Help Maltipoo Lose Weight
How to Help a Maltipoo Lose Weight
Overview
While it is not overly common, small dogs like the Maltipoo can become overweight. And if so, it’s imperative that steps be taken to bring the dog down to a healthy weight. Carrying excess pounds can lead to a number of canine health issues and even affect a dog’s life span.
This section will discuss the risks of canine obesity, how to know if your Maltipoo needs to lose weight and helpful tips that can help your dog lose weight in a non-stressful way.
The Top 10 Risks of Canine Obesity
There are numerous issues seen with overweight dogs:
1. Arthritis.
This affects 80% of dogs 8 years and older to varying degrees. Excess weight can cause joints to degenerate faster than they would otherwise and losing excess weight can help alleviate some of the pain associated with arthritis.
2. Knee, hip, and back issues.
Over time, the strain of carrying extra pounds can affect the knees, hips, and back leading to pulls and tears.
3. Heart issues.
Canine obesity is linked to both high blood pressure and heart disease.
4. Exercise intolerance, mobility issues, and decreased stamina.
A vicious cycle can begin where a Maltipoo has trouble exercising due to excess weight but exercising more is the very thing that could help them lose weight.
5. Increased risk of diabetes.
Being overweight is linked to this disease that typically affects 1 in 300 dogs.
6. Increased risk of pancreatitis.
This in one of the many causes of canine diabetes
because a pancreatic infection affects the production of insulin.
7. Increased risk of other health issues
including urinary bladder stones, some cancers, and liver disease.
8. Anesthesia risk.
Excess weight can make sedation riskier. This can affect everything from routine professional dental cleanings to surgical treatment of emergency issues or serious health problems.
9. Breathing issues.
Overweight dogs are more prone to collapsed trachea (an issue that is not uncommon with toy and small breeds including the Maltipoo). And being overweight can lead to heat intolerance and trouble breathing during exercise, especially in warm weather.
10. Shortened life span.
A study involving 50,000 dogs showed that, on average, overweight dogs live two and a half years shorter lives
than their fit counterparts.
How to Know if your Maltipoo is Overweight
The results of a study conducted by PetMaltipoo showed that there is a wide weight range for adult Maltipoo dogs. In looking at the weight of 1638 adults, though most were 7 to 13 lbs., weights spanned from 3 to 25 lbs.
So, you may wonder how it is that you or the vet could even determine if your Maltipoo needs to lose weight. Fortunately, there are some ways to assess this.
1. Routinely have your Maltipoo weighed (at home or at the vet's).
As soon as your Maltipoo has reached their full adult size which is typically by the 10 to 12-month mark, you’ll want to know how much they weigh so that this can be tracked over the years. Whether an adult dog is 5 lbs. and then gradually becomes overweight with a climb to 9 lbs. or a dog is 15 lbs. then gradually reaches 20 lbs., it is by tracking these changes over time that helps determine a problem.
2. Assessment of the rib cage.
If individual rib bones can easily be felt, this typically means that there is just a thin layer of fat and is a good sign that a dog is at or near their ideal weight. If, however, it is very difficult to feel the ribs, this is a sign that there is too much body fat.
3. Assessment of other changes.
If a dog is panting more, has trouble keeping pace as they used to, is slower to rise, cannot jump up onto furniture as before, and/or has less interest in exercising, this can point to a number of issues that are linked to canine obesity such as arthritis or breathing issues or can be due to obesity itself.
4. Veterinary confirmation.
If you suspect that your Maltipoo is too heavy, be sure to have your dog examined by the vet. A 15 lb. Maltipoo may be much larger than a 5 lb. Maltipoo but this does not mean that they are overweight, it may simply mean that they have larger bone structure and they could be at an ideal weight. So, the last thing you want to do is put that fit dog on a diet which could lead becoming underweight.
How to Help a Maltipoo Lose Weight
Helping a Maltipoo lose weight does not need to be stressful for you or your dog. Think of this as a teamwork challenge that will lead to numerous health benefits and a longer life for your canine family member.
#1 Have realistic goals.
Whether your Maltipoo needs to lose 2 pounds or 10, it’s best to do this in a slow yet steady manner. Rushing a dog to lose weight quickly is rarely successful and can lead to frustration and a dog being overly hungry.
