weight loss

Keep your pet on a high protein diet - EVO Small Red Meat Bits is a great dog food with 42% Crude Protein and 22% Crude Fat or Solid Gold "Barking At The Moon" is also a great choice. It has high protein, and it is grain free (41% Protein). Also, you might want to consider looking into different dog parks in your area that may accommodate your lifestyle and your pet. Since you are considering moving into an apartment, you need to make sure your pet is getting exercise. We have several off leash dog parks in the area where I live and it has become a lifesaver for us since we work the majority of the day and our doggets bored and even worse, she doesn't get any exercise. Try your best to limit treats and don't feed table scraps although I know it's tempting.

I think an expectation of your dog losing 15 pounds or close to it in a month's time is setting an unhealthy goal. That is about 27% of her current body weight. That would be like setting a goal for a person who weights 140 pounds to lose 39 pounds in one month! Try to cut back on food (and be careful with the kind of food you are feeding) and increase exercise, but please make changes slowly and let your dog gradually get to a healthy weight. Best of luck!

The best way to lose weight is no different for a dog than it is for us. More exercise ...........less food. There are good lite dog foods out there and nice long walk is good for everyone. I just wish I could practice what I preach.

I agree, protein, protein, protein. Get a high quality food, like EVO if you are feeding kibble. Forget the ones marked light or weight loss. You will have better results with high protein foods. We changed a shelters cat diet from the light formula to high protein kibble and it is amazing how much weight she lost. Good luck to you. Remember, protein, protein, protein!!

Protein, protein, protein. Get some canned fish (mackerel, salmon, tuna, sardines) and mix with green beans. The weight will drop off. No treats! Absolutely NO carbs! Remember, dogs are not vegetarians in the wild--they eat meat and you never see an obese wolf. ;-)

I would add that we have successfully "dieted" very overweight dogs at our Shelter by giving them cheap canned (no salt) green beans, with 3 of 4 cups of dry food each day. They get the nutrients, but not so much of the starch in the dry food, I guess. But they have lost weight, and are getting svelte and seem much healthier and happier, if a dog can be happy at a shelter!

Aran needed to lose weight too. We started taking her for longer walks, played with her more, and we give her light food and light treats which has less fat. When it comes to table scrapes, she only gets boiled chicken breast. Ok, I'll admit it, I cook her chicken breast so she can have a special treat. She lost almost two pounds. Good luck and remember, you are doing this because you love your dog.

Just like you would do if you went on a diet, increase exercise to burn calories and decrease caloric intake. You can feed fruits and veggies to keep her from starving since many times dogs will start to steal food because they are hungry. Remember, less is more.

Get your dog to be more active. Take her on longer walks, get on a bike and let her run next to you. Play with her for an extra 30 minutes.

Also, you should control her food. That means no auto feeder where she can get how much she wants all day.

Give her one cup of food in the morning and one in the evening.

These tips should help thin her down.

Exercise is really important, and so is portion control. A big dog that's overweight should get a cup of food in the morning and one at night, and no table scraps!