Diet for Overweight Dogs

Helping your dog reach a desirable weight is important for the dog's quality of life. Not only will maintaining a healthy weight make the dog's life more enjoyable, it will make it longer. About 40 percent of American dogs are overweight or obese. Implementing a weight-reduction diet will cut the calories your dog consumes while providing it a nutritionally balanced meal.

Assessment

A simple once-over often is all the testing you need to find out if your dog is overweight. Healthy dogs' outlines will tuck in at the waist, if you're looking from above, and at the abdomen if you're looking from the side. A dog's ribs should be easily felt when moving your hands over his sides and chest. Dogs with excess fat tend to store it on their ribs, over their backs and at the base of the tail. If your dog's diet includes a lot of treats, rawhide bones and table scraps (or table meals), these snacks need to be eliminated.

Cutting Calories

When cutting calories, dogs can switch to low-calorie weight-reduction food or they can simply eat less of their current food. A weight-reduction diet will provide your dog with less fat and more fiber; this is beneficial for two reasons: Fatty foods are more energy dense, meaning they have more calories per serving than protein, carbohydrates and other less-energy-dense nutrients. Fiber-rich diets also take more energy to digest, so some of the calories are burned just from processing the meal. High-quality weight reduction foods can be found at pet supplies stores and some grocery stores, and appropriate portion sizes are indicated by the manufacturer.

Exercise

Normally lazy dogs can get a fitness boost by starting with two short walks a day. Regular exercise for your hound will help him lose weight and improve his metabolism, strength and cardiovascular health. If you don't have the time or ability to walk around the block, a game of fetch is another way to raise his heart rate. While the exercise is good for his physical well-being, the one-on-one time when his owner improves his mental well-being and strengthens your bond.

Medication

In some cases, a dog's body will resist weight loss and medications must be prescribed by a veterinarian to help the dog shed pounds. These appetite-suppressant and fat-blocking medicines should be used in combination with a strict diet and exercise plan. Dosing instructions should be followed carefully, and any questions regarding your dog's diet plan should be directed toward your vet.

Considerations

Sometimes it's better to stick with your dog's current diet and just feed him less, particularly if the dog is on a specific diet for medical reasons or if your dog has an especially sensitive stomach. A veterinarian should always be consulted when making drastic or marked changes in a dog's diet. It's also important to make sure everyone in the family or everyone coming in contact with the dog is on the same page about his needs. Feeding your dog a special food while your kids are still giving him strips of bacon is counterproductive. Carrots, white-meat chicken and canned green beans are healthy snacks that can be given as treats in moderation.