Food

I was in email correspondence with someone who took a dog and a pup from me last year. He was giving me their weights and showing me photos. Both dogs were overweight.

Excess weight shortens a dog’s life and leads to early onset of osteoarthritis (as well as other diseases). It requires more effort to get weight taken off the older they get. So, try to get your dogs to ideal weight early and continue on.

Portioning is most important. I know it is a challenge not to oblige the dog who asks for more. We love our pets and kids, and food is love …but not too much.

Then comes selecting the right food. I got a stern talking to about the head of nutrition at a leading veterinary school for feeding what the professor of nutrition called a ’boutique diet’. I was told to stick to the big three manufacturers who have staff nutritionists to oversee the formulations.

For adult dogs, I recommend Hill’s Science Diet Adult, no corn/wheat/soy formulation. It is a highly palatable food with more of the good stuff and less of the not-so-good stuff. Available without prescription practically anywhere that sells quality food. It will help keep your dog at an ideal weight.

There is a similar Hill”s Science Diet formulation for older dogs that I recommend as well.

And there is a puppy formulation I use for the first 3 months before switching over to an alt. formulation.

After 3 months and until 12 months, I switch to Holistic Select Large Breed Puppy, a lamb, chicken and oatmeal based formulation with no corn, meat by-products, artificial colors, flavors, fillers or preservatives.

Exercise is important to maintaining a healthy weight, but comes second to diet and portioning.