4 Strategies to Overcome the Pet Obesity Epidemic

WRITTEN BY: LAURREN ZIMMERMAN

Research over the past 10 years reveals that one in three dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Dogs can become obese and develop health issues due to access body fat, just like humans. According to Banfield Pet Hospital, the prevalence of overweight dogs has increased by 158% during this time period. The quality of life for our pets is consistently threatened by diseases associated with obesity.

As a Certified Canine Athlete Specialist and multi-time dog agility national finalist and winner across multiple organizations, I have found that there are important steps that pet parents can take to help their dog safely lose weight. By providing a fresh outlook and healthier future for our favorite furry friends, we can come together as a community to help our pets live longer, happier lives.

Underlying Health Issues

Start by consulting your veterinarian and rule out any underlying health issues that may be causing your dog’s unwarranted weight gain. Obesity in dogs can be ultimately caused by serious underlying health issues in contrast to lack of exercise or a poor diet. Weight gain can be related to uncontrolled hormone imbalances; this can cause an unnatural increase in their overall appetite. Regular Cardiovascular Exercise

Regular, high and low impact cardiovascular exercise is essential in order to maintain muscle strength and promote a dog’s overall well-being. Running, jumping and general playtime is helpful to keep dogs fit. Start slowly, adding more time with low-intensity walks and gradually work towards jogging and running up to several miles.

If your dog is overweight because he is older and suffering from arthritis or persistent pain, physical therapy may be helpful in diagnosing specific mobility issues. Hydrotherapy is also a wonderful way to keep your arthritic dog moving, in a non-weight bearing environment, focusing on increasing their overall cardiovascular health and range of motion.

Strength Training with Flexibility Work

In addition to regular cardiovascular exercise, just like humans, dogs need strength training and flexibility work to keep their body moving properly. As a health care professional, I see dogs daily that do not have a proper range of motion in the front or rear limbs; also, their core muscles are extremely weak due to inactivity. I encourage my clients to partake in proactive

and integrative health measures to boost their aging or overweight dog’s strength and mobility issues, addressing the disparaging muscle loss issues in the process. Strength training & flexibility work can be done using a variety of techniques incorporating basic behaviors such as sits, downs, and stands to achieve better overall body composition and movement. Seeking out a ‘’doggie personal trainer’’ to help get you started in achieving these movements safely could drastically increase their overall quality of life.

A Clean Diet & Superior Supplementation

A clean diet and good supplementation is critical to proactively promoting the muscle health, strength, and joint health of your dog. In order to ward off unwanted weight gain, which over time leads to obesity, it is especially important to keep an eye on your dog’s diet and manage their caloric intake. A high protein, low carbohydrate diet is highly recommended. Typically, dogs become overweight over an extended period of time; an extra treat here and there seems harmless, but it all adds up! By focusing on a clean diet, feeding smaller meals throughout the day, you can curb your dog’s need for extra cookies and provide their bodies with the nutrition it ultimately needs. Extra calories and unneeded table scraps can lead to debilitating health issues such as diabetes. So, when feeding your dog its daily meals, be sure to consult with your Veterinarian on what balanced diet would be best for your pet.

In addition, as part of proactive measures, supplementation can be extremely helpful in building muscle. One all-natural supplement that I have used with my own canine athletes is Myos Canine Muscle Formula. It derived from fertilized egg yolks (Fortetropin), which has been clinically proven to help build lean muscle. Healthy muscles lead to fewer instances of joint arthritis and debilitating mobility issues, which can give your older dog the mobility back it desperately needs!■