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A Balanced Bowl | from The New York Dog Magazine | May/June 2006
| | Chubby Chi |
| Q: |
I have a beautiful little Poodle/Maltese
mix, Fifi. I love her to death but there’s one problem - how much she eats.
I feed her 1 1/3 cups a day, which is the suggested amount for 4-9 pounds. She
should be 6 pounds according to her vet. She is 9 pounds. I do not know how to
get her to the right weight without starving her. Please help me. —Ashley |
| A: |
Obesity is a frightening disease
because in addition to causing serious discomfort and body dysfunction, it exacerbates
and contributes to other diseases. The primary reason
for this widespread problem is too many calories and
not enough activity. Have you considered what it means
to weigh 6 pounds and be given feeding instructions
for “4-9 pounds?” How can the feeding instructions be
the same for an overweight Maltese and 9-pound lab
puppy? Have you considered switching to fresh, unprocessed
diet for your dog? By providing a diet that
is mostly high-quality protein and fat your dog can get
quality without quantity. If you choose to continue feeding
the same food you are using it may be prudent to
cut down the amount you are using by 30 percent. |
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| | Choco Loco |
| Q: |
I recently allowed my pup, Siofra, to eat some
chocolate. Now she wants to eat it all the time. Is it safe for a dog to eat chocolate? —Sienna |
| A: |
No, it is not safe for a dog to eat chocolate. Chocolate,
cocoa, coffee and tea all contain caffeine and theobromine. These toxins can cause vomiting, diarrhea,
increased thirst, hyperactivity, increased heart rate, and even seizures. Milk chocolate is less toxic
than semisweet chocolate, which is in turn, less toxic than baker’s chocolate or cocoa. The toxic dose of
milk chocolate is 1 ounce per kilogram of body weight, which translates to about 1 ½ pounds of milk chocolate
for a 50-pound dog. |
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| | General Lee’s Battle |
| Q: |
My pet Lee, has been diagnosed with diabetes.
What foods should I feed him? —Steve |
| A: |
Diabetes is a chronic degenerative disease that
develops when the pancreas no longer produces
adequate amounts of insulin. Without sufficient insulin,
blood sugar cannot be properly regulated, resulting in
a variety of symptoms and complications. Commercial
pet foods contain up to 50 percent (or more) refined
carbohydrates. Processed carbohydrates act like sugar
in the body, and are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream
and burned quickly resulting in rapid ups and
downs in blood sugar levels. Because the pancreas is
receiving mixed messages it may become exhausted
trying to meet the demand for insulin and may slow and
even cease its production of insulin.
As with people, dogs can be diagnosed two types
of diabetes. Insulin-dependent diabetes (Type 1) most
often affects dogs and can be congenital in origin. Diabetic
dogs generally require daily insulin shots to regulate
blood sugar levels. Type 2 is more common in cats
but is also seen in dogs. Type 2 is often linked to obesity
and may be controlled with diet. Dietary recommendations
usually include a diet that is high in fiber and protein
and low in carbohydrates. Feeding a diet that is as
close to its natural state as possible is best. The cornerstone
of the optimal diet for your dog (or cat) should be
fresh free-range or organic meat. Feeding a high quality
frozen or freeze-dried diet that contains little or no
grains and a small percentage of vegetables will most
closely simulate the diet your pet’s system is designed
to assimilate and thrive on. |
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