Our dogs depend on us to put food in their bowls. And, more often than not, we are putting in too much! A leading veterinarian has been accessing the weight on hundreds of dogs of a variety of breeds over the past year at seminars all over the country. His report indicates that by conservative estimate about 50% of the dogs seen were overweight and about one half of those were actually obese. These were not couch potato dogs. These were dogs whose owners expect them to jump in obedience, to run over rough ground in retrieving tests, and to perform in agility. Unfortunately, we are seeing the sad results in an increase in ruptured anterior cruciate ligaments (often both legs), severe degenerative arthritis in dogs in their prime, degenerative disk disease, and many more conditions that are caused by, or exacerbated by, excess weight.

Many people don't know how to determine the correct weight for their dogs. Dogs vary in height, bone structure, and muscularity, so there is no one correct weight for a dog of any given breed. The best way to determine whether a dog is overweight is to test 3 different parts of the body: the neck, the ribs, and the hips.

• To check the neck, press your thumb and index finger deep into the side of the neck just ahead of the shoulder, and pinch them together. If your fingers are more than 1/2" apart, the dog is overweight. (Note: this is where old dogs tend to carry most of their excess fat, and they may actually be thin in other locations.)
• To check the ribs, stand with your dog beside you, facing his butt. Place your thumb on the middle of his spine half way down the back and spread your fingers out over his last few ribs. Then run your fingers up and down along his skin. You should be able to feel the bumps of his ribs without pressing in.
• To check the hips, run your hand over your dog's croup. You should be able to feel the bumps of his two pelvic bones without pressing down.

• Make sure you have adjusted the amount you are feeding based on age, activity evel and desired weight. Dog's metabolisms slow down with age and just like you they do not need as much food as they did as teenagers.
• Do not believe the feeding regimes printed on dog food bags. Even very active dogs don't need as much food as most dog food companies recommend. Remember that they are in the business to sell dog food. A good rule of thumb is to reduce the amount recommended by 15% or so until you can determine the amount of food that allows your dog to maintain his ideal weight. This is a matter of trial and error.
• Remember that activity level is a key component in the proper amount to feed. During the winter your dog may be less active and the amount he is being feed should be reduced to maintain his proper weight.
• Don't worry that your dogs will not get enough nutrition if you feed them less. Premium dog foods are packed with nutrients. If your dog is overweight, unless he has a hormonal problem (e.g. hypothyroidism), he is getting too much nutrition, and cutting back will not put him in jeopardy.Remember: just like humans, individual dogs vary in their metabolic rate and some dogs just need less food. The higher quality the food source the better the nutritional values. Feeding a very high quality food means you not only can but should feed less.
• If your dog needs to lose more than just a little weight and you want to avoid all the side effects -begging, that sad-eyed look that says "I'm hungry", quilt then try the pumpkin diet. Reduce your dog's regular food by 33% and replace it with that amount of canned pumpkin (not the kind with sugar and spices, ready-made for pies). For example, if you are currently feeding your dog 3 cups of food, you would instead feed him 2 cups of food and a whole cup of canned pumpkin. Dogs love the pumpkin-it has the texture of canned dog food, it provides vitamins and roughage, it makes them feel full (so they don't forage in the yard for leftovers), and they lose weight!
• Unfortunately, you may not get an honest answer about your dogs weight from your vet. Many vets have said that they don't tell their clients that their dogs are overweight, and the reason is always the same. "I have lost so many clients because they were offended when I told them their dogs were overweight that I just don't tell them anymore". So please, don't be offended-it doesn't reflect on you personally.