When Redditor Badoo545 (all photos of Zeus courtesty of Badoo545) got his dog Zeus back after an extended period of time, he was shocked to discover just how much weight Zeus had gained. Clocking in at 22 pounds, it was clear that Zeus was being indulged with treats a little too much.
Zeus was a well-loved member of Badoo545’s family, and he knew that the excess weight would shorten the little guy’s life. He decided to help Zeus get back to a normal weight so that Zeus would be healthier and more comfortable.
In his startling transformation, Zeus lost over 10 pounds and is continuing to slim down to a healthier size.
How He Did It
Let’s face it—dogs definitely notice when their portion size is smaller. Part of why it is so hard to get them to lose weight is that they pester you so much for more food. Badoo’s trick was to get an automatic feeder and split the feedings into 4 helpings instead of the usual 2.
This kept Zeus from feeling too hungry, because the next meal was much sooner than usual. He gradually reduced how much Zeus was eating to a mere ¾ of a cup—relatively close to the optimal amount he should be fed.
Badoo also changed to higher protein food and treats with fewer carbs and began walking the dog for longer and longer as Zeus was better able to keep up. They now walk about a mile each day.
In total, it took 8 months to reach a much slimmer 12.5 pounds.
There’s still room for more weight loss, but when Badoo first started the weight loss journey Zeus could hardly waddle a few steps. Now, he’s playful and acting young again with his new lease on life.
How To Tell If Your Dog Needs to Lose Weight
In the case of Zeus, it was pretty obvious he was a chunky monkey. Sometimes, however, it’s not obvious your pet needs to lose weight. A good rule of thumb is to look at your dog from above. Do they have a nice hourglass figure? Or are they more like a loaf?
If they don’t have a distinct waistline, chances are they could stand to lose a bit of weight. Another way to check is to see if they have a distinct tuck up when viewed in profile. If you can’t see their body getting thinner towards their hind legs, that’s also a sign weight loss may be needed.
When your dog isn’t an obvious barrel (or skeleton) it’s sometimes easier to do this by touch. If you can’t see your dogs ribs but can easily feel them, that’s a good sign that your pup is in good health. If you really have to press in to feel them, it might be time to lose a few pounds.
If you’re not sure, you can usually get a free body scale done on your dog by a vet. Simply bring your dog in and ask for an assessment. They will give you a number of either 1-5 (with 3 being ideal weight) or 1-9 (with 5 being ideal weight) to help you understand where your dog’s weight is.
Even if you think your dog’s weight is fine, it’s good to ask the vet anyway. A recent survey conducted by Ollie revealed that while 60% of dogs in the USA are overweight, the same number (60%) also believe their dog is in good weight.
There’s clearly a disconnect here. At least 20% of those owners have a dog who is overweight, but think their dog looks normal. Getting a vet’s assessment can help you figure out where your pet stands, just in case you’re one of the 20% who aren’t aware of their dog’s need for weight loss.
Why a Healthy Weight is Important
Obesity doesn’t just mean your dog is a little plumper, it also means that their lives will be shorter. According to one study that measured the lifespans of over 50,000 different pets, as well as their weights, being obese can shorten a pups life by as much as 2 ½ years.
Obesity is also a factor in a number of other chronic diseases in dogs, including:
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Hypertension
- Heart disease
- Urinary Bladder Stones
The good news is that your chihuahua’s health can be improved with as little as a 6% reduction in weight. With chihuahuas being so small, losing even a single ounce of unnecessary weight can reduce your dog’s risk of cancer, make it easier for them to get up and down steps, and protect their vulnerable hearts.
It’s very important to help keep your pet a healthy weight.
How to Help Your Pet Lose Weight
The strategy Badoo used for Zeus is a good one. Badoo gradually reduced the amount of food Zeus received so that Zeus was getting fewer calories overall. He fed the dog more times throughout the day with an automatic feeder, and swapped treats for healthier options.
If you currently free feed your pet, swapping to controlled portion sizes is the first and most practical step. Talk to your vet about a good amount, because the recommendations on the back of the package can often lead to overfeeding.
Limit treats and replace high calorie options with lower calorie options. A few examples of good low-calorie options include:
- Blueberries
- Green beans
- Broccoli
- Charlie Bears
Increasing exercise is another way you can help your pet lose weight. Sometimes, this can be quite challenging for the dog, especially if they already have mobility issues. If they’re unable to walk very well, breaking their meal up into small portions and offering them in bowls a distance apart can encourage the dog to walk more.
Walks also don’t have to be long to be effective. If the dog can only manage to walk to the end of the driveway (or for an apartment, perhaps the hall leading to the elevator) then make that the length of their walk.
Work up to walking that length several times a day, with rests in between, before advancing to longer walks. Exercise need not be arduous journeys of many miles, but some movement is beneficial for your pet to stretch his muscles, burn some calories, and breathe a bit of fresh air.
It Takes Time
If your pet is obese and you’ve formally started a weight loss program, remember these things take time. It took Zeus 8 months to slim down from 22 pounds to 12, and it really isn’t healthy to try and rush the process.
It’s also good to know that your dog will benefit every step of their journey. Even if they only lose an ounce, that is one less ounce their joints have to carry, once less ounce their heart has to support, one less ounce their pancreas has to make insulin for.
Every tiny improvement will make your dog healthier, help them feel better, and increase the amount of quality life they enjoy.
Do you have any tips for helping a pet lose weight? Share in the comments below.
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Oh no, poor Zeus! It’s so easy for little chihuahuas to get a bit chubby with all those treats – I hope he’s doing okay and getting back on track.