Cocoa’s attempt to beat the bulge

Is your husky a little too ‘husky’?

Weight watching is part of our daily lives whether we choose to admit it or not, but do we ever stop to consider the health of our furry four-legged friends?

Although she might not be the heaviest dog in town, Cocoa went from being an overactive dachshund, to a lazy ‘pup’ that spends her days basking
in the sun, moving only when she catches a glimpse of the neighbours’ pets.

“Overweight dachshunds become unhappy pets because they are constantly in pain. There is a chance they may become aggressive too,” said a local veterinarian.
South African veterinarians have concluded that more than half the animals they treat weigh more than is healthy.

Studies have conclusively shown that overweight pets are at a higher risk of diabetes, complications during surgery, joint and mobility problems and breathing difficulties.

The lifespan of an overweight pet is shortened by approximately two years.
It is common knowledge that overweight dachshunds generally have back problems throughout their lives.

“There is no guarantee that these back problems caused by obesity can be treated. Sausage dogs in particular can have trouble walking or in extreme cases,
become lame. Kidney failure and heart problems are of the more serious complications,” he said.

Veterinarians advise pet owners to keep their pets on a strict diet even after they have lost the weight. Feed them according to their weight twice a day and control their portions as strictly as possible. “Feeding your dog special diet food is advisable.

Never feed them leftovers from the table.” Owners are encouraged to give their overweight pets as much attention as possible. “Do not allow your pets to eat from
a feeder because they will have constant access to food, limiting your control over portion size.”

Over the next couple of weeks, Cocoa will maintain a strict, healthy diet. We will track her progress, keeping a diary of her food intake.

The purpose of the exercise is to determine whether or not the readily available ‘doggy diets’ are as effective as they claim to be and how long it really takes
for pets to shed those extra few kilograms.

See next week’s addition of the Newcastle Advertiser for Cocoa’s meal plan and help your pets beat the bulge.