
Perhaps other members of the household are also doling out the treats, and we have no idea how much they are adding up!

We often underestimate just how many treats we are giving our dogs because we give them randomly, and fail to track when we do give a treat. Let’s talk about those dog treats. I’m using the word “treats” here to include table scraps and chews filled with something edible as well. What else can you do to help your dog lose weight? Look at the food bag recommendations for how many cups per day a dog of that target weight should eat, and ask your vet for help as well. If you want to help your dog lose weight, ask your vet to estimate a healthy target weight for your dog. The amounts suggested are designed to keep a dog at his or her current weight. These guidelines are based on weight, and fail to take into account other factors, such as your dog’s frame however, they are a good starting point. If you are measuring out the food, make sure to read the recommendations on the back of the bag or box. Is your dog’s food high-quality and appropriate for his age and other characteristics? Does it have the proper amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and fat? A shocking number of popular dog foods contain unhealthy or even dangerous ingredients, so it is well worth it to do some research before buying. Also, increasing a dog’s exercise routine while free-feeding will likely result in your dog increasing her caloric intake, which will undermine any attempts to help your dog lose weight. How much is your dog eating per day, and what type of food? Free-feeding your dog by refilling the food the bowl when it gets low is typically inadvisable, as dogs often eat more than is healthy for them. As with humans, a drastic change in exercise routine can lead to injury in dogs. Ask your vet for recommendations based on your dog’s age, health history, and breed makeup, and come up with a plan to gradually ease your dog into the exercise routine that’s right for him. Unsure how much your dog should be getting? Take a look at this blog post for guidelines, including behavioral clues that your dog might not be getting enough exercise. If your dog is overweight, let’s first examine his or her exercise routine. Their veterinarian had explained how much their girl’s health was at risk, and they didn’t want their baby to die young. Why wouldn’t her dog lose weight, she wanted to know? This was not a question of wanting her dog to look a certain way rather, the dog weight loss journey had been started in the vet’s office. It can also be helpful to use a measuring cup for your dog’s food so you know exactly how much you’re giving him instead of just eyeballing it.The other day, a friend of mine texted me about her dog’s obesity problem. “It's a great place to start but should be adjusted as needed to maintain a healthy body condition.” Your vet can help you figure out how much of your dog’s food you should be feeding him daily. “I think about it the same way as a 2,000-calorie recommendation on human food packaging,” Dr. Keep in mind that these are only guidelines, and you may need to adjust them based on your individual dog. “These recommendations will tell you how much of the food you should be giving every day.”


“Pay close attention to the feeding recommendations on your pet's food,” Dr. Dogs can easily become overweight if their owners feed them too much food, which is why it’s important to follow the feeding guidelines on your pup’s food packaging. If your dog’s been gaining weight, it’s possible you’ve been feeding him too much at every meal (a scoop and a half instead of one scoop, for example).
