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Keeping My Dogs From Becoming A Fat Statistic

October-9th-Is-National

Today is National Pet Obesity Awareness Day.

This is a day to bring attention to the importance of keeping your pet happy, healthy and not fat,

I’m not going to sugar coat. I’m calling them fat. Not obese or overweight.

FAT

In this case the truth should be told.

Instead of doing the post that I had planned for today, a post that included statistics, I’m going to opt out of that and instead share how I try and keep Sherman and Leroy out of the fat statistics.

It’s always been one of my top priorities to keep them at healthy weight. Their big bones and joints don’t need to be lugging around any extra weight and my bank account can’t afford to pay for any health issues that are caused by something that I can control.

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So here are some ways that I try to accomplish keeping then at a healthy weight.

  • I feed a quality dog food that doesn’t have a lot of fillers and extra ingredients that they don’t need.
  • I’m aware of how many calories they get a day. For example, Leroy gets 4 cups of food a day which equals 1,740 calories. He also gets a topper on his food that equals 150 calories and treats throughout the day that equal 165 calories. That’s a total of 2,055 calories per day. According to the Slimdoggy daily calorie counter, Leroy should be getting 2,132 calories per day based on his age, size, and activity level.  This for me, is perfect because I didn’t add in the joint supplements and coconut oil that he gets daily.
  • I always have my hands on the dogs feeling around their stomach to see if there’s too much padding there. If there is, calories get cut and activity increases.
  • I weigh the dogs more than average. When I worked at the vet clinic Sherman and Leroy got weighed at least once a month and lucky for me, a few months before I left the clinic, I was able to score the clinics old scale and now it’s set up in the basement.
  • I adjust as needed. For instance the Newfs are less active in the summer than they are in the winter so calories get cut in the less active months and increase in the more active months.
  • I use what I have to get the most out of a walk. Now that the weather is cooler but the daylight is shorter I’ll be walking Leroy most of the time with his backpack and I will add weight to it slowly. This way, if we don’t get out for a walk until late and we can’t go as far, Leroy can still get the most out of his walk.

Those are just some of the ways I try to work on keeping them at a healthy weight. Now, I’m not saying we’re perfect at all. We have days where we don’t go for walks or days that the boys get more calories than they should because I share my french fries or something with them, but for the most part we try and be aware and be consistent.

Over the last year I have struggled with Sherman because his activity was so restricted and he gained a good 10 pounds and it worried me. I adjusted his calories and was able to get some of the weight off, but not what I wanted. Over the last few months, as his activity level has slowly increased, we are getting closer and as of last week we have 2 pounds to go to get back to his ideal weight. It’s not easy but it has to be done for Sherman’s sake.

So now that I’ve shared my ways of keeping the dogs out of the fat range, share some of yours!

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Jodi

Monday 21st of October 2013

We just walk every day, weigh their raw food and try to keep processed treats to a minimum. When I do buy processed treats, I am very careful about what ingredients are in there. It's easy to let them get overweight, so we have to stay right on top of it!

2browndawgs

Tuesday 15th of October 2013

We are the opposite from you. Our dogs are less active in the winter and that is when we find it difficult to control weight. Good job on Sherman's weight loss. And good idea on the backpack with weight. I can see that working well for winter walks.

Nichole

Thursday 10th of October 2013

You know, we KNOW Sophie is... um... well... fat. There, I said it. But our vet won't. We think she feels THAT bad for uber shy Sophie and all the hell she goes through with having to - gasp - see people and be out in public when she goes to the vet, so she ignores our pudgy little girl's big pot belly............

Jen

Friday 11th of October 2013

Awww...poor Sophie gets that nervous going to the vet? Poor girl!

rubytheairedale

Thursday 10th of October 2013

Oh, I just lost the weight the vettie said I should loose, so Ma is happy, butts she wants me to loose 5 more cause she thinks it will be good to have a little wiggle room so if I want to have a french fry, it's not gonna send Ma into a tissy!! BOL Anyhu, Very good postie, and I gots to go for a walkie now! Kisses, Ruby ♥

Jen

Friday 11th of October 2013

That's great Ruby! Congratulations on the weight loss!

Taryn

Thursday 10th of October 2013

Because I do agility, I can't let Jimmy add any extra weight. It would not be fair to ask him to do all of that jumping and climbing with extra weight. I mainly just play with food amounts to keep things in line. Corgis love to eat and are consummate beggars, so it's tough saying no. It's also tough when other family members who shall remain nameless give the boys too many treats!

Jen

Friday 11th of October 2013

Haha! I know what you mean about others giving them too many treats!

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