Posted by The San Francisco Dog Walker
Diet for Overweight Dogs: A Comprehensive Guide
Many of my clients have started services with my dog walking company after they have decided that their dog has gained too much weight and they don’t know what to do about it. The problem is that just like with people, exercise helps but it is not the complete cure. You have to cut back on your dog’s food intake too. An appropriate diet for overweight dogs is key to helping them shed pounds and stay healthy.
By following a structured dog diet chart for weight loss and making mindful changes to their eating habits, you can manage their weight effectively while improving their overall quality of life.
Eliminate Treats to Start the Weight-Loss Journey
I tell my dog walking clients that the very first thing that they must do immediately is CUT BACK ON TREATS! Even food scraps at the table, can add inches very quickly to your dog’s waist. Your dog is probably 1/8th your size, so try to remember that before you offer something to eat. A balanced diet for overweight dogs must eliminate these unnecessary calories. Small changes, like cutting out table scraps, can make a significant difference. Even a seemingly harmless piece of cheese can have an outsized impact on your dog’s weight.
An overweight pet is predisposed to many problems in their senior years such as back/ hip issues, torn ACL’s, arthritis and diabetes. Even if your dog already has any of these conditions, it can still be improved if you reduce your dog’s weight. So, if you want your dog to live a long, healthy life, it is imperative that you keep their weight in check at every stage of their life. Of course, it is your choice whether or not you keep your dog’s weight in check, but the fact is that your dog may need to be euthanized earlier than it’s life-expectancy because they can no longer walk or that their pain level has worsened and no longer can be controlled. It is just a simple fact that overweight dogs just do not live as long as fit dogs do.
So now the question is, what is the right weight? This is something that causes difficult conversations with dog owners because people tend to be super sensitive about their dog’s weight and often do not see them as being fat. Look at your dog from top and then at their sides and you should see a waistline. When viewing them, be honest. They should look slim and you should be able to feel their ribs easily. One tip is to google facts about your breed and see what the web says your dog should weigh. If you have a chow hound, you should try to stick to a program that will help your dog achieve the googled amount. Another tip that will help you is to always use a measuring cup or scale when preparing their meals. Make sure you are giving them the same amount of food everyday.
Cutting out human fatty type foods may seem like a small change to you and that it doesn’t make sense that it would do anything to improve their waistline. How can this work? What’s a small piece of cheese going to do to my dog? Again, please try to remember that your dog is very small in comparison to yourself and that a small piece of cheese is probably equal to a whole pizza for us humans. If you give a small 10 pound dog a piece of cheese, try to think of it as giving yourself 15 times that amount.
If your dog sleeps most of the day while you are at work, those calories are just sitting there not being burned off. After time, these calories start to add up quickly and you wind up with a fat dog, just because you were giving them a small piece of cheese on your way out the door. As dogs age, they naturally slow down and will gain weight due to less activity, so that you probably will not notice until someone points it out to you.Also, as they age their weight will change naturally and is not always a cause for concern. Just like people, the more exercise they get the more muscle mass they build, which causes the scale to rise. This is not a bad thing, as long as the dog looks slim and is very active, not sleepy.
You need to get real with yourself about how many calories in a day you are giving your dog. Once you have done that initial analysis, you can then begin the process of deciding how you will attack this problem. Starting out slowly is a good idea. Like us, when you decrease your dog’s food intake, they will probably feel hungry and beg for treats. You have to stay strong, but you also must have some compassion for them. Start by cutting out the treats and then in a week or two cut their food intake by 1/3. Stay at this measurement for a couple of week and evaluate if your dog is losing any weight. It is a slow process but remember, you have to stay the course. And one more thing, you need to remember is that your dog walker will be providing your dog with treats when they are in the park. We have to give dogs treats to keep them motivated and moving in the right direction. It is hard to keep a pack of dogs moving in the same direction and treats really help with that task. So please, do not compound the problem by adding treats on top of the dog walker’s.
If you really love your dog, you will feed them a healthy diet and give them daily exercise. Consider using a dog walking service while you are at work. This will keep them living a very long life. My dogs live an average of 15 years and I truly believe that it is due to their daily walks. We don’t want them to die from weight related complications before they are a 15+ aged senior dog.
The Risks of Overweight Dogs
An overweight pet is predisposed to many problems in their senior years, such as:
- Back/hip issues
- Torn ACLs
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
Even if your dog has any of these conditions, they can improve if you reduce their weight. A proper dog diet chart for weight loss and daily exercise can help alleviate some of these symptoms and extend their life.
