How can my overweight dog with slow metabolism lose weight safely?

Sticking with the current diet, or seeing if there is a weight loss diet from the same brand can help in calorie reduction. You can also speak with your vet about if a prescription weight loss diet is needed at this time. As with any increase in exercise, you will want to start gradually, especially if Angel has any health issues such as arthritis. Starting with a quick walk just around the block, and then gradually increasing over time (to two blocks, or ten minute walks, etc) can help build muscle and strength without overtaxing the body. As with any change in routine or diet, it is always a good idea to schedule a wellness check with your vet first. They can rule out any health issues that may cause problems that you need to watch out for, and can also work with you on tracking weight loss progress over time.

I would recommend doing moderate exercise (brisk walking, chasing ball, etc) for 30 minutes twice daily. I would also recommend a low fat food. The low fat prescription diets are the most effective, such as Hil'ls Metaboilc and Hill's W/D. It is also best to make sure your vet checks Grecia for any underlying metabolic disorder such as Thyroid disease, which can cause weight gain, letharyg and a dry dull haircoat. I hope this helps! Best wishes moving forward with Grecia and her weight loss. Take care!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Tasha. I suspect that her thighs are thin secondary to the hip dysplasia. She likely has developed arthritis due to the malformation of her hips. This causes a dog to bear more weight on their front limbs and they subsequently lose muscle mass in the hind limbs. As far as weight loss, her resting energy requirement is around 1400 calories per day based on her weight. So feeding 1100 calories per day should be sufficient for weight loss. If you are feeding 3 cups per day, that equals about 367/cup. This is fairly high for a weight loss food. I recommend prescription weight loss diets as they are much lower in calories per cup, high in protein to support lean muscle mass and high in fiber to keep the dog full longer. I hope this information helps and I am available for a consultation if you have additional questions.

I didn't answer your original post about Minnie, but yes it would be the Hill's prescription diet. There isn't a specific favor that is best to use for her weight loss, so I wouldn't be worried about that. As for walking three to four times a day, because it's so hot in Arizona, I would not do this. She could get heatstroke, which is very deadly. I recommend walking her twice a day, once early in the morning and later in the evening when it cools down. Gradually make the walks longer to make up for only walking her twice a day. I hope this helps!

Dogs rarely lose weight from getting more exercise. It is more about caloric intake. Many studies have shown this. So just cutting back on food/treats should do the trick. Just give her the normal exercise you have been doing. Twenty to thirty minutes a day is good. I think you are doing fine. No worries!

Great question! Walking Buddy every day is a good idea, and I would see if you can walk him twice a day for at least 30 minutes a time to help him lose weight. One tip is to cut out all treats. No human food, no scraps from dinner, and no dog treats. These can really add up over time and cause a dog to gain weight. You can try cutting back a bit on his dry food and adding some wet food instead with the dry food. Canned dog food has fewer calories because it has a higher moisture content, so adding some into his dry food while removing dry food to compensate can help him lose weight. Finally, you can speak to your vet to see if they feel a weight loss food would be appropriate for him. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You can switch her to a diet called Science Diet metabolic weight management diet which is great for weight loss and just follow the feeding suggestions in the bag based on her weight. You can walk her 3-4 times a day for 20-30 minutes as long as it is not too warm outside. I have had good success using that diet for weight loss in my patients. Good luck and have a great day!