Dear Fat: Many times dogs turn from slim and fit on a walking schedule to plump and flabby once their owners got a fence, be it a picket or an invisible one. Despite good intentions for “extra” exercise, dogs left to their own devices will simply lie down and relax. Unless you are out there actively playing ball or Frisbee®, what motivation does a dog have for continual exercise? 

Ten pounds on your dog is approximately 10 percent of his weight and is considered overweight. Overweight dogs with structural problems such as hip dysplasia, arthritis or weak cruciate ligaments are more prone to injury, plus, the extra weight taxes their circulatory system including the heart. 

Healthy Weight Test

There is something called the “rib cage” test which will easily tell you whether your dog is overweight, underweight or just right. With minimal pressure you should be able to feel all of the dog’s ribs with your hand as you slide it across his rib cage. Your fingers should not be able to feel between the ribs. If you can, then your dog is too thin. And if you can’t even find the rib cage, then he’s too fat.

When looking down on the rib cage from the topline you should be able to see an indentation at the waist. This is where the rib cage ends and the loin begins. If there is no indent he’s too fat. However, if you can see the loin and the hip bones, in most breeds, then he is too thin.  

Weight Loss Tips

Turn-out: Don’t leave your dog out in the yard unsupervised for hours. Schedule “turn-out” time and make it part of his daily routine. Limit the amount of free time the dog will have. Much like a horse in a stable, they know they have a finite amount of time to expend their pent up energy. Have you ever noticed a horse that lives outside 24-hours a day isn’t running around all the time? It is the same with your dog. He will learn that turn-out time in the fenced yard is for running around.  If you want him to stay outside for fresh air, then create a small enclosure for that purpose. 

Food: Cut his food ration in half and replace the other half with canned string beans, plain popcorn or rice cakes. This gives the dog the bulk without the calories. Try this for a week or two at a time and once he’s at his ideal weight, slowly add back the ration to maintain the weight. Avoid commercial “lite” brand diet foods for dogs. According to a scientific study they may not meet daily requirements for nutrients for a healthy, normally active dog. Reducing calories through a reduced amount of your own brand of dog food is a better approach.  

Look at Them: Here’s another tip from the world of horses. Look at your dog daily before you feed them. If they look thin, feed them a little more that day. If they look fat, feed them a little less. Just don’t look at their pleading big brown cow eyes that scream, “I’m so cute, just one more biscuit.”

Treats: Replace those high-calorie dog biscuits with raw baby carrots. Crunchy and fat-free.

Lisa’s Pick of the Litter

Recently, the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled a heartworm preventative medication from Fort Dodge Laboratories, Inc. called ProHeart 6. This is an injectable form of moxidectin and is administered as a shot to your dog every six months to prevent heartworm infection.

The FDA recall number is V-130-4 and the lot numbers and expiration dates are: Lot – 367158214, Exp. April 05, and Lot – 367158215, expiration June 5. There were more than 7,300 5-unit packs distributed nationwide.

Lisa Peterson, a breeder and exhibitor of Norwegian Elkhounds, is a Delegate to the American Kennel Club. Reach her through www.lisa-peterson.com or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.