So, if you want your dog to live a long, healthy life, you must keep their weight in check at every stage of their life. Overweight dogs do not live as long as fit dogs do.
Of course, it is your choice whether or not you keep your dog’s weight in check, but the fact is that your dog may need to be euthanized earlier than its life expectancy because they can no longer walk or their pain level has worsened and can no longer be controlled. It is simply that overweight dogs do not live as long as fit dogs do.
Determining the Right Weight for Your Dog
The next step is determining whether your dog is at a healthy weight. So now the question is, what is the right weight? This causes difficult conversations with dog owners because people tend to be super sensitive about their dog’s weight and often do not see them as fat. Look at your dog from the top and then at their sides—you should see a waistline. You should also be able to feel their ribs easily.
One tip is to search for your breed’s ideal weight online or use a dog diet chart for weight loss to see their weight range.
If your dog is over their ideal weight, it’s time to adjust their diet and food portions. Always use a measuring cup or scale to prepare meals and ensure consistency.
Choosing the Best Food for Dog Weight Loss
Choose foods specially made to help you manage your dog’s weight. Generally speaking, the best dog food for weight loss is low in fat and high in protein, with enough fiber to keep your dog feeling full. This lowers their caloric intake while preserving their energy levels. Pet stores carry more of the high end choices, where you should spend some time reading ingredients on packages and asking store owners for advice.
The following advice will help you make your decision:
- High-Quality Ingredients: Choose food with lean proteins, as they support muscle retention during weight loss. Don’t go to the grocery store and buy Alpo or any cheap canned/dry food for your dog. Be sure there are no Meat by-Products, or chemicals or dyes added
- Calorie Count: Check the calorie content to ensure it fits into your dog’s weight-loss plan.
- Avoid Fillers: Stay away from foods with excess fillers or artificial ingredients that add unnecessary calories.
Feeding your dog the right amount of a balanced, weight-management formula can make all the difference in their health journey.
Practical Tips to Help Your Dog Lose Weight
Portion Control
Cutting out human food may seem like a small change to you, and it doesn’t make sense that it would do anything to improve their waistline. How can this work? What’s a small piece of cheese going to do to my dog? Again, please remember that your dog is very small compared to yourself and that a small piece of cheese is probably equal to a whole pizza for us humans. If you give a small 10-pound dog a piece of cheese, try to think of it as giving yourself 15 times that amount. Use a dog diet chart for weight loss to guide your portions. Stick to a fixed amount of food daily and measure it accurately to avoid overfeeding.
Gradual Reductions
Start by cutting their food intake by 1/3. Stay consistent with this new portion size for a few weeks and monitor their progress. Adjust as necessary based on results. Combine this with feeding your dog the best food for dog weight loss to accelerate their progress.
Consistent Exercise
If your dog sleeps most of the day while you are at work, those calories are just sitting there not being burned off. After a time, these calories start to add up quickly, and you wind up with a chubby dog just because you were giving them a small piece of cheese on your way out the door. And no chubby dogs are not cute! Walks or play sessions every day can help them burn extra calories. Consider hiring a professional dog walker to make sure they get exercise when you are too busy to take them to the park. And no, a leashed walk around the block to poop on your neighbors lawn is not enough exercise. Off-leash walks or play sessions at the dog park every day can help them burn extra calories as they run free with joy chasing after their furry friends.
But Here is a Reality Check!
You need to get real with yourself about how many calories you give your dog in a day. Like I said a chubby dog is not cute and they are also not cute when they constantly beg for more treats. When they do this, their whole being in life is focused on junk food. You don’t want your kids to do this, so quite giving you dogs so many treats. When I take them to the park, they get treats at the end of the walk, when they get into the truck and into their crates. Some people lead the dogs around the park holding a treat up to their noses the whole way. Cute but really ineffective. Don’t you want them to smell the trees and grass? Notice other dogs? Chase after balls? And come to you because the love and respect you. My dogs do not get treats in the park, unless it is an emergency situation. And they learn to come to me when I call them, not because they hear a treat bag rattling. I am so proud of the little pug who scampers when I blow the silent dog whistle. Now that is an accomplishment without any treats!
