a high energy density due to their low water content, so alternative food rewards are often more energy-efficient.

Depending on the dog's taste preferences, you can chop up cucumbers, carrots or apples, for example. Some dogs also love strawberries, blueberries or tangerines, for example. If your dog is not a fan of fruit or vegetables, you can also boil pasta or potatoes until soft and feed them in small quantities as a treat.

Cellulose as a weight loss aid for morbid obesity

The tasteless cellulose is made from deciduous trees and is an excellent source of crude fiber. Cellulose reduces the digestibility of carbohydrates and the time the feed remains in the intestine is shortened, so that less energy is absorbed overall.

Getting used to the fiber should take place over several days and the daily dose should be divided into the number of daily portions. If dry food is given, the powder should be mixed with a little water or soy yogurt. Please discuss the administration and dosage of cellulose with your veterinarian, as giving fiber could be counterproductive in some gastrointestinal diseases.

Vegetables
If your dog is very hungry with the reduced amount of food, so that you can hardly resist giving him a little more than planned, it is advisable to mix vegetables into the ration. Some types are tolerated raw (e.g. lettuce or cucumber), others are better cooked (e.g. broccoli, fennel). However, avoid corn, peas and beans, as these have a relatively high starch content and therefore a higher energy content than other types.

Movement
In addition to reducing the amount of energy allocated, you should make sure that your dog gets plenty of exercise. Water sports are particularly recommended for overweight animals, as they are easy on the joints and are great fun for many dogs.

Create a weight curve To get a better overview of your dog's weight development, it is a good idea to weigh the animal regularly (once a week) and enter the weight in a table with the axes "kg" and "week". Remember: your dog should lose a maximum of 2% of weight per week.

In general, we recommend that you seek the advice of a veterinarian if you are planning to lose weight, as an adequate supply of protein, vitamins, minerals and trace elements should be ensured to ensure healthy weight loss.

Our veterinarians Carla and Veronika are also happy to answer any questions you may have at tierarzt@vegdog.de.