Your American Foxhound is a little too big, its weight is a little too high… Be careful! The consequences can be serious (cardiovascular diseases, shortness of breath, increased dysplasia, articulation problems…).
If you want to keep your American Foxhound healthy, you will have to make him lose weight.
In this article, find out how to make your American Foxhound lose weight, what are the right methods to make your American Foxhound lighter?
You will see that, just like humans, there are 2 ways to lose weight: by increasing physical activity and by eating an appropriate diet. This is what we will see in more detail below.
How to make your American Foxhound lose weight
How to make a American Foxhound lose weight – Calculate the weight to lose
To determine the ideal weight of your American Foxhound, you can either ask its veterinarian or you can find out on internet according to its race, size and age.
As soon as you have the information, you will need to do a simple subtraction to know the weight to lose:
Starting weight – ideal weight = weight to lose
Slim down a American Foxhound – Increase its physical activity
Whatever his level of daily activity, it is up to you to adapt the increase in physical exercise to what you can do and what your American Foxhound can do.
It’s up to you to choose between:
- fast walking,
- slow walking: 30 minutes, 1 hour or more,
- run following you by foot, by bike,
- swimming in a lake,
- ball games, frisbee, ball,
- agility sessions….
How to get a American Foxhound thinner – Modifying his nutrition
If you want your American Foxhound to lose weight, you must combine the increase in energy expenditure through increased physical exercise with a decrease in the caloric value of your American Foxhound’s diet.
The reduction in caloric intake should not be done by simply reducing the quantity of food given daily. In this case, you would risk to starve your dog, or even to not cover his nutritional needs enough….
The reduction in the caloric intake must be made through an adequate, balanced and, above all, less caloric diet.
Homemade food is to be avoided because it is difficult to measure the fat, protein, carbohydrate content, fibre intake, etc.
You will need to feed your American Foxhound regularly and stably with croquettes specially adapted for American Foxhound overweight. This way, your American Foxhound will receive a quality diet, in sufficient quantity and with a reduced calorie intake.
Of course, the croquettes will have to be chosen from among the premium quality ranges of the “veterinary” brands. See our article: Best croquettes for American Foxhound.
Indeed, these foods contain high quality nutrients with a good protein content and are adapted to each American Foxhound according to its size, race, age and sometimes even its level of activity. During the diet period, he should be given only 80% of the recommended daily amount on the croquettes package.
Important: It is necessary to stop completely the sweets and other delicacies if you used to give them to him… It will be advisable to reserve for your American Foxhound on the quantity planned daily some croquettes which you can give him in guide of reward if you are in period of training.
Caution: To ensure that your American Foxhound does not have digestive problems or intestinal disorders, when you change its diet, you should do so gradually by gradually introducing the new food and reducing the amount of the old one.
Make your American Foxhound lose weight – For how long?
Weight loss for a American Foxhound is a long process that usually lasts for several months. So you have to be patient and weigh your American Foxhound every month to monitor your weight loss.
Of course, when the ideal weight is reached, it will be necessary to give it only 100% of the recommended daily amount on the pack of croquettes. But, I advise you to continue with the same croquettes. Indeed, it will stabilize its weight by keeping a good diet and well continue regular physical exercises. So your American Foxhound will not take back the pounds or the kilos so hard lost …
Helping your American Foxhound lose weight – Which food for fat dogs?
Either you get direct advice from your veterinarian, or you choose among the Internet brands recommended by veterinarians: Hills, Purina Proplan or Eukanuba.
Here is my recommendation of croquettes well adapted, tolerated and effective to slim down your American Foxhound:
Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic + Mobility Weight and Joint Care
This diet is well proportioned with a good level of protein and antioxidants but especially with a very low caloric content.
Users’ opinions
The majority of testimonies confirm that this diet food is effective for overweight their American Foxhound, that weight loss is gradual.
Others say that they are appetizing foods and that their American Foxhound love them and tolerate them very well.
Finally, many comments stipulate that the price on Amazon is much more interesting than in a veterinary clinic.
I also noted on the internet that these veterinary kibbles can be suitable for all American Foxhound for which it is necessary to monitor the weight….
