Healthy Snacks for Overweight Dogs

Overweight dogs are at risk for health problems that can shorten life expectancy and reduce their overall quality of life. Like humans overweight dogs have a slower metabolism so they don't burn calories as fast as lean, active dogs. So the more they eat, the faster they gain weight. Helping your dog reach and maintain a healthy weight includes regular exercise, eating control and, occasionally, weight-control medication.

  1. Diet

    • An important step in controlling your dog's weight is to strictly control the type and amount of food consumed by the dog every day. Provide it with plenty of fresh water. Also, when giving your dog a treat, make sure the first ingredient listed on the package is meat, not corn. Snacks should be low in fat and calories and given in extreme moderation.

    Healthy Snacks

    • An overweight dog needs more than just healthy snacks to achieve a better weight. But better snack choices, especially if your dog is overweight, can help to avoid adding excessive calories to your dog's diet. Snacks such as bones and table scraps should be removed from your dog's diet. However, healthy snacks such as carrots, green beans and cooked, skinless white chicken meat may be given in moderation. It may be necessary to discontinue snacks altogether until your dog reaches a healthy weight.

    Reduced-Calorie Foods

    • Foods marketed as "reduced calorie," or "lite," don't actually help dogs lose weight. While these foods may have low fat content, carbohydrates are increased to replace the lost fat and to improve overall taste. Consuming these foods can actually lead to weight gain, because the increased carbs stimulate the production of excess insulin causing unused calories to be stored in the body as fat. Instead, food and snacks that are meat-based or vegetable-based, high in protein and low in carbs are recommended.

    Healthy Practices

    • Snack modification in your dog's diet shouldn't be the only lifestylechange in an overweight dog. Daily exercise not only burns calories but also increases metabolism and muscular strength and improves cardiovascular health. It's also vital for everyone in your household to participate in your dog's dietary and weight-loss goals. Your dog must receive consistent support in changing its diet and overall lifestyle improvement.