Dog Weight
Dog weight is a concern for many dog owners.
We are convinced that keeping Comet's weight down, by not overfeeding him and giving him reasonable daily exercise, has helped his health.
The photos below represent him at ages 9, 10 and 11 1/2 (in descending order).
Too Much Weight
Statistics (and personal observation) show many dogs in the U.S. are overweight. Obesity rates match those of people! Other dogs, while not obese, are at least five pounds too heavy. Be aware that any extra weight can be harmful to your dog in the long run.
According to Dr. Jones, a veterinarian who owns an animal hospital in Nelson, British Columbia, physical ailments that are worsened or caused by dog obesity and excess weight include:
- Arthritis and other joint problems (refer back to F.B.'s story)
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Diabetes
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Dog's immune system does not work as well as it should
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Heart disease
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Liver not as effective at removing waste products
Why are so many dogs too fat? We believe this may be because:
- Dog owners constantly give their dogs treats as an expression of affection.
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Owners may not realize that most dogs are smaller than people and require less food
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People are used to seeing animals that are overweight and think this is normal
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Dog owners find it too difficult to exercise their dogs adequately
How To Tell If Your Dog Is Overweight:
Veterinarians say you should be able to easily feel but not see your dog's ribs, regardless of breed. If you cannot feel your dog's ribs, your dog has a weight problem.
What To Do For An Overweight Dog
Some homemade dog remedies to reduce dog weight are:
- Gradually reduce the amount of food and/or table scraps if you are feeding too much
- Change the type of food if it's not healthy. For example, cooked fats such as chicken skin, bacon, and cold cuts are not good for dogs and can cause pancreatitis.
Someone in our household, who shall remain nameless, unknowingly started feeding Comet high-fat treats and we suspect this caused his life-threatening (and very expensive) bout with hemorraghic gastroenteritis on February 1, 2010. We did not get a conclusive diagnosis because it would have cost at least another 500 USD to find out.
- Adjust the amount you feed your dog to weather conditions - a dog may need less in warmer weather unless they are getting a huge amount of exercise (we believe this is why Comet started refusing his raw food diet in Florida-it was too much/too rich for his needs)
- Cut treats up into much smaller pieces
- Limit the number of treats to one or two a day
- Hide pieces of treat in various places in the house so your dog has to work for them
- Give your dog a ride in the car to an exercise area instead of a treat
- Play with your dog actively indoors or outdoors
- Use obedience training to give attention with praise as the reward
- Take your dog for walks in different places
- Try a variety of other exercise methods - see
Dog Exercise
Benefits of Reducing Dog Weight
- Less poop to scoop
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Less flatulence
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Save money by buying less food and fewer treats
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Save on vet bills
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Reduce dog suffering by avoiding or lessening arthritis and joint problems
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Avoid other problems such as diabetes, heart problems etc.
Too Little Weight
This is not a common problem in the U.S. but may be so in some countries. Dogs can be too thin due to being underfed, harboring worms or as the result of weight loss from illness, as has happened with Comet recently due to a bout with hemorraghic gastroenteritis.
It would be best to consult a veterinarian if you are not sure of the underlying cause (if you can afford to).
Return from Dog Weight to Homemade Dog Remedies
Also see Dog Nutrition
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