Have you taken a good look at your CBF (canine best friend) lately? Is he starting to look…um…a little chubby? Unfortunately, obesity in domestic pets is on the rise in the United States, just as it is for humans. (FYI, yours truly is plowing my way through a bag of kettle corn as I’m writing this.) Obesity can lead to a number of health problems in your dog, including a shortened lifespan.

So how do you determine if your dog is overweight? First of all, what breed (or predominant breed if he’s mixed) is he? Obviously, a breed such as a Greyhound or another sighthound type should have a leaner, sleeker build than a Rottweiler or another stocky, heavy-boned breed, so this is one factor to consider. Next, have your dog stand up while you stand over him and look directly down at him. You should see a definite inward curve where his waistline is located. The hipbones should be visible but not sticking out. If you run your hand over his hips, you should be able to feel the hip and thigh muscles easily.

Next, while he is still in a standing position, sit on the floor next to him (unless he’s up on a table) and observe him from the side. Again, you should see a definite upward tuck in the abdominal area. Run your hands over his ribcage. You should be able to feel his ribs without having to push through a padding of fat. If you run your hand down his spine, you should be able to feel the vertebrae easily (but they should not be sticking up). A hint: if your dog is extra-furry or has a really thick coat, it’s easier to perform these observations when he’s wet. I speak from personal experience as our Golden Retriever, Cosmo, has fur akin to sheep’s wool–thick and VERY dense. He looks much heavier than he actually is…until he’s been swimming. Then he looks like an oversized skinny drowned rat.)

So you’ve performed these observations, and you have determined that your pup is living a little too high on the hog (pardon the expression). What do you do next? The best first thing to do is to consult your veterinarian to ensure that there are no medical reasons for the pudginess. Some breeds are susceptible to a condition called ‘hypothyroidism’, which an underactive thyroid. The thyroid gland, which is located in the throat, is one of the body’s ‘master glands’ that controls a number of functions, including metabolism. Individuals with hypothyroidism have difficulty losing weight, along with other symptoms, such as an intolerance to cold, and dry, brittle nails and hair.

Other diseases such as Cushing’s disease can cause a saggy abdomen due to weakened muscles, so although your dog may look portly, he really isn’t. Once your vet has ruled out any medical reasons for the obesity, you probably need to look at changing what you feed your dog and gradually increasing his exercise. (I said ‘gradually’ because if your dog is a couch potato, attempting to morph him into an Olympic athlete is not going to happen overnight, and, just like a human ‘armchair quarterback’ who decides to become a weekend warrior, too much of a good thing too soon is, well, too much.) Also, many overweight dogs develop joint problems such as arthritis from the strain of moving all that extra weight around. If you are feeding your dog an inexpensive supermarket kibble, this may have led in part to his weight problem, since these types of foods are loaded with way more starches and carbohydrates than your dog can utilize, plus most of these ingredients are from low-quality sources. Some of these foods actually contain salt and sugar as well as lots of artificial stuff–not good for helping your dog get to and maintain a healthy normal weight. (I remember when our neighbors were told by their vet to get their English bulldog’s weight down. So they starting feeding her Purina Fit ‘n’ Trim and wondered why she didn’t lose any weight. She actually GAINED weight because this food had less nutritional value than what she had been eating, so she needed to eat MORE to get the nutrition.)

The best things to feed your dog are fresh veggies and meat (preferably organic) that you could mix with a high-quality dry food or reconstituted raw food such as products from The Honest Kitchen. (Please see my article from 8/27/14 about what is really in your dog’s food.) Also, if you’ve gotten in the habit of giving your CBF a treat every time he turns those sad starving-puppy eyes to you, he’s got you well-trained–and you need to factor the treats into your dog’s daily amount of food. You might want to change the type of treat you’re giving him as well. Although those little sausage-shaped doggie treats at the supermarket are awfully appealing to both you and your dog, they are junk food of the worst kind, with absolutely no nutritional value whatsoever.

Still can’t resist those eyes? Give him a healthy treat instead. Many dogs love crunchy veggies and fruits such as carrots and apples. My two LOVE tomatoes and bell peppers! Not only do these types of snacks provide a nutritional punch, they’re easier on the budget. (Just don’t give him corn. Although most dogs love it because it’s sweet, there isn’t enough nutritional value–plus, they don’t digest it very well. I have picked up many ‘recycled’ corn kernels in my back yard.) And as always, make sure he has plenty of clean, fresh, cool water to drink.

Here’s my personal experience story…you have read about my 9-year-old male Golden Retriever, Cosmo. Cosmo and his little Border Collie-mix sister, Tara, both enjoy an organic, semi-raw, semi-homemade diet on a daily basis which includes fresh raw veggies and meat. I change these each time I have to purchase more, because dogs need a variety of foods for balanced nutrition. (Right now, they’re eating cabbage and beef.) Cosmo looks fantastic for an older dog–in fact, if it weren’t for the fur on his face slowly turning white, you would never know that he is as old as he is. At 63 pounds, he is actually slightly underweight (no small achievement as Goldens tend to be on the porky side), with no joint problems, and plenty of energy to keep up with little sister Tara.

There is a Labrador Retriever in our neighborhood who is the same age as Cosmo and the same height, but outweighs him by about 30 pounds. He has arthritis in at least one of his legs, walks very slowly, and huffs and puffs like a steam engine when he walks–which isn’t nearly as far as Cosmo can because the Lab has far less stamina. When weather permits, Cosmo and Tara will walk for at least 2 hours. The Lab walks for about 6 blocks on a good day and actually kind of resembles a furry propane tank with legs. This dog gets a particular treat daily which almost certainly has contributed to his weight issue. The treat is called Frosty Paws and is a type of ‘doggie ice cream’. Dogs love it, but it is pure junk food. I actually used to give it to Cosmo (Tara has never had it), but his weight started going up, so he no longer gets Frosty Paws.

Instead, Cosmo and Tara get a frozen treat called Ice Pups, which is made by The Honest Kitchen. It’s a powder consisting of dehydrated raw turkey, chicken, watercress, parsley, asparagus, honey, and whey. You just whisk the powder together with approximately 1 cup of warm water until it’s completely dissolved, then pour into an ice-cube tray and freeze. Cosmo and Tara each get 2 cubes for dessert after dinner. Although it sounds like they’re eating gravel, they LOVE Ice Pups–and they’re so much better for them!

Feed your CBF a high-quality diet and include daily exercise and you’ll have him trimmed down in no time!