How to Help a Siberian Husky Lose Weight

Siberian Huskies require the correct amount of a nutritionally balanced diet to maintain their muscular bodies and physical stamina. A healthy diet for an adult Siberian consists of amino acids and proteins from meat and plant foods. A well-balanced diet also requires fats, vitamins, and minerals to supply energy and maintain a healthy coat. When choosing a commercially prepared dog food for your Siberian Husky, select a brand labeled “complete and balanced,” meaning it meets the nutritional requirements to be a dog’s sole nourishment, as established by the American Association of Feed Control Officials. Many dog food brands provide foods for specific life stages that ensure a nutritionally balanced diet for senior dogs, nursing or pregnant dogs, overweight dogs, and puppies. Feeding your dog one of the appropriate dog foods helps maintain a healthy weight.

Remove treats and table scraps from your overweight Siberian Husky’s diet. If you train your dog using treats as rewards, substitute the dog’s kibble for the treats, and subtract the amount from your dog’s daily ration. Whenever you reward your dog with any kind of food, count it as part of the dog’s daily food intake, and cut the dog’s ration accordingly. Since Siberian Huskies belong to the working group, they enjoy earning their food. You do not have to feed them their daily meal from a bowl but can give it to them throughout the day as they work or perform. However, make sure you’re keeping track of how much you give your dog.

As with humans, the caloric intake a Siberian Husky needs depends on the amount of daily exercise the dog gets. Dog food labels offer recommended daily feeding amounts for dogs, usually based on weight and activity levels. These charts are rough estimates and are not correct for every dog. If you have been going by the dog food label of a high-quality dog food and your Siberian is overweight, you should cut the daily ration. If your dog is elderly or unable to exercise, consult your veterinarian about changing to a dog food formulated for the dog’s specific nutrition needs and activity level.

Measure your dog’s daily ratio instead of free-feeding the dog. Begin by decreasing the amount you’ve been feeding by 1/2 cup increments until your Siberian Husky begins to lose weight. Divide the total ratio into two, or preferably three, daily meals. Giving several meals per day will prevent a cycle of overloading the stomach and then allowing the dog to get hungry. It also will help reduce the risk of bloat, also called gastric dilation and volvulus, a potentially fatal medical emergency. Once your Siberian Husky reaches the ideal weight, keep the food portion consistent, but always look at your dog at feeding time to keep close track of weight gains and losses and make minor adjustments accordingly. Just reaching the ideal weight is not enough. You must stabilize it, and the only way to do that is to pay attention.

Male Siberians usually weigh from 45 to 60 pounds, and females weigh from 35 to 50 pounds, according to the American Kennel Club. Obesity can cause joint disease, pain, cardiac disease, skin allergies, and respiratory problems at any age. Ask your veterinarian about the ideal weight for your Siberian Husky and the recommended number of daily calories your dog should eat for good health.

The Siberian husky is an overall healthy breed with few genetic defects or health conditions, according to the Siberian Husky Club of America. Siberians can suffer from hip dysplasia. Keeping this breed’s weight in the normal range helps relieve the stresses on the hip joint and ligaments that excess weight can cause.

Getting Your Dog or Cat to Lose Weight

Getting your pet to shed some pounds requires consistency and dedication. Learn the tricks and tips you need to get your pet back into shape here.

When cats and dogs gain weight, it’s generally the result of excessive eating and insufficient exercise. So it should come as no surprise that to help pets take off the pounds, you’ll need to increase their amount of exercise, and decrease their amount of food. Before instituting any major change to your pet’s diet or exercise regimen, please take some time to consult with your veterinarian about the best weight loss strategy. In general, it’s best for dietary shifts and increased exercise to be implemented gradually.

Changes to Diet & Feeding Habits

Making the following adjustments to how your pet is provided with food can make a huge difference to the number of calories being ingested.

Switch Foods

It’s worth taking the time to check the ingredients of the primary food your pet eats. A nutritionally sound food will list meat as the main ingredient and not a meat by-product. Avoid foods that have a carbohydrate, such as grains or corn, as the primary ingredient.

Stop Feeding Pets Human Food

It’s easy to give pets scraps of your food, especially since they seem to want it so badly. But even small scraps of human food can add up to lots of extra calories. Giving a pet your leftovers for dinner can allow them to cherry-pick the high-calorie items – even if it looks like not much was eaten, your pet may have ingested a significant amount of calories.

Reduce & Switch Treats

It’s worth repeating: Food is not love. Treats are a nice way to reward your pet’s good behavior and a helpful training tool. However, giving your pet treats to show affection can easily introduce lots of extra calories to your pet’s diet, especially if you feel particularly affectionate toward your cat or dog. Try praising pets in some of the situations when you’d normally give out a treat. Also, check on the ingredients within the treats – just like the snacks that people eat, pet treats are often an unhealthy choice. Look for options that are low-fat, and keep in mind that treats should be a very small percentage of your pet’s total dietary intake.

Portion Control

Pouring food into a bowl can be deceptive. Is that really a cup, or have you strayed over? Just a little bit of extra food each day can make a big difference. Measure your pet’s food, whether it’s wet or dry, and provide the same amount of food daily. Keep in mind also that the guidelines on the pet food packaging are not always precise – your vet can help you determine the right amount of food for your pet.

Feed Pets Several Small Meals

For pets that are overweight, the “free food” method, with food constantly available, may not work well, since pets may have trouble self-regulating how much they eat. Instead, feed your cat or dog several small meals throughout the day.