Owners' Questions and Questions Veterinarians should ask Themselves

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What should I do if my dog refuses to eat its diet food?

In any event, the food must be weighed and given in several small meals at fixed intervals. There is no use reducing the time of presentation and increasing the number of meals. Giving the dog 30 minutes to eat its food three or four times per day is a more effective way of stimulating ingestion than filling the bowl and letting to dog decide when it eats. Mixing the food with warm water may also increase palatability.

What should I do if my dog is hungry and keeps begging for food?

Never eat in the presence of your dog; have it leave the room when you eat or prepare the family meal. You could give the dog part of its daily ration in the form of kibbles as a reward. Instead of giving your dog food, take it for a walk, give it a stroke or lavish it with attention in some other way. There are behaviorists who recommend some original techniques, including keeping a container on the table for the food that you want to give your dog, be it snacks or leftovers. The aim is to stop the dog begging; behavior that is strengthened periodically when the owner gives the dog food extras. The container is then emptied into the dog's bowl at the dog's own meal time. In most cases, the container will remain empty after a few meals.

What should I do if I have two or more animals in my home?

There must be a strict separation at mealtimes. A cat's food can be placed somewhere high up, out of reach of an obese dog. The bowls must never be exchanged. If two animals have different needs they will obviously have to be fed differently, from the perspective of both quality and quantity. This aspect must be explained at the first consultation.

What should I do if it is impossible for me to feed my dog at least three times a day?

It is important to spread the ration throughout the day in order to increase the loss of energy. The daily ration must be spread over at least two meals.

Could a restrictive diet make my dog aggressive?

Never. Aggression due to energy restriction is a sign of a serious problem in the relationship between the owner and the dog.

Is it okay to give my dog just a few small treats?

No, it is totally inadvisable to give the dog treats. A low-calorie diet entails not only a drastic reduction in dietary intake but also a long-term change in habits to avoid a rebound effect. As a consequence, this type of behavior should be cut out. It is possible to reserve a portion of the weighed kibbles of the daily ration to give to the dog after exercises or at other times when treats are customarily given. But the owner must never be given the idea that after the diet it will be okay to revert to the old situation that made the dog obese in the first place. The veterinarian must be very clear on this matter before taking on the obese dog.

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If the weight loss is negligible or non-existent after a few weeks of the diet what should I do?

Verify that the animal has been weighed on an empty stomach using the same scales as were used at the start of the diet. Check that the dog is not suffering from an endocrine disease or undergoing a course of medication that is slowing weight loss. Verify that the quantities of food given correspond to the quantities recommended and that they are weighed carefully. If in doubt, compare the dietetic food purchased with the length of the diet. Verify that the daily energy allocation is not greater than the pre-diet intake. If in doubt, calculate the energy allocation again (Table 10). If the owner appears to be telling the truth and the intake is correct, a 10% reduction in quantities is advisable.

If the weight loss is greater than 2% of initial weight in the first week should I increase the quantity of food given?

No. During the first few weeks of the diet the weight loss may be greater than foreseen. Ideally, it should not exceed 3% of initial weight. But after this somewhat abrupt start a slowing down and eventual stabilization of the weight loss is generally observed. It has also been shown that the initial quantities often have to be restricted at the end of the diet for dogs that are very overweight. That is why it is sometimes advisable to wait a few weeks before increasing the quantities. On the other hand, owners appear to be very satisfied when the dog loses a lot of weight at the start of the diet. This could have an encouraging effect, but the reverse may also be true. An often observed reaction is a flagging of discipline, resulting in an attenuation of the weight loss. One way of preventing this is to check the dog frequently at the start of the diet to ensure that the diet is being followed.