| W |
Eromit Labrador Retrievers
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Ideal Body Condition
| Website, photo and contents copyright of Kinderdoggin (c) 2008. Website Design by Kinderdoggin Web Design. Suggestions? Comments? Report broken links to the webmaster. |
We all know on average, as humans, we don't eat enough vegetables, or drink enough water. We know
that fast food is not good for us, but we eat it anyway. We can make these choices for ourselves.
Unfortunately, our dogs do not have the ability to make these same choices - they eat what we feed them.
So, as a responsible dog owner, it is up to us to figure out what is best for each of our dogs to eat.
Before I go much further into this discussion, please note that my advice and opinions are not intended
to replace the opinions of canine nutrition experts. The knowledge I have accumulated on dog feeding
has come from my own personal research, education in the fields of animal science and biology, and
experience feeding elite canine athletes. However, whenever you are considering changing or
manipulating your dog's diet, I encourage you to check out as many sources as possible. The article is
directed towards Lab owners, but the information can be universally applied to all dog breeds. Each dog
is an individual and it is important to consider allergies, medical conditions, body condition and activity
level, and their influence on proper diet.
that fast food is not good for us, but we eat it anyway. We can make these choices for ourselves.
Unfortunately, our dogs do not have the ability to make these same choices - they eat what we feed them.
So, as a responsible dog owner, it is up to us to figure out what is best for each of our dogs to eat.
Before I go much further into this discussion, please note that my advice and opinions are not intended
to replace the opinions of canine nutrition experts. The knowledge I have accumulated on dog feeding
has come from my own personal research, education in the fields of animal science and biology, and
experience feeding elite canine athletes. However, whenever you are considering changing or
manipulating your dog's diet, I encourage you to check out as many sources as possible. The article is
directed towards Lab owners, but the information can be universally applied to all dog breeds. Each dog
is an individual and it is important to consider allergies, medical conditions, body condition and activity
level, and their influence on proper diet.
Nestle, at left, in Ideal Body Condition, even after whelping a recent litter. Notice the abdominal tuck. Keeping your dog in good shape will help them live a longer, happier, and healthier life! |
1) Labs have insatiable appetites. Labs are not fussy - they will eat anything, and everything that you feed them, and they will often
ask for more.
2) Labs have big, sad, brown eyes that many owners can not resist giving into - even if they KNOW their dog has already eaten.
3) Labs, as sporting dogs, are bred and designed to be able to hunt all day long. When they are not exercising at this rate, they will
gain weight like crazy. Most pet owners do not exercise their dogs nearly as often or as vigorously as was intended by the breed's
design.
4)The current trend in the conformation ring is the presentation of big, beefy Labs - because people see these beefcakes winning,
they believe that a Lab should look this way.
5) Veterinarians are often not gutsy enough to tell pet owners when their dog is overweight- because many people have weight
issues, they tend to be overly sensitive about their dog's weight as well. Unfortunately, vets feel that they risk offending the owner
and losing their patronage if they tell you that your dog is too fat.
Whether your dog is an elite canine athlete, or the most beloved of house pets, it is crucial that your dog be maintained at his ideal
body condition, or as close to it as possible, for his entire life. It is entirely too common today to see dogs that are not only
overweight, but obese. Remember that your dog depends on you to make judgements about his lifestlye - most dogs will eat
whatever you give them, so please don't rely on his judgement to tell you when enough is enough.
Just like with people, a dog's numerical weight isn't as important as his or her proportion of body fat. For example, Nestle's body
weight will range from 53 pounds during times of relative inactivity, to 58 pounds when she has reached her peak condition. Her
percentage of body fat is the same (ideal) at both weights, but her muscle mass increases when she is more active, accounting for
the extra weight. If I allowed Nestle's weight to remain at 58 pounds year round, she would look like a blimp during the less active
portions of the year, compared to the preferred lean muscle mass at peak times. In summary, don't base your dog's body condition
on how much he weighs- or how much his breed is supposed to weigh. Do your homework and learn to determine your dog's
visible body score - and then feed and exercise him so that he is as close to ideal as possible.
So what does the ideal body condition of a dog look like? Basically, you should be able to feel the dog's ribs under a light layer of fat
- but you shouldn't be able to see them. When looking down over your dog, you should be able to see it's waist, and from the side
you should witness abdominal tuck. Check out this link for a visual guide from Purina. Remember, a greyhound in ideal condition
will look significantly different than a Bullmastiff in ideal condition, due to their differing bone structure. But gliding your hands over
the ribcage will feel the same in ideally conditioned dogs of both breeds.
So now you know a bit about what a healthy dog looks and feels like, and you are wondering why you need to worry about your dog's
body condition. Here are my reasons:
1) Overweight dogs have shortened lifespans.
2) Puppies that are overweight can incur severe damage to their joints, and may be especially at risk for conditions such as hip
dysplasia.
3) Dogs that are overweight are sick more often, injured more often, and more prone to ongoing illnesses such as diabetes.
4) A dog cannot perform in competitions safely, or anywhere near it's maximum potential, if it is overweight.
Here are some helpful tips to remember:
- The 'recommended amount' of feed on your dog food bag is often too much
- Most dogs, unless they participate in extremely gruelling activities such as dog sled racing or field trials, should be fed a
'maintenance' type diet, NOT a 'performance' or 'high-energy' variety - A small amount of good quality dog food will do your dog a lot more good (and will help him or her feel fuller) than a larger
amount of grocery-store brand kibble - Healthy, fat-free treats include celery, carrots, or apple slices - use very small treats for training rewards (I like soft cat treats
such as Purina Luv) - Although a walk through the neighbourhood is good stimulation for you and your dog, as well as an excellent opportunity to
get fresh air and some one -on- one time, it does not really count as exercise for medium and large breed dogs. Walking
just isn't enough!
Whether or not your dog is athlete should not have any effect on how fat you allow him to become. Dogs that are not active are
already at risk of developing serious health problems - do not compound this by adding obesity to his list of risk factors. If your dog
is overweight, do NOT allow him to engage in vigorous physical activity right away. First, consult with your canine nutritionist to work
on a diet plan, and as your dog loses weight, you may gradually increase the intensity of his workouts.
For more information on the risks of obesity in dogs, read this study by Purina.