Once they get into this mode of constant treats, they only focus on food. Once you have done that initial analysis, you can decide how to attack this problem. Starting slow is a good idea. Like us, when you decrease your dog’s food intake, they will probably feel hungry and beg for treats. You must stay strong, but you must also have some compassion for them. Start by cutting back the treats, then cut their food intake by 1/3 in a week or two. Do not leave food sitting in their dish. Take it away if they do not finish it in an hour. This is how you get picky eaters that wait for treats instead of food. Stay at this measurement for a couple of weeks and evaluate if your dog is losing any weight. It is a slow process, but remember, you must stay the course. And one more thing you need to remember is that your dog walker will provide your dog treats when they are in the park. We must give dogs treats to keep them motivated and moving in the right direction. It is hard to keep a pack of dogs moving in the same direction, and treats really help with that task. So please, do not compound the problem by piling treats atop the dog walkers portion.
Final Takeaways: A Balanced Lifestyle is the Key
Keeping a healthy dog healthy weight is a work-in-progress that may last for years, but certainly one that is well worth the effort. Choosing the top diet for dog weight reduction and portioning your dog with similar measures every day can change your dog’s wellbeing and happiness.
A healthy diet for overweight dogs is more than just cutting calories—it’s about creating a balanced plan that supports their overall well-being. If you really love your dog, you will feed them a healthy diet and give them daily exercise. Consider using a dog walking service while you are at work. This will keep them living a very long life. The Facts
How Can You Tell If Your Dog Is Overweight?
To determine if your dog is overweight, visually inspect their body shape. Look at them from above—a noticeable waistline should be behind the ribs. From the side, their belly should tuck up rather than hang down. If these signs are absent or you have difficulty feeling their ribs through a light layer of fat, your dog may be overweight. Use tools like a How to Tell If Your Dog Is Overweight Chart for guidance.
Further Ways to Tell if your Dog Is Overweight
Apart from visual cues, monitor their activity levels. Overweight dogs often tire quickly and struggle with basic movements like climbing stairs. You can also consult your vet for an evaluation and use breed-specific charts or calculators for a precise answer.
How Much Should I Feed My Dog to Lose Weight?
The amount to feed depends on your dog’s size, age, and activity level. Begin by reducing their regular portion by about 20–25% and monitor their weight weekly. A How Much to Feed Overweight Dog Chart can provide tailored guidance. For example:
|
Dog Weight (lbs) |
Calories per Day (for Weight Loss) |
|
10–20 |
200–400 |
|
30–50 |
500–800 |
|
60–80 |
900–1,200 |
What Is the Best Food for Dog Weight Loss?
The best food for dog weight loss is one formulated specifically for weight management. Look for high-protein, low-fat options with added fiber to keep your dog feeling full longer. Brands that offer tailored diets often include calorie counts on their packaging, making portion control easier. Consult your vet for the most suitable choice. Also, if you add green beans, carrots and broccoli to their meal when they are puppies, they will get used to eating veggies and it fills them up without adding too many calories.
How Long Does It Take for a Dog to Lose 1 pound?
A dog will typically lose a safe rate of 1–2% of their body weight per week. For a medium-sized dog, losing 1pound might take 4–6 weeks with consistent dieting and exercise. The duration depends on factors like metabolism, diet, and activity level.
How Much Should I Feed My Dog to Maintain Weight?
Once your dog reaches its ideal weight, feed it enough to maintain it. Use a How Much to Feed a Dog Per Day Chart as a guide. Maintenance typically involves feeding slightly more than during weight loss but continuing to monitor their weight regularly. A common maintenance calculation is 25–30 calories per pound of body weight per day.
How Big Will My Puppy Get?
Predicting a puppy’s adult size depends on its breed and growth rate. Small breeds tend to reach full size by 12 months, while larger breeds might take up to 18–24 months. A growth chart specific to your dog’s breed can help estimate their eventual size.
Need San Francisco, Dog Walker? Contact Me Here
Manage Your Dog’s Weight!
Keywords:
Diet For Overweight Dog
Dog Diet Chart For Weight Loss
Food For Dog Weight Loss
Best Food For Dog Weight Loss
How Much To Feed A Dog Per Day Chart
How Much Should My Dog Eat
How Can You Tell If Your Dog Is Overweight
How Do You Know If Your Dog Is Overweight
How Much Should I Feed My Dog To Lose Weight
How To Tell If Your Dog Is Overweight Chart
How Many Calories Should My Dog Eat To Lose Weight
How Much To Feed Overweight Dog
How Do I Manage My Dog’s Weight?
How Long Does It Take A Dog To Lose 1kg?
How Much Should I Feed My Dog To Maintain Weight?
How Big Will My Puppy Get
