Question: My dog is very overweight. I don?t feed him very much and I always walk him at least twice a day. My husband and children let him have the leftovers on their plates after meals and shares their snacks with him. He is a Chihuahua. How much should I feed him? ? Carrie Ann
Answer: Obesity in dogs has become much more common. Some dogs are overweight due to medical problems, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing?s disease. Most dogs are simply overfed and under exercised.
Steps to take to help your dog loose weight are:
1) Bring him to the veterinarian for a complete examination. He may need blood tests to rule out hormonal imbalances.
2) Ask your veterinarian how much your dog should weigh.
3) Ask how much dog food he should eat. The amount your dog needs to eat is determined by his ideal weight. If we know his ideal weight we can calculate the number of calories he needs each day.
An obese dog with an ideal weight of 10 pounds should receive 218 kilocalories a day. Dog food can be anywhere from 220 to 650 calories per cup depending on what brand you are feeding. Check the number of calories per cup and if your dog?s ideal weight is 10 pounds, you could feed one-third cup of prescription weight loss food twice a day and then have 72 calories left over to use as treats. If you use a low-calorie diet food, he will be allowed to eat a larger portion of food and may feel more satisfied. He will be less likely to beg from the table. Always measure his food in a measuring cup. Pick up any uneaten food within 10 minutes. Do not leave dry food down in his dish all day.
Try placing his dry kibble in a puzzle toy. Puzzle toys stimulate your dog?s brain and make eating fun. It will take him longer to eat and he will enjoy it more. You can find thee toys at various pet stores and on-line stores.
4) No leftovers from the table. Make your family understand that food is not love – they are hurting him by overfeeding. Overweight dogs are at risk from many of the problems that plague overweight humans. Pets that have a normal weight live an average of 20 percent longer than obese pets. In a family of four people, if each person gave him just a small bite of cheese, that equaled 10 calories that would be 40 calories. Multiply that by three meals and you have 120 calories.
5) Ask your vet how many treats he can have and what they should be. If you feed treats they must be counted in the calorie toll. It is also best to use your dog?s regular food as a treat. Measure his daily allotment of treats in a special jar on the counter at the beginning of the day, when the jar is empty the family knows he has used his set number of calories for the day. Other options: low-calorie dog biscuits, carrots, green beans, or celery.
Instead of giving high fat rawhide chew treats, try taking a Kong rubber toy and filling it with chicken broth. Freeze it and give it to your dog as a refreshing low-calorie frozen treat.
6) Get your dog to exercise. Try playing fetch or tug-O-war to get your dog to move around more. Take him for extra walks and try to go a little further each day. Swimming can also be a great exercise.
7) Make sure your dog has plenty of fresh clean water available at all times. Pick up his water bowl and dump it out and clean it at least twice a day. Saliva and dust get in the dish and foul the water. Dogs will drink more if their dish is kept clean and refilled.
8) If you do all these things and your pet is still overweight he may need help with a prescription weight loss drug. Selentrol is an FDA approved weight loss drug for dogs. It helps dogs feel full and partially blocks the absorption of calories.
Dr. Baker
Baker Veterinary Clinic
1801 S. Congress Ave.
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Read more articles by Dr. Baker | Ask her a question
Source: http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/pawshere/2012/04/19/chihuahua-overweight-how-much-should-he-eat/
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