![]() ![]() Things that you can use to flavor the beans or veggies include stewed tomatoes (Italian or Mexican flavorings work well), fat-free chicken or beef broth, soy sauce, mild salsa, ketchup, etc. Other foods that can be included in your dog’s weight loss program are anything in the squash family such as zucchini, yellow squash, cucumbers, sweet and dill pickles, acorn squash frozen mixed vegetables (these can be fed frozen, steamed, or microwaved) most fruit (avoid raisins and grapes as these are poisonous to dogs). Beans are very high in protein, they are non-fat, high in fiber, and low in soluble carbs. This makes beans among the best weight loss foods around. As with human diets, think of high protein, low fat, high fiber, low soluble carbs. These are the starches like rice, corn, potatoes, etc. It is also important to reduce the amount of soluble (easy to digest) carbohydrates. A gram of fat has 2.5 times the calories as a gram of carbohydrate or protein. The best way to reduce calories is to decrease the amount of fat that you eat. The best weight-loss diets are those that reduce calories AND INCREASE PROTEIN. We want your dog to maintain muscle, not lose it. Now we know that taking in fewer calories alone will result in loss of lean body mass as well as fat. We used to think that it was simply a matter of taking in fewer calories than you burn up. As they say “it takes muscle to burn fat.” For dogs and humans, the same general principles of dieting apply. Once we have determined that a diet is in order, we can tailor it to your dog’s specific needs and goals.Įxercise is of great value and you should be sure your dog is getting plenty of activity. The “rule of thumb” for gauging obesity is that you should be able to feel your dog’s ribs easily without seeing them. We are simply used to seeing mostly overweight dogs, so we think our dog must be OK. Sometimes blood tests are needed to rule out a medical condition.Īlmost every one of our clients is in disbelief when we tell them that their dog is overweight. Be sure your dog has a physical exam before starting a weight loss program. Some dogs are obese due to a medical condition like low thyroid hormone, or excess cortisone. The age of onset of chronic diseases like heart failure, kidney and liver failure, and cancer occur almost 2 years earlier in obese dogs than in dogs that are fit. These are chemicals that contribute to aging and health problems such as cancer. Fat is not just a storage depot for extra calories. Also, obese dogs die an average of almost 2 years younger than thin dogs. ![]() Studies have shown that hip dysplasia is 4 times more common in obese dogs than it is in lean dogs. There are serious health implications of being overweight. ![]() Obesity in dogs is not just a cosmetic problem. Even the poorest people in our country suffer from the health problems of obesity. In the United States, we are blessed with an abundance of food. This is an excellent question because the number one nutritional disorder we see is OVER NUTRITION. Heartworm prevention should be provided 12 months of the year. Signal Hill Animal Clinic has safe, effective products available that cater to your pet's lifestyle and your budget. There is NO treatment in cats, so prevention is critical and the only means of protection. Cats should be tested before starting prevention and re-tested as the veterinarian deems appropriate. Prevention is the safest and most cost-effective option, but treatment is available for dogs (although costly and lengthy). What can I do to protect my pet? Heartworm disease is preventable! Dogs should be tested annually and before starting prevention. Heartworms can grow and live for 5 - 7 years in dogs and 3 years in cats. When a mosquito bites an infected animal, it picks up these worms and when it bites another animal, the worms enter through the bite wound. How does my pet get heartworms? Heartworms living in an infected dog, cat, or wildlife produce baby worms that circulate in the bloodstream. Twelve-inch-long worms (looks like spaghetti) live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of infected pets, causing lung disease, heart failure, organ damage, and can be fatal if untreated. Heartworms are a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets. One infected mosquito is all it takes to infect your dog with the baby form (larval stage) of the heartworm parasite. ![]()
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