30/11/2019
Being a breeder puts me in a unique position to really study dogs. As a breeder I have more dogs in my home than most people and working from home (as an artist, my dogs are not how I make a living) allows me more one on one time to really observe their health and behavior. That said, I am not an expert and don't play one on TV. These are my opinions based on my years living with a large number of dogs.
Diet and weight are key to a long, healthy life, with that said, I am also not here to discuss diets right now. Other than to toss in my two cents and say that if you are not feeding a raw diet I would highly encourage you to add fresh food to your dogs' diet daily.
A big body means lots of weight on bones, and feet and of course that means a lot of wear and tear over the years. Maintaining a healthy weight is so important in these big guys, especially in breeds where "bigger is better" seems to be the norm. We have to ask ourselves, what's more important: having the biggest dog, or having the healthiest dog?
Assuming that having a healthy dog is more important to you than having the biggest dog let's talk about maintaining a healthy frame, including feet, nails, joints, muscle and skin.
Those of you who know me know how I feel about allowing our dogs to become overweight. If you don't know me, you know it now! Don't allow your dog to pack on the pounds. I am going to include a graphic for you but I am going to go out on a limb and say that many of us honestly do not know how to recognize that Poochy is becoming poochy!
Can you see ribs? Can you feel them? Or, are they buried under layers of fat? Do you know that like humans, a dogs' life expectancy is drastically reduced by packing those extra pounds? I personally like to be able to see the last rib, on a super fit and active dog, I don't have a problem with seeing the last two ribs. As puppies as well as seniors this is imperative, so just start out on the right track and maintain.
Seeing an underweight dog is so rare I won't even get into it but if your dog has packed on a few extra pounds, it's time to get them out and start being more active. If those pounds have come on suddenly with no real changes it's time to see the vet. I do not recommend diet foods, what I recommend is decreasing rations (no more free feeding for now), increasing activity levels and if need be, adding something like low sodium green beans as a filler.
If you are giving big treats like dog biscuits nix those, get rid of them in favor of smaller, bite sized training treats (which I plan to have available soon) and make your dog work for them. It's bonding time, mental stimulation and physical activity all in one. All of which are super important to the aging dog as much as they are to the younger dog.
I hope this little article helps or at least gets you thinking about your dog and his or her healthiest weight. Pictured are my beloved Yagey Man (Lab, about 21 years old here) and Libby Lou (Mastiff, 12.5 years old here).
