Tips for Shedding Pounds from Hounds
1. Feed less. Pooping more than twice a day usually means your dog is processing too much food and will not lose weight. The 1% bodyweight your dog lost over six months is not visible on my weight loss graph. It may be just the difference in weighing before and after urination. Feed less.
2. Choose a low-carb, excellent food.
3. Substitute freeze-dried meat treats instead of baked treats with wheat or corn.
4. Fill a begging stomach with low-sodium green beans and/or rice cakes, and other vegetables (no onions, grapes, or raisins). Adding a thin schmear of meat baby food (no onions) or butter to his rice cake can make a dog think his life is grand.
5. Don’t feed high-carb treats out of guilt because you don’t have time to hang out. Most dogs love green beans. Freeze-dried meats and rice cakes are crunchy fun for them (I asked them). They snap them up so quickly, they hardly know what they are. If they don’t like the treat you’re offering, fine. You are not trying to convince them to eat!
6. Change your behavior. When dogs beg for food, offer playtime and petting instead.
7. Consider using supplements or herbs to help with joint function and appetite. Seek good veterinary advice before trying them.
8. Have your vet do blood work to check thyroid function, which could reveal other problems relevant to diet and weight loss.