How To Help Your Dog Lose Weight Without Exercise?- 7 Best Home Diets

Is obesity in your dog driving you crazy? Are you tired of trying different commercial dog foods to manage your dog’s weight? Being pet parents, one of our primary concerns is the weight of our dogs, which sometimes goes out of control. We try several things like foods, supplements, exercises, and whatnot! But fails to get results that meet our desires. While reading this article, you might ask, “Is it possible to help your dog lose weight without exercise?”. Well, let me tell you that it is possible to manage obesity in dogs without exercise.

When managing our dog’s health, ideal weight plays a crucial role. Like the human body, each dog has a different body type that reacts to the other processes of weight management protocol differently. Giving proper diet is the most important part, rather, the crucial part of controlling obesity in dogs. This article will explore the best home diets to help a dog lose weight without exercise.

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Why should you help your dog lose weight without exercise?

Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for the general health of your dog, just as it is for humans. An overweight dog is at risk for a variety of health concerns, including joint difficulties, diabetes, heart disease, and a lower quality of life. Fortunately, even if your dog’s exercise is limited due to age, injury, or other circumstances, you may help him lose weight.

Understanding the foundations before embarking on the adventure of assisting your dog to lose weight without exercise is critical. To begin, you must understand what defines a healthy weight for your unique breed and individual dog. While breed standards can provide a basic guideline, speaking with your veterinarian is the most dependable way to discover your dog’s appropriate weight. They can evaluate your dog’s overall health, considering age, size, and breed characteristics.

Obesity is a rising concern among pets, particularly senior dogs with joint problems, as well as pets with hip dysplasia and fatty liver, and it is critical to be aware of the risks it brings. Overweight dogs may have less mobility, increased joint pain, a shorter lifespan, and a higher susceptibility to numerous health problems. Thus, helping your dog lose weight without exercise will benefit you and your pet in several ways. It is a fact that only walking cannot help reduce dog obesity; instead, there are other factors you need to consider, too.

The increasing body can be mainly seen in three types of dogs: those who suffer from osteoarthritis, dogs who have fatty liver, and those who have very unhealthy eating habits (owners giving spicy and oily human food to their pets out of love). Such scenarios cause obesity in dogs, making it difficult for them to take long walks as a part of exercise. Here comes the part where you must consider helping your dog lose weight without exercise. Obtaining and maintaining an appropriate weight is about more than appearances; it is also about ensuring your cherished canine companion has a longer, healthier life.

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Understand Dog Body help your dog lose weight without exercise?

Before understanding the foods that could help your dog lose weight without exercise, it is essential to know the right way to assess a dog’s body weight. So, how do you know whether your pet is carrying a few extra pounds? It’s an essential first step to help your dog lose weight without exercise. Here’s how to determine your dog’s weight at home:

Hands-On Approach: Begin with a gentle, hands-on assessment. Run your hands down the sides and spine of your dog. Without pressing too much, you should be able to feel the ribs. If you can’t feel your dog’s ribs, he may be overweight.

Aerial View: Get a bird’s-eye view of your dog. Look down at them while they’re still standing. Ideally, there should be a visible waistline, similar to an hourglass shape. If your dog resembles a rectangle, it may be time to think about weight management.

Profile Examine: Examine your dog’s profile from the side. A healthy weight is indicated by a little tuck in the abdomen rather than a drooping or protruding tummy.

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Things you can do to Help Your Dog Lose Weight Without Exercise

Almost 85% of pets don’t experience high-volume daily exercise, including long walks, proper running, and heavy training sessions. the main reason is, we the pet parents are busy giving them a comfortable life while we often fail to address issues like obesity. Now, you must be thinking what on earth we could do to manage obesity in pets without exercise? Let me tell you, several ingredients, directly from our kitchen, do wonders if given in the right proportion and with the right regime.

The following ingredients are very effective, especially for arthritic ones and help senior dogs lose weight.

Chia Seed

Chia seed is a great source of fibre that intends to keep your pup’s belly full and reduce metabolism which leads to a more calorie intake. Chia seeds for dogs are proven and effective in reducing obesity over time if you add a spoonful of soaked chia seed to your dog’s breakfast daily for 1 month. But also consider not overdoing, as it contains phosphorus which can be a risk for senior dogs suffering from kidney issues (it is advisable, to avoid giving chia seed to dogs with renal health issues).

related article: Arthritis In Senior Dogs- How To Manage Pain At Home?

Flex Seed Powder

A study in 2022, [*] stated that flaxseed contains various aspects of a dog’s health that involve various nutritional compositions, and digestive compounds while reducing metabolism in dogs. However, flax seed is included with a large source of ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), which is supposed to aid fat metabolism. Hence, if you could make powder out of roasted flax seed and add one spoon to your pet’s daily diet, you could notice effective results in a month in your pet’s weight management.

Cucumber And Yogurt

A study in 2021 [*] says that cucumber is another great source of weight management in dogs, as it contains low-calorie, 95% water, which helps keep dogs hydrated and rich in fibre, nutrient-dense and naturally, crunchy texture which makes it a great, enjoyable, light snack for dogs. If cucumber is given with yoghurt (which contains good bacteria and supports gut health) as a snack, it helps reduce metabolism and leaves the dog feeling full.

Blueberry

As stated by a study in 2021 [*], blueberries are a beneficial source of dietary fibre for dogs that helps reduce weight. Fibre eventually enhances satiety helping reduce calorie intake and prevent overeating. However, blueberries are also low in calories and are rich in antioxidants that help in combating oxidative stress and support managing metabolic health in dogs. Nonetheless, with improved gut health and digestive regulatory promotion, the fibre in blueberries is significant in helping reduce obesity in dogs. A handful of blueberries as a snack, all along with meals, can help your dog manage their weight without much exercise.

Also, read the article on ‘Steroids-how does it influence a dog’s quality of life?‘

Dragonfruit

As advocated in an article by Best Friends Veterinary Hospital, Dragon fruits are a great source of vitamin C, fibre and antioxidants that help in reducing metabolism and burning fats. While it is important to understand whether your pet is allergic to it or not, moderate amount of dragon fruit mix in meals or snacks could do wonders in your dog’s weight loss journey.

Oats

Obesity in dogs has become a very concerning matter these days and Oats are the most effective and handy ingredient. Morning breakfast with a little goat milk and a balanced protein source like banana, a bit of honey and some berries would help lock in the metabolism and reduce and increase the fat-burning process with speed.

Brown Rice

Another significant element, that you can find in your kitchen is brown rice which is a great component for weight loss in dogs. Brown rice contains fibre, minerals and vitamins, which makes it more digestible and less carb-containing, similar to processed rice or white rice. As a study in 2020,[*] discovered, brown rice can provide the required carbs that a dog’s body needs without putting up the burden of a high-carb rice diet. Hence, brown rice helps a senior dog lose weight, without much exercise or long walks that they cannot put up with.

Closing Remarks

Obesity in dogs has been a concerning issue rising daily due to; lack of exercise, health issues and the inability of pet parents to focus on their daily walks sometimes sparked by their busy life schedule. The article highlights ways to help even a busier pet parent control their pup’s obesity while giving them a better life without much elbow grease.