Sometimes you will hear people say…he’s just a little chubby, or he really doesn’t eat that much…and besides he’s cute! Yes, he is a cutie, but is he overweight?
We sit down to eat...and there they are those big cute begging eyes! I am sure you may think a little bit of this…and a little bit of that won’t hurt him. But do you really know what table food does to your dog? Combining table food, treats and lack of exercise are all factors in making your dog fat, which can cause health problems.
While an extra 10 pounds on the average person can be a bit uncomfortable, for a normal 40-pound dog the excess could put it 25 percent over its ideal weight.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says, Obesity is an extremely common problem in pets and, as with humans, can be detrimental to the health of a dog. The overweight pet has many added stresses upon his body and is at an increased risk of diabetes, liver problems and joint pain.
Kale Chips, the once-obese beagle taken in by a Chicago
animal rescue organization, was listed Thursday as being ready for adoption
after losing 23 pounds.
"He's still quite overweight, but the difference in
his body shape and energy level is amazing," Heather Owen, the executive
director of One Tail at a Time, told NBC Chicago in a statement.
The pup weighed in at a whopping 85 pounds when he was
transferred from Chicago Animal Care & Control to One Tail in early
January. Since then, he was put in with a foster family who monitored his diet
and gave him regular exercise.
Owen said Kale Chips could "barely walk 10 feet"
at the start of his program but can now walk up to a half mile per day. The dog
has lost 23 pounds since the start of his regimen and has about another 25
pounds to lose before he's within his ideal weight range.
The ideal forever home for Kale Chips would be one in the
Chicago area where he can continue on his weight-loss program.
He gets along well with other dogs and cats, but would
prefer no energetic children, One Tail said. Kale Chips has an
"enthusiastic" bark and would do best in a single-family home with
people who are home often to spend time with him.
Those interested in potentially adopting Kale Chips should
contact One Tail at a Time .
The organization has posted photos and a video to Facebook
documenting Kale Chips' transformation.
Our dogs are social creatures and love to eat. So, when your family gathers for dinner,
there’s nothing more that combines a dog’s dual love of being social and eating
your food! However, even though your dog
want to join you in the festivities, there's nothing fun or amusing about a
dinner dominated by whining and pawing from under the table. And if this bother you, it is better to get
the ‘table begging’ under control sooner rather than later.
Table begging can be harmful to your dogs
Table begging is more than just an annoyance. It can be potentially harmful to your dog.
Dogs who are frequently fed at the table can suffer any of the following
problems:
Obesity, choking on bones, hyperactivity and anxiety and
even seizures: A possible result if chocolate, which contains theobromine, is
consumed, and bad behavior.
Table begging needs to end before it begins
Dogs beg at the table because we let them and it only takes
one time for the habit to begin. Unfortunately, attention-getting behaviors
like begging don't have to be indulged often to become a bad habit. The most
effective way to get a dog to stop begging at the table is to completely ignore
him, a task that's often easier said than done. This means not talking to the
animal or even making eye contact. By scolding your dog, it scares them and
engages them. They might not understand the difference.
Teach your dog to go to specific spot when you eat dinner
Try teaching your dog to go to a designated spot, usually a
bed or a mat, and stay there. This skill can be useful in a variety of other
situations, too. If you’re watching a movie with friends and you’d like your
dog to occupy herself for a while, you can ask her to go to her spot and chew a
bone. If your dog jumps up on people when they come to the door, you can ask
her to go to her spot whenever the doorbell rings and wait there to greet
visitors. If you take your dog somewhere with you, you can bring her bed or mat
and have her settle on it when you need her to be calm and quiet. Leave a chew bone or toy there to keep your
dog occupied and distracted.
Your dog’s table begging will get worse before it get better
Expect your dog's begging to get worse before it gets
better. If whining at a low volume doesn't result in food, he'll think he isn't
trying hard enough and turn it up and start howling. As unpleasant as this may
be for a few days, stand firm. Eventually, your dog will realize that his
efforts no longer work.
However, if you train your dog consistently, you should see
positive results within several weeks. Consistency is the key. Even one tiny
snack from the table here and there can erase everything you've worked so hard
to achieve. Even the smallest morsel can turn a trained dog back to a begging
dog! And make sure all family members
and dinner guests understand what you're doing and why you're doing it, so no
one sneaks your dog a treat when they think you're not looking.
Here are a few more tips to stop your dog from begging:
Feed your dog at the same time you eat. If your dog is
enjoying his own food, he can't beg for yours.
Give him something else to do. Try sticking some healthy
treats stuffed in a few Kong toys so he'll have something to play with while
you eat.
If your dog has been crate-trained, place him in his crate
to prevent him from begging at the table. But, the goal is to have your dog
nearby and not begging, so this would only be on a trial basis.
Take your dog for a long walk just before dinner. If the dog
is worn out, the intensity of the begging behavior will decrease. Tired dogs are better behaved dogs.
You can still feed your dog human food at the correct time
Some people worry that feeding their dogs’ human food
(anything except dog food and treats made for dogs) will encourage begging at
the table. But when teaching a dog new skills or treating certain behavior
problems, using treats like small pieces of chicken, cheese or beef can
accelerate the training process. Luckily, dogs can learn very specific rules.
It’s okay to give your dog foods you eat, too. Just avoid feeding your dog from
the table so your pup learns that she never gets human food in that context.
Do you know your pet's weight? Use this healthy weight calculator to find out if your pet is at their ideal weight.
Obesity in pets is common in many countries. Rates of overweight and obesity in dogs in the United States ranges from 23% to 41% with about 5.1% obese. Rates of obesity in cats was slightly higher at 6.4%.[1] In Australia, the rate of obesity among dogs in a veterinary setting has been found to be 7.6%. The risk of obesity in dogs but not cats is related to whether or not their owners are obese.
To check your pet's weight, click here:Calculator
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