THE FALLACY OF WEIGHT LOSS DOG FOOD

If your dog is overweight, the very last thing it needs is weight loss dog food. Let’s be perfectly honest. Most overweight and obese dogs are overweight or obese because of commercial dog food. How on earth is yet another commercial dog food, made with the same unhealthy ingredients, going to help your dog lose weight?

No, if you want your dog to lose weight, you have a number of options, none of which involves overpriced weight loss dog food!

1. WEIGH YOUR DOG’S FOOD

The key to any canine weight loss program is to know how much you’re feeding.

By default, commercial dog food manufacturers overestimate the amount you should feed your dog. Manufacturers are far from backwards in coming forwards. They know that the more you feed your dog, the more product they will sell. Why wouldn’t they overestimate the amount you should be feeding your pup if it means you’ll buy your next bag of dog food that much sooner than you otherwise would or should?

They also like to consider that every dog is exactly the same and has the same calorific requirements. This is far from the case. Just like human beings, no two dogs are the same. Even dogs from the same litter are likely to need differing amounts of food in order to maintain a healthy weight.

Take it from me, if you don’t weigh out your dog’s food, you could be overfeeding your dog and spending far more money than you need to!

2. REDUCE THE AMOUNT YOU FEED

If you want your dog to lose weight, the first thing you should consider is reducing the amount of food you feed. Helping your dog lose weight is that simple. If you are happy with your dog’s current food and he or she enjoys eating it, keep on feeding it but reduce the amount you feed by 10%.

Weigh out each meal as you would normally, but reduce it by 10%. That may not seem a lot, but it will make the world of difference to your dog’s weight in next to no time at all. And if it doesn’t, if there is no noticeable reduction in your dog’s weight after two or three weeks, reduce it by a further 10%.

3. INCREASE YOUR DOG’S EXERCISE

In an ideal world, in addition to reducing the amount you feed your dog, you should also increase its exercise.

As far as your dog is concerned, the secret to losing weight is for it to consume fewer calories than it uses in energy. Even if you continued to feed your best friend the same amount you’ve always fed, an increase in exercise is likely to result in a reduction in weight.

4. CHANGE YOUR DOG’S DIET

If you are even remotely considering changing your dog’s diet as part of a weight loss program, don’t chose weight loss dog food, feed homemade dog food. Homemade dog food is healthier than any highly-processed commercial dog food on the market. Particularly kibble.

If you want to help your dog lose weight and to improve it’s health even further, feed either homemade or raw dog food. You’ll need to feed less, and it’s exponentially more healthy!

IN SUMMARY

1. Always weigh your dog’s food.
2. Reduce the amount you feed by 10%.
3. Increase your dog’s exercise.
4. Consider changing your dog’s diet.

Unsure how to tell if you dog is overweight? Check out my Body Condition Chart!