Feeding an Overweight Dog

I think the only way to handle this situation would be to switch to twice-a-day feedings instead of leaving the food out all day long. At the beginning your pets will skip a meal or two not expecting the bowls to be lifted after just 15 minutes, but by the third or fourth day they will get with the program. Although nibbling all day long is a very healthy way of eating, it does not allow you to determine who eats what and how much each dog consumes. By controlling when they eat you can put your overweight dog on a reduced quantity or reduced calorie diet or both while allowing the other one to eat the same food as before.

When you start this new feeding system, create separate "stations" for each dog and stay with them for the entire period that the food bowls are out. You will have to stand guard and keep them from moving to each other's bowls. If this is impossible, feed them in separate rooms. If all of the food has not been consumed, discard what's left and start with fresh food at the next feeding.

To help your overweight dog shed some pounds, you might need to change his eating habits--either what or how much he consumes. If you change the quantity of food you give him, make the reduction slowly, over the course of a week or two. If you alter the type of food, mix the new one with the old for at least one week, gradually reducing the amount of old and increasing the amount of new. This will help your dog accept the new food and reduce the chance of his stomach getting upset with a sudden change in diet.

It would also be a good idea to increase your overweight dog's exercise by making him walk double his normal amount or enrolling him in a dog run or play group. If your pet's health doesn't permit heavy exercise, then changing his diet will be the only tool you have to slim him down.

Be careful to watch how many treats you give to your dieter, as some people tend to overdo the cookie thing. Dogs on diets should only receive snacks of carrot sticks, green beans or diet cookies--all in limited quantities. People tend to feel guilty about the lack of attention their pets receive while they're at work and make up for it with food. These pet owners would do far better devoting more time to play and keep in mind that it's not a bad thing for their pets to be hungry for parts of the day.

Dr. Peter Kross, DVM, has had his own veterinary practice, the Rivergate Veterinary Clinic in New York City, since 1989. He lives in Manhattan with his three white boxers, Buchanan, Wilhelmina and Laila.