Make Your Vet Part of the Solution
It's not too late to help your furry companion live a healthier and more active life.
Take the BARC survey, print out your results and take the information to your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will determine the proper weight for your dog and work with you to devise an action plan that ensures the health and happiness of your best friend.
The Healthy Path to Weight Loss
If your veterinarian determines that your dog should lose weight, it’s important to take a slow and steady approach toward making a change, for the sake of safety and long-term results. Here are some canine weight-loss guidelines to consider and discuss with your veterinarian.
- Establishing a well-managed diet and exercise regimen is the number one priority in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight for your dog. Crash diets are not the answer.
- The safest rate of weight loss for any dog (or mammal for that matter) is generally considered to be between one and two percent of total body weight per week.
- Losing weight at this rate is safer and more effective for establishing new healthy habits.
- Inducing weight loss at a rate faster than two percent of total body weight per week is more likely to reduce lean tissue (muscle) and result in a weight gain rebound.
- Any weight loss program that you and your veterinarian plan should be customized to fit your dog; based on starting weight, with regular adjustments as body mass is reduced.
- Prepare for the long haul. You are training your dog to eat less and exercise more. This is just as difficult for dogs as it is for humans. Make your end goal a healthy lifestyle for your dog and you will have a much better chance of success.