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Obesity in DogsJackie Drakeford |
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Obesity in dogs
is a growing problem for a number of reasons. First, the obvious, too
much food and too little exercise. Second, the widespread feeding of
cereal-based foods. Amounts quoted by petfood manufacturers for daily
feeding err on the generous, for the original research was apparently based
on figures for livestock fattening.
It is easy enough to tell by eye when a dog is putting on weight and a finger on the ribcage will confirm whether any alteration needs to be made in its daily feeding.
Strangely when all that is needed is a small change in the dog bowl and more time spent, in taking the dog out, many people prefer to consult a vet. And even more unfortunately, seeing a market, dog food manufacturers have designed a variety of "diet foods". Now the drug manufacturers have joined in and created a slimming drug for dogs. It would be funny if it were not so worrying.
Nowadays, many people tend to want a quick fix and are more used to delegating responsibility than accepting it. While keeping a dog at the right weight is hardly complicated, it does require a little effort and application, and it is so much easier to pop the dog a pill or feed it something designed not to nourish. It is also easier to claim that they cannot resist feeding the dog extras when it begs instead of training it not to scrounge in the first place, and almost anything is less effort than taking the dog for more walks. Outside the working dog world, it is becoming rare to see dogs at their proper weight, and so people do not always realise that their dog's health is being compromised for the want od some small changes in husbandry.
It is easy enough to tell by eye when a dog is putting on weight and a finger on the ribcage will confirm whether any alteration needs to be made in its daily feeding.
Strangely when all that is needed is a small change in the dog bowl and more time spent, in taking the dog out, many people prefer to consult a vet. And even more unfortunately, seeing a market, dog food manufacturers have designed a variety of "diet foods". Now the drug manufacturers have joined in and created a slimming drug for dogs. It would be funny if it were not so worrying.
Nowadays, many people tend to want a quick fix and are more used to delegating responsibility than accepting it. While keeping a dog at the right weight is hardly complicated, it does require a little effort and application, and it is so much easier to pop the dog a pill or feed it something designed not to nourish. It is also easier to claim that they cannot resist feeding the dog extras when it begs instead of training it not to scrounge in the first place, and almost anything is less effort than taking the dog for more walks. Outside the working dog world, it is becoming rare to see dogs at their proper weight, and so people do not always realise that their dog's health is being compromised for the want od some small changes in husbandry.
reprinted with kind permission from Alastair Balmain
Deputy Editor:Shooting Times & Country Magazine
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Tel: 020 3148 4750
Deputy Editor:Shooting Times & Country Magazine
Blue Fin Building, 110 Southwark Street SE1 0SU
Tel: 020 3148 4750