Low fat Christmas
Oldies Club give us some help on making sure that our dogs don’t get too tubby
Ooh that time is coming where we will just HAVE to have another mince pie mmm! Well it is Christmas! So as not to spoil our fun, we are looking at this from the dogs point of view today. Dogs can get a bit portly sometimes, no matter what time of year, although not from mince pies I hope! Today the wonderful Oldies Club give us some help and ideas on making sure that our dogs don’t get too tubby…
Tips to keep slender this Christmas
- As a dog gets older and less active, he often needs to eat less – don’t just keep feeding the same amount and food he had as a young dog.
- Getting fat is not a natural part of getting old – and nor is getting thin! If you aren’t sure if your dog is a little overweight or if your dog seems to be getting skinny, your vet can help.
- An overweight dog won’t be able to enjoy life so much and will be at risk from many health problems.
- Try to buy treats aimed at senior dogs which have less fat content, or bake your own – and split larger treats in half.
- If your dog needs to lose weight, substitute some meals with fresh cooked white fish or chicken and vegetables
- If your dog can no longer manage long walks due to arthritis, regular short outings can still help both of you feel more active, fitter and more healthy.
- Dental sticks can have a high fat content – brush your dogs teeth instead, use a cleaning powder in their food, or choose low fat chews such as tripe sticks.
- Although many dogs tend to put on weight as they get older, others can lose weight and become picky. First stop is your vet: even elderly dogs can feel 100% better and will hold their weight better if their bad teeth are treated promptly, and many conditions that cause weight loss can be treated nowadays, so your dog can really enjoy life. Oldies Club sees many dogs where owners have assumed a dog is just getting old, when actually he is suffering from a treatable condition.
- If your dog needs building up rather than slimming down, still be cautious about feeding too much fat – fatty diets can have serious effects on a dog’s pancreas. A high quality dog food from a pet shop rather than a supermarket may help him stay sleek and happy.
- Turkey or goose for Christmas dinner is fine for most dogs (though NOT cooked bones!), but go easy on the bacon and roast potatoes – the effect of these fatty and salty foods is much greater on dogs with their smaller bodies than it is for us, and even a one-off treat can sometimes make a dog quite unwell.
The Oldies Club cares for all the homeless old dogs that come into our care in foster homes. Some of our fosterers have had to deal with some very overweight dogs! Often the original owners simply didn’t realise that the dog should not be so fat. If you would like to support our work, you could donate, sponsor one of our oldies, or volunteer to help with transport, home visiting, fundraising or even by fostering an old dog yourself.
Competition
Yesterday’s winner of the fantastic Tuffy’s Rumble Ring picked at random from yesterday’s comments was Lynda and the Minkies, Congratulations!
There’s a prize for everyone today! Comment on this post and you will receive a special voucher code to get 10% off an order from the fantastic Gower Cottage Brownies! The most delicious Brownies you will ever eat, supplied in gluten free version – completely scrummy. Visit their site on www.gowercottagebrownies.co.uk Go on – treat yourself!
Oldies Club would like to thank Kate at Gower Cottage for donating prizes on their behalf. Thanks Kate!
If you would like to win a box of Gower Cottage Brownies and lots of other goodies! Write YOUR letter to Santa Paws and you could win our fantastic DOGGY HAMPER
More hamper prizes will be added later on today – Make your letter funny, sad, but remember, if your doggy doesn’t write it, you won’t be in with a chance to win! Good luck and get writing those Dear Santa Paws letters!
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