How To Get Your Dog To Lose Weight
Few dogs will naturally walk at a pace that generates the elevated heart rates needed for sustained aerobic activity and weight loss.
How to get your dog to lose weight. Other times it isn t so simple. How to help your dog lose weight just like in humans when considering how to put your dog on a diet food and exercise are the two most important factors in getting your pup down to a healthy weight. If you have had your dog on the diet train and nothing is moving try these five veterinarian approved recommendations to tip the scales back toward a healthy weight. Start by extending your morning and evening walks by a few blocks increasing pace and distance as you both become more fit.
This strategy helps because reducing the amount of food too suddenly will change your dog s metabolism making it harder to lose weight and easier to gain it back. By subtracting your weight from the what you both weighed together you will get your dog s weight. The first thing you can do to help your dog lose weight is to increase the intensity and length of your daily walk. The goal should be for your pup to lose about 1 of her body weight per week until she reaches her ideal body weight.
If you have limited mobility try a game that will get your dog moving while you stay relatively still such as fetch or hide and go seek. Keep gradually reducing the amount of food until your dog begins to lose weight then continue feeding that amount. Reduce calories increase exercise and boom the pounds come off. Also make sure no one in the house is cheating by giving extra food or treats.
Instead ask your veterinarian to calculate the proper number of calories your pet needs each day. X research source amy marder i the complete dog owner s manual i p. If your dog is not losing weight the daily calories may need to be restricted further. Divide your pet s weight by 2 2.
To help your dog lose weight you ll want to increase activity slowly. Sometimes when it comes to weight loss for dogs the answer is easy. Weigh your dog regularly. Keep a close eye on your dog s weight loss as you make changes.
43 1997 isbn 1 875137 83 1 always use the same method for weighing to keep the results as accurate as possible. Weigh your dog at least every 1 to 2 weeks. Using the recommended guidelines overweight or obese dogs should lose about 1 to 2 of their body weight each week. Another good starting point is to use this formula.