A general guideline is to have a goal of losing 1% of body weight per week or 3 to 5% per month. For example, for a Maltipoo that weighs 20 pounds, that is a goal of losing .2 pounds per week or .6 to 1 pound per month.
#2 Set meals and snacks.
A feeding schedule makes dieting much easier. Many dogs do best with 2 to 3 meals per day and 2 to 3 snacks per day given in between meals.
Having a feeding plan also helps prevent owners from giving in to begging or feeding table scraps, two things that can lead to weight gain.
#3 Fewer calories but not necessarily less food.
It is much easier for a dog to lose weight when portion sizes are not dramatically cut back. And this can often be accomplished by offering low-calorie food.
For meals:
In many cases, there should be a low-calorie formula of the kibble you are already feeding your Maltipoo, and this may be a good time to assess things to make sure that you are offering a top-quality food.
Low calorie formulas are typically labeled ‘Healthy Weight’, ‘Weight Management’ or ‘Reduced Calorie’. For example, one of the brands we recommend to help a Maltipoo lose weight is Wellness Complete for Small Breeds - Healthy Weight
.
. This has just 341 calories for each 1 cup compared to the 408 in each cup of the regular turkey & oatmeal recipe or the 468 calories in each cup of the whitefish & salmon recipe.
Note that for the Wellness brand, the serving size you should go by is the ‘recommended serving size’ listed on the bag under ‘weight reduction’ and is based on a dog’s current weight (not the lower goal weight).
For snacks:
Snacks should not be cut out of a dog’s diet because these help tide over the appetite between meals so that a dog is not starving when he’s given his bowl.
One great option for low-calorie 100% all-natural dog treats is Fruitables Skinny Mini Dog Treats
which have only about 3 calories per treat and can be found in a wide range of super-delicious flavors including pumpkin & mango, pumpkin & berry, and apple & bacon. There is even rotisserie chicken and bison.
which have only about 3 calories per treat and can be found in a wide range of super-delicious flavors including pumpkin & mango, pumpkin & berry, and apple & bacon. There is even rotisserie chicken and bison. #4 Gradual increase in physical activity.
It’s is not advisable to expect an overweight dog to suddenly start doubling their exercise. However, even small changes can make a big difference. Start by adding on 5 or 10 minutes to each walk. Have short sessions of fetch each day or otherwise encourage your Maltipoo to be more active. After a week or two when your Maltipoo is accustomed to that, increase activity by another 5 to 10 minutes per session.
If your dog needs some motivation, remember that your attitude and level of enthusiasm plays a huge role.
Walks can be made more interesting by taking different routes or making a game of weaving around things like signs and landscaping.
Fetch played outdoors can be made more tempting by using something like Zanies Mini Tennis Balls for Dogs
; the size of these makes it easy for small dogs to mouth which helps a Maltipoo have more successful grabs.
; the size of these makes it easy for small dogs to mouth which helps a Maltipoo have more successful grabs. If it’s rainy or too cold for outdoor play, you can still you’re your Maltipoo moving by playing some indoor fetch. Something like the Chuckit! Indoor Fumbler
can be played down a hallway or in a large room.
can be played down a hallway or in a large room. A Final Word
If your Maltipoo needs to lose weight, whether it is just a couple of pounds or many more, work together as a team to tackle the challenge. Fewer calories and increased activity is the key. Once your guy or gal is fit and lean, continue with healthy eating and exercise habits going forward.
Other Helpful Articles:
How to Keep a Maltipoo Clean
- If you have a dog that seems to be constantly dirty, see these easy tips for keeping your little guy or gal clean in between baths.
Home Cooking for a Maltipoo
- If you've ever thought about moving away from processed food for your dog or you've been doing this for a while and are looking for new recipes, you'll find some great tips here.
Flea, Tick, and Heartworm Products for a Maltipoo
- The emphasis here is on no-chemical options since pesticides can cause a wide range of issues. Read how to protect your puppy or dog while using all-natural products.
When a Maltipoo has Allergies
- Allergies can be very tricky to both diagnose and treat. See our tips to help with allergies and offer immediate relief for symptoms including severe itching.