With the indulgence of the holidays behind us, I am reminded of a common problem that we see with small breed dogs, weight issues! We are seeing more and more overweight dogs these days. It seems to me that the majority of these dogs are small breeds, but that may just be my imagination. I do know that being overweight is probably the worst condition that a Chihuahua can be in, and the same is true for many other breeds. Extra weight can be very hard on a Chihuahua's heart and joints. The added stress on the heart can cause congestive heart failure, or simply overwork the heart to the point where it cannot function properly. And the added stress of extra weight on the joints makes overweight Chihuahuas much more likely to develop arthritis, patella luxation and other joint problems. And, just as in people, an overweight Chihuahua is more likely to develop diabetes.
I'm not sure about other small breeds, but I know with Chihuahuas, the trouble is that some of them seem to have a natural tendency to become overweight. This is partly caused by the fact that, in many cases, their owners treat them like babies instead of like dogs. They are fed large amounts of table food, way too many treats and usually are not exercised enough. I've found that in most cases, this is the cause of the extra weight. But, I've seen a few cases where it wasn't the cause, so in some cases, it does seem to be a natural tendency.
I am very much in support of spaying and neutering pets. Unfortunately, altering a Chihuahua in such a way very often makes a weight problem worse, or causes a weight problem that wasn't there before. My grandparents had a Chihuahua when I was growing up who had been altered at a very early age. Normally, he would have been about a 5 pound dog, but just a few short years after he was neutered, he weighed 7 pounds. That's almost half again his normal weight. Look at it in terms of human weight. If a 150 pound person were to gain over 1/3 again their own body weight, they would weigh 200+ pounds, which would be significantly overweight. The same is true for Chihuahuas, even if it is on a smaller scale. However, I'm not telling you not to have your Chihuahua spayed or neutered. There are many health benefits to spaying and neutering your dogs. I'm simply saying be smart about your dog's diet after the procedure.
Determining if your dog is overweight is very simple. Put one hand on either side of his rib cage and gently feel his ribs. Your dog is at a normal weight if you can count his ribs under a thin layer of fat, but his ribs are not visible. If your dog's ribs are visible when you look at him, your dog is underweight. If there is a very thick layer of fat covering the ribs or you cannot feel his ribs at all without really pushing down, your dog is overweight. Another method to determine if your dog is at a healthy weight is to look down on his back from the top. His ribcage should round out the front part of his torso, without the ribs being visible. And his waist area should taper down past the ribcage into his hips, the bones of which also should not be visible. If there is no distinction between rib cage and abdominal area, your dog is overweight. If you can see the dog's ribs or hip bones, your dog is underweight.
It is relatively easy to manage a weight problem in most Chihuahuas. If you find that your dog is putting on unnecessary weight, my recommendation for your first step is to ensure that your dog is getting enough exercise. Chihuahuas really don't need a great deal of exercise, but believe it or not, some don't even get the little that they do need. Your Chihuahua should have a safe, fenced in area to run and play. It's been our experience that many Chihuahuas love to run, and of course, it's wonderful exercise for them. If your Chihuahua is allowed to run free, within the confines of a safe area, for 30 minutes a day, that should be sufficient exercise for him.
If the increased exercise is not helping the weight problem, the next step would be to cut back on and/or change your dog's treats. You can get many treats, such as PupCorn, which can be purchased at Wal-Mart, which are low in calories and very tasty..or at least that's what our dogs seem to think. Nutro Ultra also makes a lower calorie biscuit treat for dogs. Remember, treats are treats...not food for your dog. Your dog should not have more than 2-3 treats per day, and some vets say that's too many. So, to help manage a weight problem, use treats sparingly and consider switching your dog to a lower calorie treat. You may also consider switching to training treats. These are very small, generally semi-moist treats that your dog will love. These treats will allow you to praise your dog in a manner that he or she is used to, but each treat will be small, so the total daily calorie intake will drop dramatically.
Another tip for managing a dog's weight problem lies in the food that you feed. If your dog is gaining weight, stop and look at what you're feeding him. For starters, if you've been giving him a lot of table food, put a stop to that immediately. That puts weight on dogs quicker than anything. And if your dog's primary diet is moist can or pouch food, you'll want to switch him to a dry food as it is lower in fat. Moist foods are bad for your dog's teeth anyway. Put your dog on a quality weight management food. Purina One and Purina Pro Plan make excellent weight managemnet foods, as to many other brands. Today, even most holistic food lines include a weight management food. Other foods that will help with weight management are those that are made for dogs with allergies, such as Natural Balance. You may also consider fresh foods, such as Fresh Pet. These foods have no fillers in them, and are generally very balanced diets. However, there are drawbacks. They are very expensive, especially for large breeds, and they must stay refrigerated.
Whatever it takes to manage your dog's weight problem, we assure you it will be worth it because it will make for a happier, healthier dog that you can enjoy!
Tips and General Information for Chihuahua Owners and Lovers
