Podgy Pooches!

So although the title sounds quite cute, the reality is that overweight dog's are a very serious problem verging on an epidemic (and we don't want any more of those). Society shows us pictures in marketing on TV, in the media and used in advertising of dog's who are obese, which skews the perception of how our dog's should look. These pictures are even on vet websites and dog food packaging, so we are regularly bombarded with inappropriate representations of how our dog's should look! Overweight dogs are more prone to illness, injury and life-limiting disease.

As pet guardians we are responsible for the health and wellbeing of our dog, including whether they become obese or not! If our dog is overweight, WE are the direct cause of that so have to then be prepared to undo the damage we cause. Our dog's weight often also correlates to our own, which given the state of the world and our emotions over the past 2 years, it's not surprising most of us have put on a few pounds!!! However, we can advocate for ourselves and we can CHOOSE whether or not to eat that packet of biscuits or not; dogs cannot do this, are responsible for feeding and treating them so we force the weight on them. As a prime example, I am overweight and have a low will power when it comes to resisting chocolate, biscuits, sweets, cheese ... the list is extensive! However, my dog's are not overweight! This is because what I choose to eat is my choice, what my dog's get to eat is my responsibility - simple!

So what should your dog look like as apposed to the dog version of a seal or coffee table? Obviously there are certain shape differences that vary between breeds in terms of their conformation, but there are a couple of simple rules to consider that will apply irrespective of breed -

• When you look at your dog from the side, they should tuck up after their rib cage.

• Looking at your dog from above, they should nip in at the waist just after the rib cage.

• When you feel over your dog's chest, you should be able to comfortably feel their ribs without pushing!

Have a look at the image below as a clearer representation of what this looks like.

So now you know what your dog should look like, the next question is what should you feed them? With nutrition and diets there is no one size fits all rule! I am a big believer in that not every diet suits every dog and I always look at it from a perspective of getting the best balance of nutrition vs cost; the more expensive doesn't necessarily mean better! There is a fantastic website (www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk) that rates food out of 100 in term of nutrition alongside their cost per day for your size of dog!

Coming in highest is the complete raw food diets, most of which are rated 99/100 which is really pretty spectacular! Feeding a raw food diet is not the best option for all owners, and that is ok. Some people find it uncomfortable to deal with, there can be concerns over immunocompromised people coming into contact with the dogs, it can be cost prohibitive and some people just don't like it; for me personally it is just too expensive to raw feed 4 dogs!

Closely following this are a number of freeze-dried raw diets (97/100) which, especially from a storage perspective, are a great alternative. These can still be very pricey (again, outside of my budget!) but may be a good alternative to raw feeding for the majority of people, especially those who need something versatile and transportable!

Then we start to get the wet and dry dog foods making and entrance with the likes of Orijen (95), Edgard & Cooper (95), Butternut Box (94), Acana (94) and Forthglade (92). These are all fairly accessible diets with a fantastic nutrition rating, so there are many options to suit your dog's needs and tastes!

THEN we get to the bad side of the coin ... the foods that have next to no nutritional value and yet are incredibly popular! These diets also all have a negative impact on your dog's behaviour! Five of the lowest rated were all brands that I recognise and I see people feeding their dog's on a regular basis -

• Tesco Complete Adult Dry - 2/100

• Pedigree Small Dog Dry - 4/100

• Arkwrights - 12/100

• Bakers Adult - 17/100

• Skinners Field and Trial Maintenance - 25/100

I think (and hope) you will agree that those are absolutely horrifying ratings! You wouldn't choose to eat something yourself that has a nutritional rating of 2/100, so what benefit will it be to your dog? It is insufficient to maintain their bodies through growth, development, illness, life! All that is achieved is giving your dog excessive rubbish, whilst the produce excessive faeces, making their behaviour worse and wasting your money!

One diet that needs an honourable (negative) mention is Harringtons. Harringtons, although it has a nutritional rating of 54/100, does terrible things to dog's behaviour! I am unsure exactly why, whether it is due to a specific ingredient or how it is processed or digested, but every dog who I have seen on Harrington's has significantly improved on their behaviour since changing diet. Definitely one to be avoided!

Once you have worked out what you are going to feed, it is essential to consider how much you are going to feed. It is important to look at the package guidelines on the recommended amount for the size and age of your dog, but remember you are feeding for the size your dog should be, not necessarily the size that they are! So if your dog should be 15kg, but it actually 20kg, feed them for a 15kg dog. Most feeding guidelines give a range, so start somewhere in the range and if your dog loses weight (but doesn't need to) then increase it a little, or if they start to put weight on then adjust it down. Just because the packet states 'X' doesn't mean that suits your dog!

Having an overweight dog doesn't mean that they can never have treats again, it's more that we have to make some compromises, moderation and being sensible! If you are using lots of treats, reduce their diet further to account for the calories that you are supplying them on top. Consider using 'lighter' versions of your dog's favourite treats so that you are significantly reducing those calories too! Rather than processed treats, use more natural ones; rather than a dentastix, give your dog a carrot or rather than sausages that have a high fat content, use boiled chicken instead. From a dog's perspective it is about quality rather than quantity, so don't be afraid to chop those treats up really small, I promise you your dog won't notice!

All in all, we are our dog's advocates! We are responsible for ensuring they are of an appropriate weight and fed a nutritionally dense diet that is appropriate for their needs! This does not mean bankrupting yourself, it means looking into getting the best nutritionally balanced food that fits your budget. By ensuring your dog is a healthy weight and is getting the nutrients they need, you reduce the risk of illness and injury, leading to a longer and happier life for your dog!