Have you noticed your dog seems a little plumper this winter? Unless you have a dog that loves to be out in the cold… and you do too, your dog might be suffering from some winter weight gain. And based on biology, it’s only natural.
In our climate, dogs require a little more fat in their diet to stay warm. But if their calories increase and their activity decreases, the same thing happens to them that happens to us, they gain some weight.
So what do you do if they seem hungrier and want more food? My two dogs are different in this area. Bailey is a grazer and never seems to over eat. However Sophie the French Bulldog can be a little pig with an endless appetite. So she is the one I have to watch. And on top of her food desire increasing, she’s not a big snow bunny so I have to force her to take a walk.
What can do you do to keep your dogs from gaining unhealthy weight this winter?
Cut back on the treats.
My dogs think every time I walk by the treat jar, they should get one. I have cut back so now they only get a treat when they go outside. But I have increased things that reward them without adding calories like yak chews and hard bones. It keeps them busy without adding more food into their diet.
Monitor their calories.
A big dog that’s plays outside or walks a lot, could actually end up needing more calories in the winter. But if you have smaller dogs or an elderly dog that takes fewer and shorter walks in the winter, cut back on the calories. You can switch to a low cal food, or cut back the portion size and mix in fresh veggies like green beans to make up for the “missing food”.
Get more exercise.
When it’s really cold, it’s hard to get out and walk or even play in the backyard for any length of time. I throw the ball down the steps to my basement for Bailey. He chases it and gets in a lot of running. I tried to teach them to walk on a treadmill and was only mildly successful. But I know a lot of dog owners that have done it and it’s a great way for them to get in needed steps. The key, just get them up and moving. Find some new toys, play more inside catch…. whatever it takes to keep them off the couch.
Keep them hydrated.
Winter is dry and since it’s cool, dogs do not overheat. So they might not drink enough water therefore, it important an eye on water consumption. Water is essential to a healthy dog.
