*I am not a Veterinarian. All medical and health advice is given through my expertise as a pet owner and breeder, research, and personal experience.
Intro
Has your four-legged friend packed on a few extra pounds over the years? We all love spoiling our pets, but sometimes we go a little overboard. This is Reba’s story and the first part of her weight loss journey. She is a retired mom here at SCP, meaning retired from breeding. Her weight gain did not happen overnight, but slowly year after year a few pounds at a time. Pre-breeding (1-2 years old) she was around 50-55 lbs, and she topped out last month (6 years old) at 73 lbs! This is her weight loss guide.
Is My Dog Overweight?
Above is one of the easiest ways to identify if your pup is a little too hefty. You should be able to count your dog’s ribs without much difficulty. Another key identifier I have seen in Doodles is a thickening at the base of the tail aka Fat Reserves. Also, if you lift the tail up are there fat wrinkles on the body where it meets the tail? If so, it is time to lose some weight!
The Foundation-Food
It is well known that for human weight loss, diet and nutrition are the most important factors, in the cases there are not medical issues. So let’s get it right, but there are so many choices! We have regular kibble, prescription kibble, raw coated kibble, fresh/frozen cooked food, dehydrated raw food, and fresh/frozen raw food, and I am sure I am still leaving some out.
What I wanted in Reba’s Food:
Low to No Carbs
We all know what Carbs do to humans, pack on the pounds. In a moderately small amount, they are not “bad” for dogs, but I would much rather fuel with Protein and Fat.
High Protein/ High Fat
The best energy sources for canines. Less inflammatory than carbs.
Easily Digestible and Nutritiously Dense
The more nutrients the body can absorb from the food, the less the dog will have to consume.
Convenience
I do not want to be slaving over a stove for hours or having to grind meat down for example. :)
A Company with a Great Reputation
Obviously, I do not want to support a company I do not trust. Look up Recall History and Reputation.
My Choice
Frozen Raw Dog Food was my choice! Then, I had to decide if I wanted to do the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) diet or Whole Prey Model. BARF allows ingredients other than that from an animal (veggies, fruits, etc), whereas whole prey is typically 80% meat, 10% organs, and 10% bone. I decided BARF, great acronym by the way, would be the easiest to transition to from kibble. There is a great divide in the Raw community as to which is “better”.
The Company I Chose
Low to No Carbs
Carbs as fed 3-4%, as dry matter 12-13%, caloric contribution 9-10%
High Protein/ High Fat
As dry matter, 50% protein, 27% fat. Caloric contribution 90-91%
Easily Digestible and Nutritiously Dense
The hallmark of raw food. As least processed as you can get.
Convenience
Shipped to your house. In pre-portioned 8 oz packs.
A Company with a Great Reputation
I’ll give Darwin’s a B+ in this area. The one blemish is a recall of 3 batches of food in 2018 contaminated with Salmonella.
Darwin’s has a very easy website to order from, easy to set-up Auto-Ship, no delays in shipping so far, and all their nutritional information readily available. Am I married to them for life? No. I spent a good day researching and deciding on the company I wanted to choose and they came out on top. Another big factor is they are very economical compared to many other raw brands., some charging up to $10 a pound!
Raw Food Quick Hitters
Aren’t you worried about e. Coli, salmonella, bacteria, etc.? No. Dogs have shortened GI tracts and strong stomach acid that easily handles bacteria. Many dogs already have these bacteria living inside them with no problem, as it is mainly the overpopulation that causes the issues. The bigger risk is to humans. SO… the same way you handle raw chicken when you cook it, treat this food the same way. Wash your hands!
Is it gross? Sure, compared to dry kibble I would say it is “gross”. A dog chewing up raw meat isn’t as cute as crunching kibble. If they are messy eaters or do get it in their hair, use a wet paper towel/rag and wipe them off.
Does it stink? No, Darwin’s has kind of a grassy/mint smell.
Why don’t you feed your puppies raw? From a recent poll, only about 1/3 of people would even consider feeding their dog raw food. Transitioning a puppy from raw to kibble would result in a lot of upset GI and pups not wanting to eat.
How Much to Feed My Dog
I emailed Darwin’s and gave them Reba’s current weight, ideal weight, energy level, etc. and they recommended a feed amount. I also used a few other online raw food calculators and came up with one pound a day. This can be adjusted if your dog is acting lethargic, losing too much weight, or not losing enough weight.
Cost
A 50 lb dog eating one pound a day would average $5/day or $150/month. If you want the organic produce option, then $7/day or $210/month.
The Food Toppers
Organic Sea Kelp Powder
Benefits:
60 Immune Boosting Nutrients
Boosts metabolism and glandular function
High in Fiber
Reduce tartar buildup and dental plaque
Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil
Benefits:
Rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Skin and Coat Health
The Oil is more concentrated, but often I use the Drops to give some texture as a topper.
Treats and Chews!
NO Human Food! Well unless we are talking about steak, chicken, etc… No Carbs or Sugars!
Green Tripe Sticks!
A delicious crunchy treat pack full of Omega-3s and vitamins. Boosts energy and immune support, and dogs go crazy for it!
Bully Sticks!
Protein-Rich and supports healthy teeth and gums. Chewing is great mental stimulation for Pups!
pawTreats!
Freeze-Dried Raw, low calorie, limited ingredients. Breakable and Great for Training!
Exercise
Exercise is very much based off your Dog and what they want to do! Reba loves fetch, so we play fetch! If your dog likes to jog or go swimming, do that! The goal is to get the heart-rate up and burn calories!
For Reba, we play fetch 5 minutes a day, 2 or 3 sessions a day, 6 days a week. She sprints for the ball, so I know she is burning a lot of calories. She lets me know when to stop by laying down, instead of bringing me the ball. Haha! We also go on short walks, and if we hit a plateau on the weight loss we will increase our walks in length and speed!
Summary
Basically, get the nutrition right, do any exercise, and work from there! Reba has lost over 3 lbs in 4 weeks, which is 5% of her initial body weight! Good Luck! Look for a Blog Update in a Month! Meanwhile, follow Reba at @ReducingReba on Instagram!
Sources
https://www.guidedogs.org/blog/ask-vet-preventing-dog-obesity/