My dog is overweight. What can be done?

Your dog may be fat and happy, but he may also be in danger.



It's the picture of contentment . . . your favorite furry four-legged companion, curled up on the floor in a patch of warm sunlight, snoozing with a belly full of the steak scraps left over from last night's dinner. Oh yes, he's content. But is he healthy? Not likely. Ensuring your pet's health goes beyond resisting the sad eyes and whimpers that plead for leftovers. Ignoring the content of your pet's food and his need for exercise can lead to dangerous health habits that may haunt both you and your pet in the future.



Controlling Fido's diet and being aware of what to look for in the food you buy is as important for your pet as it is for your two-legged family members. As many as 89 percent of dog owners feed their animals table scraps occasionally, according to a study done by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). But unfortunately, not only is people food often too high in fat for an animal to appropriately metabolize, but your dog may become a more finicky eater, refusing healthier pet food when the table scraps are gone.


But table scraps are not the only pitfall when it comes to nourishing those four-legged friends of ours. Many pet foods also have a high fat content, which, of course, Fido will love. The more they eat it, the more they love it, and many eventually refuse to eat anything else.


So what should the concerned pet owner look for in buying acceptable food for pets? High fiber foods, often made with finely ground peanut hulls, are nutritionally balanced and complete. It usually takes a 10 to 20 percent fiber diet to change the weight of an obese pet. But a lower-fat food will probably not taste as good to your pet as his regular, fatty canned food, and he may refuse to eat it at first. Gradually changing finicky Fido's diet over a few weeks should solve the problem.


But eating a healthy diet is only half the battle for you and your pet. Exercise is also an important tool to help keep your furry friends in shape.

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