Recently, we discussed how important it is to keep your senior dog trim! Even a few extra pounds can have big repercussions on the stress in their joints and the inflammation that builds up there overtime. We covered ways to create a weight loss game plan for your older dog. Today, we will dive into a few inventive ways to make your dieting older canine not suspect that they are on a diet!
Yes it can be tough to see their big dinner plate eyes staring up at you asking for more. But we have to stay strong and say no to our furry companion! Or do we? Here are a few older dog treats you may be able to institute to keep them on their weight loss journey.
The easiest treat to institute is filler treats. Things like carrots, broccoli, green beans, cauliflower, banana, apple slices, orange slices. Try cooked or uncooked but make sure that they are unseasoned. It is rare that a dog won't like at least one item on that list. You can sneak them into their food sometimes to get them used to the taste. Once you have identified a go to filler treat, your are welcome to use this in place of their bed time or midday snack. Two baby carrots a day won't break the scale, but don't go overboard.
Alternatively you can use the same food you feed your dog as a treat. If they get two cups a day you can give them ¾ of a cup in the morning and the evening and then ½ a cup can be used for treats. This way the calorie count is simple as you are not adding anything additional. Feeding part of their meal in an exercise ball or with a premeasured amount of peanut butter (make sure NO xylitol in your peanut butter) in a kong can add some fun for your senior! We love the Buster food cube found here and Our Pet's IQ Treat ball found here .
The final option is in store bought weight loss treats. Often these are higher in fiber and lower in calories, but you still have to be careful about how many you give. If you identify the amount of calories are in a cup of their regular diet (see the back of their food bag), and then how many calories are in each treat, you should be able to break out the old calculator and see how much food you need to withhold to give two treats a day. For instance, if you feed 1 cup a day and the total calories per day are 100, and the treats you want to give are 25 calories, well you just need to give 75 calories of the regular diet (¾ cup) and 1 treat to still hit your calorie goals for the day.
Hopefully some of these have been helpful in tricking your dog into a weight loss program without removing the fun of giving them treats. Let us know what tricks you have found!
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