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| Your Dogs Weight - Is It Way To Much |
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| When you've got a dog, you've got a companion to do all kinds of things with: take walks, trounce through the park, day trip to the beach, or just sit around the house. The trouble is, sometimes there's a little too much sitting around the house. And a little too much eating, too. You know where that can lead: to one of the most widespread of all pet problems. Canine Obesity. But My Dog Doesn't Look Fat. Your dog may look absolutely fine. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean he's not carrying extra weight. You'd be surprised how much bulk can go unnoticed when spread out over a big-bodied or large-boned dog. And how effectively fat can hide under a full coat of fur. So, how do you find out whether your dog is overweight? If your dog is a purebred, being overweight is usually defined as being 10% to 15% over the recommended "ideal" weight. But this definition is not as simple as it sounds. Any "ideal" weight will vary based on sex (females are generally 10% lighter than males), bone structure, and overall size. Also, "ideal" weights are established for only a selected group of purebreds; most breed standards do not specify an optimal weight. And there are absolutely no established standards for crossbreeds. With that being said, if you own a purebred, here are some average weights which may serve as a starting point for determining your dog's "ideal" weight. AVERAGE WEIGHT (IN POUNDS) VERY SMALL BREEDS Chihuahua 4 Pekingese 9 Miniature Schnauzer 15 SMALL BREEDS Boston Terrier 19 Cocker Spaniel 25 MEDIUM BREEDS Beagle 30 Brittany Spaniel 35 Siberian Husky 50 LARGE BREEDS Airedale Terrier 50 Standard Poodle 55 Pointer 65 Golden Retriever 70 VERY LARGE BREEDS Old English Sheepdog 95 Great Pyrenees 115 Great Dane 130 Newfoundland 140 St. Bernard 165 As for those dogs not represented on this chart (and even for those who are), there's another, more reliable way to evaluate your dog's weight. It's what breeders describe as determining if your dog is in "good flesh." "Good Flesh" Versus Fat. Being in "good flesh," as expressed by breeders, is a term that describes a certain kind of dog. A fine specimen that is lean, firm, and well-muscled, with an adequate layer of fatty tissue under supple, elastic skin. Exactly how much fatty tissue is adequate? Enough to keep the ribs from being plainly visible, but not so much that it submerges them completely. Try pressing gently on the skin over the ribs: if your dog has the proper amount of fatty tissue, you should be able to feel the ribs without effort. If you have to press hard to feel anything -- and especially if you are able to fold more than 1/2 inch of the skin over his ribs -- then your dog is probably overweight. And he's crossed the line into obesity if his body appears square-shaped, with no waistline definition or "tuckup" between ribs and hindquarters. A Cause For Concern. "What's wrong with a little extra fat," you might ask. Actually, quite a lot can be wrong. If not yet, then soon. Because overweight or obese dogs are prone to increased health problems, including: Heart, respiratory, and digestive impairment. Slower healing process. Poor resistance to viral and bacterial infections. Aggravated orthopedic conditions. Skin irritations and disease caused by friction within fatty rolls of skin. For females, greater likelihood of complications during whelping. Additionally, if your dog is carrying excessive weight, he can be difficult for your veterinarian to examine properly. And less likely to withstand anesthesia and surgery. How You Can Help. The first step to helping any overweight dog is this: visit your veterinarian. An extreme reaction to a few extra pounds? Not at all. Because the cause of your dog's weight gain can be attributed to a variety of factors -- some of which may be quite serious. It's true that in the majority of cases, canine weight gain is due to overeating combined with lowered levels of physical activity (which can often be a side effect of spaying or neutering). But only a veterinarian is qualified to rule out such causes as reactions to medication or a possible metabolic disorder. So be certain. Consult with your veterinarian before starting your pet on any weight reducing program. Trimming Down Your Dog. Okay. So you've had your dog diagnosed, and the reason is the most likely one: overeating and lack of exercise. What do you do now? First, let's discuss the overeating part of the equation. Your dog is intaking too many calories. So the way to remedy the situation probably involves two elements: feeding behavior and diet. The feeding behavior of wild canines is instinctual -- they eat only what they need to survive. But domestic canines learn other habits from their owners: food is used as a sign of affection. Or as a reward. And for the owner, it often becomes a way to handle guilty feelings like, "I can't stand those sad eyes watching me while I'm eating." So dogs can end up eating too many nutritionally imbalanced snacks. And it's up to you to keep this behavior under control. Choose A Specialized Dog Food. In addition to curbing between-meal snacks, you should feed your dog meals that are engineered to help him lose weight. But don't starve him with smaller serving sizes. For the dog accustomed to receiving frequent handouts during the day, feeding him two meals a day may be the best solution. Aside from that, be firm. Diets only work when they're adhered to, whether the subject is human or merely human-owned. As difficult as it is to resist those puppy-dog eyes, your dog's health is at stake. Be responsible. Don't Forget About Exercise. Reducing your dog's caloric intake is only half of the equation for losing weight healthily. The other half is proper exercise. But that doesn't mean subjecting your overweight dog to strenuous activity. Long, brisk walks and vigorous playing could do more harm than good by placing extra strain on his already overworked cardiac and respiratory systems. Instead, increase his exercise gently with a leisurely walk every day -- about 20 minutes for medium size dogs. Plan the walks for the coolest time of day, and avoid extremes in the weather. Gradually, you should be able to increase the walk to about an hour or so, depending on the dog's tolerance. In addition to walking, there have been a number of exercise routines specifically developed for dogs involved in weight loss programs. Ask your veterinarian to recommend one for you. As a rule, they are non-strenuous, and require the dog to perform only natural positions and motions. A few basic obedience commands are also used -- so if your dog currently doesn't respond well to commands like "heel," "come," "sit," and "stay," this program could have a double benefit. Your dog could end up not only in better shape, but better behaved as well! Another way to exercise your dog is to have him follow you around while you do your usual household routine. Every time you pause to do something (like making the bed, dusting a piece of furniture, or cleaning a dish), have the dog sit. If he gets up, have him sit again. This is basically the canine equivalent of doing situps, and works to tighten his hindquarters and abdomen. Playing "retrieve the ball" is also an excellent source of exercise, and can be a lot of fun for the both of you. Just remember that no matter what activity you do together, the goal isn't to see how fast, far, or hard you can make your dog work or play. It's to give your dog a reasonable amount of activity. The Moment of Truth. Through all the work of a weight loss routine, one thing's for certain: the scale does not lie. So from time to time, you'll need to keep tabs on your dog's progress by weighing him. The best method, if you can lift your dog, is to just weigh yourself alone, then weigh yourself while carrying your dog; the difference between the two numbers is your dog's weight. If your dog is too large to lift, you may need to take him to the veterinarian's office for weighing. As for how much your dog should weigh, your veterinarian will supply you with an approximate goal, and discuss with you how much total weight should be shed over a defined number of weeks. But don't get discouraged by an apparent lack of improvement in the first few weeks. It could take a little while. After all, a total weight loss of 5-10 pounds, for example, will occur far more gradually on a small dog than it would on a human. With patience and total commitment to the reduction regimen, you should see significant weight loss within 4 to 8 weeks. And when you've reached your goal, celebrate . . . with playing. Or a fun walk. Or a new toy. And definitely without too many snacks! |
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