Like most owners, you probably spend a great deal of time caring for your pup. You exercise them, buy them toys, brush their fur and give them treats. But despite our best efforts, many dogs still end up leaning on the heavier side. In fact, canine obesity is reaching epidemic levels.
Factors such as age, exercise, and mental health certainly play a role. However, nothing has a stronger impact on weight than diet. While the regular bag of kibble or canned food might be the norm, it’s not what dogs are meant to eat. Find out why with the following do’s and don’ts for keeping your dog at a healthy weight.
Don’t Feed Processed Food
Starch-heavy, carbohydrate-laden diets are a significant contributor to the current obesity problem among today’s dogs. Many pet parents unknowingly overfeed, but quantity is often less of a problem than quality. Dry diets – even if they’re free of grains – can’t be free of carbs. That’s because starch is necessary to form the shape and texture of kibble.
Take a look at the label on any processed dog food. You’ll see sweet potato, chickpeas, lentils, and other sources of starch, which breaks down into sugar for energy. What doesn’t get burned turns into fat. This is problematic when most kibble is between 30% and 60% carbohydrates. Dogs are not meant to eat them.
Do Treat Sparingly
The occasional treat is acceptable, as long as they don’t make more than 10% of your dog’s daily food intake. Keep them for training and behaviour rewards. Better yet, stick to homemade treats like bone broth and suitable fruits.
Do Feed Natural Food
It should come as no surprise that your dog thrives on food that comes directly from nature. This includes animal protein and plants that are high in moisture, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. In other words, the exact opposite of dry pet food, especially kibble.
A quality diet of raw food will keep your pup’s weight and overall health in check better than anything else. The key is to meet their nutritional requirements by providing the right balance of nutrients. Homemade options can be a headache to purchase and prepare on a daily basis, not to mention all the calculations to ensure the right balance.
A great solution is to consider a dog food delivery service such as Bella and Duke. They can put together a custom meal plan based on your dog’s individual characteristics. Each meal is frozen and sent through their dog food delivery service at no additional cost, saving you time and effort.
Don’t Free Feed
Instead of providing a daily all-you-can-eat buffet, consider using a method such as time-restricted feeding.
This way, you aren’t changing your dog from a carnivorous hunter into a grazer, which obviously goes against their nature. And with kibble, it chronically elevates their blood sugar, leading to countless health issues. Aim for an 8-12 hour fasting window and avoid feeding within two hours of bedtime.
Keep these tips in mind moving forward and your dog will reach a healthy weight in no time.
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