How to make my dog ​​lose weight?

Today, it's Clémence, in charge of product development, who talks to you about a problem often observed in dogs: overweight  !

Weight gain may occur after sterilization or may be due to poor eating habits . Some dog breeds are also naturally overweight and require extra vigilance.

Your dog is in this case, and you want him to lose weight to improve his well-being and vitality. Here are some questions you may have to ask yourself when setting up your dog's slimming program!

How many pounds should my dog ​​lose?

Ideally, seek advice from your veterinarian. The latter, in relation to the morphology of your dog, can give you its ideal shape weight. If you have a purebred dog, you can compare its weight and size to the standards of the breed to get an idea of ​​the form weight but this will be less personalized than the weight given by your veterinarian.

What is the best diet?

In the event that your dog has to lose significant weight, you will not be able to achieve weight loss without suitable kibble and stable food. "Home" food should be avoided because it will be difficult for you to measure the fat intake and to have a stable diet every day. It is essential to give kibbles formulated for overweight dogs or for sterilized dogs, often called "  light  ". Croquettes have the advantage of having known and constant analytical values.

How are kibbles for sterilized dogs different?

Kibbles for overweight dogs and sterilized dogs are lower in calories because they are reduced in fat. They are also richer in vegetable fibers to stimulate transit and increase the feeling of satiety in your dog.

Be careful all the same that the meat remains the first ingredient and that the kibbles have a low grain content to respect the carnivorous diet of your dog. Light kibbles must have a high protein content to maintain your dog's muscle mass.

If you just reduce your dog's rations without changing kibbles, you risk starving him for not providing him with all the nutrients he needs.

Do I have to reduce the rations distributed?

Before reducing the amount of kibble, first check that the ration you are currently giving is correct. Indeed, it is necessary to give the ration recommended by the manufacturer for the weight of the form of your dog. For example, if your dog is 30 kg and he should be 25 kg you must take into account the ration indicated for a 25 kg dog and not that for a 30 kg dog.

If you give light kibble and you do not get results after several months, you can reduce the amount distributed. Also check that your light kibbles are sufficiently light in fat.

I feel like my dog ​​is still hungry. How to do?

I grant you, nothing worse than seeing her little eyes touching… But you have to hold on and stick to the recommended ration. We never said that dieting was easy!

Here are two tips to increase your dog's feeling of satiety:
- Add steamed green vegetables to the kibble ration to increase the fiber content of the ration and increase the overall volume in the bowl. They will have to be incorporated gradually to avoid digestive problems.
-  Split more meals. If you were only giving one meal, skip to 2 or even 3 meals.

Besides food, what else can I do to help him lose weight?

There is no secret, as for us, physical activity coupled with an adapted diet, allows to obtain the best results. There are many canine sports (can-cross, agility ...) which are a great way to maintain your dog's physique while sharing a moment of bond with him. But without necessarily doing canine sport, it is a question of increasing the daily physical exercise of your dog compared to its habits: to take a stroll of 45 mn instead of 30 mn, to play ball with him, take a swim ...

In this way, in addition to losing weight, your dog will also develop muscle mass and cardio.

How long will it take to see the effects?

You will have to wait at least 3 to 4 weeks to see the first effects after the implementation of the "light food + adapted rations + physical activity" program. Weight loss can take several months, so be patient! Do not hesitate to weigh your dog because it is not always easy to see the weight loss with the naked eye.

Can I give her treats?

Leftovers and treats are to be avoided in overweight dogs. There are nonetheless low-calorie treats but if your dog needs to lose a lot of weight it is not ideal to give treats in addition to kibble. You can, however, give her treats in the form of fruits or vegetables.

Even if this is not obvious, it is important to be careful with your dog's weight and not let the situation get worse. Your dog will be all the more fit.

I invite you to discover our products for sterilized low grain and grain-free dogs.