Avoid puppy fat
Podgy pooches are a problem in Australia. More than 40 per cent of Australian dogs are classified as obese, which is putting the health of our furry friends at risk of diseases including osteoarthritis, cancer, joint, heart, kidney, liver and pancreatic disease.
Pet nutritionist Lara Shannon says overweight dogs will also suffer from greater levels of fatigue, leading to a lower quality of life.
She says owners need to stop showing their love with treats and inappropriate food meant for humans.
“It can be so hard to ignore their big pleading eyes at the dinner table, but it’s important to stay strong and remember that in saying no to your dog, you’re protecting their health,” PetStock ambassador Shannon says.
“Dogs who are overweight are usually fed a highly processed, high carb diet, and are often given too many treats. We must remember that treats should make up no more than 10 per cent of a dog’s required daily total calorie intake.
“What might seem like just a tiny bit to us adds up throughout the day and you could actually be feeding the
equivalent of a whole extra meal for your pet without even realising.
“It is estimated that feeding your dog one little cookie, for example, is the equivalent of the average-size person eating an entire hamburger!”
OVERWEIGHT OR NOT?
Your vet is the best person to assess your pet’s weight, but if you need some help at home, there are three tried and tested ways to check the healthy weight of your dog:
• The ribs: if you can feel their ribs that’s a good sign.
• The hourglass: you should be able see the curve of their waist between the ribs and the hips.
• The tummy tuck: your pet should never have a sagging tummy.
Source: Big Dog Pet Foods
WEIGHT MANAGEMENT TIPS
Whether it’s wet, dry, raw or homemade food, our pets require the same benefits from their diet that we require as humans, including protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, and water.
Shannon advises taking a closer look at the food labels of the pet food your dog is eating to ensure it has the above without high-calorie fillers or high-fat content. This is especially important if your dog has a slow metabolism or is not getting enough daily exercise.
It can also be beneficial to try a different approach at mealtimes. For instance, you could ditch the bowl and serve your dog’s food in a way that mimics how they would hunt for food in the wild. This could involve leaving small morsels of their food (on saucers) around the house and scattered in the backyard. This way dogs will be tapping into their brains and exercising their bodies as they find their food.
“Weigh your dog every 3-4 weeks and keep a record of the weight. Regular weigh-ins can track movement in your dog’s weight. The key is slow, but steady, weight loss to their ideal weight,” she says.
Here is one home-made treat Shannon recommends for dogs:
APPLE AND CARROT DOG DOUGHNUTS
Makes 12 doughnuts
We recommend giving ½ a doughnut to a medium-sized dog (10-25kg) as a treat only.
Ingredients
● 2 eggs
● 1 medium red apple, finely diced
● 1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
● 2 tsp honey
● ½ large grated carrot
● 2 tbsp melted coconut oil
● 2 cups whole wheat flour
● ½ cup coconut yoghurt
● ¼ cup yoghurt drops
● ⅓ cup filtered water
● ½ cup dried treats
Method
Preheat oven to 175C. Grease a doughnut tin with melted coconut oil. Put flour, eggs, apple sauce, honey, melted coconut oil, chopped apple and grated carrot in a bowl and stir to combine. Transfer batter to doughnut tins. Bake for 10-15mins. Cool on wire rack. Spread coconut yoghurt onto cooled doughnuts and top with yoghurt drops or dried treats.