"Not my dog!” I say, together
with the 70% of dog owners* who refuse to admit their dogs are fat. My dog is
cute, huggable, and attractively round! I play with her. I buy her toys. I
spoil her with love. Until one day, I see her next to another of the same breed
and the nagging thought creeps into the underbelly of my ironclad conviction. Many
lives ago, when my dog was a wolf, gaining extra pounds was simply impossible. It
took the whole pack to chase down any kind of nourishment. But, here’s a bit of
good news: if I inadvertently helped her expand, then it will have to be I who
will help her regain her svelte figure. 
What to do? Reduce her food
intake? Get her onto an expensive veterinarian-prescribed diet? Talk to my
pooch about her self image? No, the first step should be the understanding of what
caused this change. In the dog community, there are three main reasons for
weight gain in dogs:1) Just like with humans, lack of proper diet or exercise
are key, 2) The dog’s metabolism and hormonal issues might be an underlying driver;
and 3) Bet you didn’t know, but spaying and neutering has an almost guaranteed weight
gain as its side effect?
Being a responsible dog owner, I went
to the vet to identify which of the three culprits it was. The vet said it was
probably a combination of all three but recommended I put her on a leaner diet. The "low fat" or "specialty diet" pet food industry has been booming due to this ever spreading diagnosis, so even though I'd immediately want to invest in it, I also found myself looking for a more natural way to help your furry friend. I even bought a book of dog recipes. Btw, here’s a link to a good free dog recipe site. I know from personal experience that few dogs refuse wet food, whereas a lot of dogs get bored with the dry kind. So, I switched her treats to the organic variety and reduced the predominantly corn and high in chicken by-product (pulverized poultry bones) dry stuff. It helped but not much. So, after talking to many knowledgeable rescue friends, here are two natural miracle foods to help you in your new quest:
probably a combination of all three but recommended I put her on a leaner diet. The "low fat" or "specialty diet" pet food industry has been booming due to this ever spreading diagnosis, so even though I'd immediately want to invest in it, I also found myself looking for a more natural way to help your furry friend. I even bought a book of dog recipes. Btw, here’s a link to a good free dog recipe site. I know from personal experience that few dogs refuse wet food, whereas a lot of dogs get bored with the dry kind. So, I switched her treats to the organic variety and reduced the predominantly corn and high in chicken by-product (pulverized poultry bones) dry stuff. It helped but not much. So, after talking to many knowledgeable rescue friends, here are two natural miracle foods to help you in your new quest:
Yes, pumpkin. But the canned plain
variety, not the pie filling! The fiber makes the dog feel full while making
their dinner plate look more appealing, so she doesn’t feel deprived. No need
to go all-vegetarian on her, just substitute no more than 1/3 of her total
meals. While it is true that pumpkin is a low-cal/low-fat/filler that is high
in fiber and will help keep your pet feeling full longer, you may want to make
sure that she is still getting the nutrients she needs to stay healthy. Whether
raw or cooked both pumpkin seeds and its flesh are safe for dogs. An easy way
to have some handy dog treats that will last a good month is roasting plain
seeds in the oven or mixing pumpkin into baked treats or wet meals. They are
also an excellent source of Vitamin A, beta-carotene, potassium and iron, and
may even reduce the likelihood of cancer. 
Peas, apples, string beans and
carrots do the trick, but try the peas first. They are also high in fiber and
mixed with regular meal, will fill her up quicker. You can add raw carrots and
apples since they vary the taste and are great for the skin. But don’t be
alarmed when you see undigested peas in your dog’s stool. It’s a good thing. They
do the job and then “escape.” Some people like to add corn, but it can be
harder for dogs to digest, creating a whole slew of other problems. Note of caution: DO NOT FEED YOUR DOG ONIONS OR GARLIC. BOTH ARE EXTREMELY TOXIC.
And even if you make your dog beg
for carrots like a regular bunny, it is still on you to provide additional
exercise. My dog is young-ish, so I
instituted a game of running up and down the stairs with bits of organic treats for reward. It requires precision and
balance from the dog, while working all her muscle groups. If your dog is older, I
would recommend longer walks instead. Anything is better than laying on the couch or in
a crate for hours.
* Journal of Veterinary
Internal Medicine, 2010
