Weight management is an important issue that more dog lovers need to take seriously. In this article, we will explore why you should be paying more attention to your dogโs diet. We will also explore some of the best dog food options from Hillโs that are specifically designed with weight management and joint health in mind.
As dog parents, we all want to ensure our bundles of joy stay healthy and safe for as long as they’re with us. Sadly, health issues in dogs, particularly with their joints, make life harder for them unless properly prevented and managed.
Unlike many conditions, obesity in dogs is easily preventable through proper diet and exercise. As such, mismanagement by the dog’s caretaker is directly responsible for the many joint-related issues that arise during the pet’s senior years.
Before we explore some of the ideal diet choices to help with weight management, let’s understand the role and importance of diet a little more.
How Does Diet Tie into Weight Management and Joint Health?
According to Dr. Carol Osborne, a veterinarian at Chagrin Falls Pet Clinic, Ohio, a dog that is even 10% overweight may have their lifespan reduced by one-third. That small margin of 10% also increases your dog’s predisposition to a number of related problems, such as heart, kidney, and liver issues.
In addition to the reduced life span, a poor diet that causes a dog to gain weight brings in a host of joint health issues. The risk of conditions like osteoarthritis and even ACL tears increases when a dog is obese, and this comes with considerable pain that your dog will have to endure.
Vets often prescribe diets with glucosamine and chondroitin to help strengthen joints, tendons, and cartilage. These are supplements that are believed to help alleviate the symptoms of hip dysplasia, particularly pain and joint wear. They also help dogs recover after joint surgery and help in the treatment of spinal disc injuries.
In an ideal world, dog parents who provide healthy diets for their pets would make these supplements unnecessary. When you realize that more than 50% of dogs in America are overweight or obese, it becomes clear that weight management through a proper diet is severely neglected. Let’s explore some options that have a good track record in this regard.
1. Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat Digestive Care Canned Dog Food
Hill’s is a trusted brand that has a track record for health-focused offerings ever since their science diet line, which has clinically proven nutrition benefits. Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat Digestive Care is another great option for dog parents who wish to switch over to a low-fat diet for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
If your vet deems your dog to be overweight, a low-fat diet is one of the first changes that is recommended. This particular Hill’s dog food option is perfect for dogs that have too much fat in the blood and have difficulty digesting fat.
What’s more, Hill’s claims the protein content in this product is highly digestible. This ensures the core weight management principles of increasing protein and reducing fat intake work well. This diet also has a good balance of minerals, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and a ‘unique prebiotic blend.’
It’s worth highlighting that it also includes Hill’s S+OXSHIELD formula that helps protect your dog’s bladder from stones due to low mineral levels. It provides your dog with small amounts of phosphorus and magnesium that help present stones in your dog's urinary system.
These stones can be triggered by a number of factors, one of which is obesity. Hill’s S+OXSHIELD protects your dog from struvite stones until you are able to bring down its weight to appropriate levels.
2. Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic Weight Management Canned Dog Food
This is another great option that can help with weight management. Hill’s claims that with this diet, 96% of dogs were able to lose weight within two months. The testimonials from people who’ve tried it also seem to concur with that. One dog parent, Tony Huey, states that his dog has hypothyroidism, and a vet recommended this diet due to his dog being severely overweight.
Huey claims that within the first two months, his dog lost thirty pounds. Apparently, Huey’s dog is much more active, and it feels like she’s living life to the fullest now. Several people who have tried this dog food have had similar experiences.
The Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic Weight Management diet works so well because it activates a pet's metabolism through carefully selected ingredients and a unique blend of fiber from fruits and vegetables. A study by the University of Illinois also confirms that overweight dogs respond well to a high-protein/high-fiber diet.
Hill’s diet ensures that your dog benefits from both soluble and insoluble fiber options. Moreover, one of the key benefits of this option is that activating the metabolism triggers your pet’s natural ability to burn fat. It’s safe, and as an added bonus, it’s also filling and keeps your dog satiated between meals.
3. Hill's Prescription Diet r/d Weight Reduction Dry Dog Food
Each dog is different, and there’s a chance that yours might not take well to some of the previous diets. Thankfully, we do live in a time where you have several great options that approach weight loss in unique ways.
The Hill's Prescription Diet r/d Weight Reduction Dry Dog Food diet is another option that is similar to the previous one listed. This one also focuses on activating the unique metabolism of each dog, but it does so in a slightly different way.
Have you heard of the compound by the name “L-carnitine?” If not, allow us to break it down. It’s similar to a vitamin and is made out of amino acids and found in animal-based sources of protein, like fish, red meat, and chicken.
According to PetMD, L-carnitine is required to metabolize fat and maintain lean muscle mass. Why is this important? Well, helping your dog regain its mobility and flexibility isn’t just about losing weight. Muscle mass is also critical so that physical activities can occur without discomfort and pain.
Remember, the process of weight loss can also indirectly result in some amount of muscle loss. It’s important to foresee this and address it before it becomes an issue. Foods with L-carnitine help ensure that when your dog loses fat, it keeps its muscles.
4. Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic Weight Management Dog Treats
Putting your dog through a weight loss diet comes with its share of difficulties. Losing weight in itself can affect energy levels. It’s not uncommon to see your dog feeling a little lethargic as it gets used to weight management treatments like intermittent feeding or a new diet. They may experience hunger cravings if they are used to larger portions, and it can be a stressful time for both dogs and dog parents.
Treats can be a great way to tide over the hours between meals or as rewards for good behavior. However, just like how the food we crave can be unhealthy, dog treats are also not the healthiest option out there.
This is where something like Hills Prescription Diet Metabolic Weight Management Dog Treats can make a difference. They are crunchy, bone-shaped biscuits that look delicious enough that even you might want to take a bite. Hill’s states that they contain controlled phosphorus and protein, and most importantly, they are low in sodium.
This is a big deal because long-term feeding of treats with high sodium can be harmful to your dog’s health. Of course, conditions like salt toxicity are mainly the cause of sudden, abnormally high salt intake. That said, each dog breed reacts differently to salt, to the point that salty treats can be a risk you want to avoid.
Hill's Prescription Diet Metabolic Weight Management Dog Treats give you the peace of mind to feed your dog tasty treats without worrying about their dangers. It is also designed to complement other Hill’s weight management diets, so you can use the treats in conjunction with their weight management routine.
In conclusion, obesity in dogs is a serious issue that needs to be given more attention. Poor feeding habits and misinformation cause dog parents to overfeed their dogs, leading to a host of health issues. Joint pain and mobility issues are not pleasant for your dog to experience.
A proper diet is critical because it gives your dog the chance to develop a healthy immune system. When you consider the fact that obesity in dogs also reduces their lifespan, it is clear that a proper diet needs to be followed. Hill’s range of weight management diets is often recommended by vets because they have been designed with a high level of attention to detail and in conjunction with expert pet nutritionists and vets.