So Your Dog Needs to Diet

"It can be a funny sight, bringing you a smile of delight, when your Great Aunt Alice waves hello and her wing like arms wobble to and fro, but when that wobble comes from your little Fido the time has come for that wobble to go!" No, an overweight dog is not funny, it is a concern that can not only reduce your dog's life span but cause distresses along the way.

Barring any medical conditions, there could be a few reasons why your precious pooch has put on a paunch. After getting the all clear sign from your vet, which now means it's YOUR fault, you can start the weight-loss regime.

Activity: Get out and walk, play catch or tag and since it's your dog's weight problem don't forget to take him along! If your dog is not used to it or has an existing problem be kind and start slow. You wouldn't want to go jogging or race uphill with a hip problem and neither would your dog. Adjust for size, since the shorter the legs the more steps that are needed to be taken.

Diet: The simple way to handle this is to follow the direction for weight loss on the back of the dog food package. Use discretion, dog food companies are out to make a profit. The more your dog eats the more you buy, the more you buy the bigger the bulge in corporate pockets. Rule of thumb is to cut it down to two-thirds of the regular amount. If you do use dry food please use a high quality such as an Organic or Holistic one. You would not want to devalue the investment you have already put into this irreplaceable companion. The best scenario would be to make the food from scratch.

A simple rule to help remember quantity is "1-2-3-4 excess weight goes out the door"; 1 cup dairy (yogurt or cottage cheese); 2 cups vegetable cooked with 3 cups starch (potatoes, or any grain) in 4 cups of water; 4 cups of meat (your choice and either cooked or raw, taking necessary precautions if using raw). Mix all ingredients. Keep left-overs in the fridge.

Dogs Ideal weight-.-.-.Amount to feed

10 lbs-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. 2 cups

25 lbs-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.4 cups

40 lbs-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.5 - 6 cups

60 lbs-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.7 - 8 cups

85 lbs-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.9 -10 cups

Adding a multi-dog-vitamin is also advisable.

The weight won't drop off over night nor do you want it to. But by following this diet and exercise regime in a few months you will begin to notice that Great Aunt Alice is the only one that wobbles anymore!

Learn more about this author, Robin Moynihan.
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