New Year's Resolution: Help Fido Get Fit

Think you could stand to lose a few around the waist in 2012? Chances are someone close to you could, too: your pet.

"We all love our pets, and we love to reward them with treats," said Dr. Travis Stork of TV's The Doctors, "but that can pack on the pounds and shorten their life." Just like humans, obese dogs are at risk of cardiovascular problems, arthritis and trouble breathing, according to StopCanineObesity.com.

And, also like humans, there are personal trainers whose main goal is to whip Fido into shape. Guest Tamar Gellar, author of 30 Days To A Well-Mannered Dog, explained that part of the problem is that people don't realize the average dog food is mostly made of carbs. "It's very important to give protein and not carbs, and it's also important to give vegetables as treats -- my dogs love steamed broccoli and I dip it in hummus," she said.

Watch the video for Geller's tips on how to help your pup reach a happy, healthy weight in the new year.

Comments

[rawfoodsphd]

10:34 PM on 01/02/2012

My 9-year old cocker littermates were definitely showing some "middle age spread" -- I started chopping up kale very fine in a food processor and adding it to their kibble and other healthy foods I prepare them. They are both losing weight and showing increased energy and range of motion. Kale seems to be a miracle food for people as well as their fur-babies. www.rawfusionliving.com

[mass maritimer]

08:52 PM on 01/04/2012

kale.......I'll try that...we use green beans but I have Boston Terrierists....their gas is a WMD

[Sabrae]

02:18 PM on 01/02/2012

I have two old cats I share my life with, and they eat nothing but tuna. The vet is amazed at how healthy and active they are, and tuna actually costs less than canned cat food.

[farmilyman]

08:40 AM on 01/02/2012

Look at the ingredients on the pet food bag. Stop feeding pets food containing grains like corn.

[notalwaysfittoprint]

07:48 PM on 01/02/2012

@familyman -- exactly! Some people eat junk and they feed their dog junk. Dogs need good dog food, fresh water, and lots of exercise. They do not need "bacon snacks", "Milk Bone" dog biscuits, and all the other junk peddled to the owners of the dog.

[Respect is Possible]

07:28 PM on 12/31/2011

I have 4 dogs and haven't had any weight issues with them luckily. We keep eachother healthy by going for morning runs together and lots of hikes and walks. Dogs really are man's best friend.

[notalwaysfittoprint]

07:50 PM on 01/02/2012

@Respect is Possible -- that's the way to go. You keep fit and you make sure your dogs do the same. Unfortunately many people don't take care of themselves and their dogs.

[Soft Robot]

05:41 PM on 12/31/2011

Beagles don't have an off switch.

[ssnugsbug]

05:57 PM on 01/01/2012

All dogs have an off switch in my house. I don't accept any other behavior.

[Soft Robot]

07:08 PM on 01/01/2012

so no Beagles then?

[Bellanova]

05:44 PM on 01/02/2012

Ain't that the truth!

[sheilabbl]

03:39 PM on 12/31/2011

Dogs are easy! How about getting "Fluffy" to cut back on carbs and do more cardio?

[ssnugsbug]

05:58 PM on 01/01/2012

If you are referring to cats, cats should not have grains or anything but straight meat and organ meats raw. Cooking food kills all the available nutrients that the animals need for natural health. By feeding fresh raw meats, you will find your cat is at it's best weight naturally and feeling really good. Carbs are really a bad thing for cats as they are definitely not designed to eat or digest them at all.

[Sabrae]

02:22 PM on 01/02/2012

Buy a catnip toy, and you'll be peeling him off the ceiling. :D

Also, mine loves those cheap little foam balls. He even brings it back for me to toss again.

[sheilabbl]

02:33 PM on 01/02/2012

I currently have 4 cats, 2 right on target weight wise and 2 overweight. They all have catnip toys (with one of the portly ones playing the hardest!) and they do climb the walls! And they have a dog who keeps them moving too.
I'm also currently pet sitting 2 cats of my friend. One of hers, the male is in good weight but her female is also portly. And it's the female who's the hunter!
I had a kitten spayed some years ago and I was told after her spay, when she was only 6 months old, that she was going to be an obese cat. (And she died at 6 years old as complications of her obesity.)
As for feeding raw, my dog, a 7 year old standard poodle eats raw and loves it. When I try to tempt the kitties with raw they walk away. One of the cats will even bring the raw organ meats to my dog so he can "do away with it"!

[Lily P]

03:29 PM on 12/31/2011

It's odd, my dog is like a stuffed sausage. Got him on a glueten free diet and he slimmed down. I did too. Wonder why people (and dogs) cannot eat wheat products like they used to. Wonder if GMO has anything to do with it..

[ssnugsbug]

05:51 PM on 01/01/2012

Grains have no place in the canine diet. Dogs are not intended to eat grains but they are intended to eat fresh muscle meats, organ meats and raw bones for complete health. All the rest will not be as good for your dog. Grains are only pushed in pet foods because most of the foods are made by human food companies. That, and the fact that grains are cheaper than quality meats, is the only reason grains are pushed so hard.

[notalwaysfittoprint]

07:51 PM on 01/02/2012

@ssnugsbug -- true.