You’ve been observing your dog become lazier and lazier by the day. You want to help your dog lose some weight but you don’t know where to start from. Don’t worry! You’re not alone. Pandemic has made pets across the world put on some fluff. Here’s how we helped our dog, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/travel.eat.poop.repeat/">Abby</a> shed some weight and become more active without starving her. Let’s see how!

The first change we made in our dog’s diet was to swap white rice with <a href="https://recipes.timesofindia.com/articles/food-news/what-is-red-rice-its-health-benefits-tips-to-eat-and-interesting-recipes/articleshow/65023617.cms">red rice </a>. Red rice contains abundant amounts of antioxidants that help <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/anti-inflammatory-diet-101">reduce inflammation </a>in the body. So if your dog is usually bloated and extra puffy after their big rice meal, this swap will do wonders for them.

Rice Swap

We swapped our dog’s breakfast brown bread with <a href="https://epets.co/blog/87629/benefits-of-having-ragi-atta-and-feeding-them-to-your-pets">ragi </a>malt aka finger millet. Ragi has a much superior nutritional profile than other staple grains.It’s loaded with fiber, so it lessens your dog’s food cravings. It’s also an excellent gluten-free option for doggos who are allergic to wheat.

Grain Swap

We started alternating our dog’s breakfast milk with plain curd. The <a href="https://www.dairy.com.au/dairy-matters/you-ask-we-answer/what-is-the-lactose-content-of-different-dairy-products">lactose sugar content </a>is much lower in curd as compared to milk. This way, your pet gets its daily dose of calcium without consuming too many calories from sugar.

Dairy Swap

We’ve relied on packed dog treats for years, but the truth is, the calories add up and it’s not really healthy for your pooch either. So, we started making <a href="https://thedailyreport.in/2022/01/23/two-easy-and-healthy-dishes-to-make-for-your-dog-this-week/">easy treats </a>at home that are not only delicious but are low on added sugars and fats too.

Homemade Treats

Portion control doesn’t mean you have to starve your dog. We reduced the content of rice in her diet by half and doubled the veggies. We also made sure she gets half a tbsp of <a href="https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/5-reasons-to-use-ghee-for-dogs/">ghee </a>in her dinner every day so she stays full for longer. Ghee also improves joint mobility and promotes <a href="https://thedailyreport.in/2022/02/15/dog-constipation-what-to-do-when-your-dog-cant-pass-a-poo/">healthy digestion </a>in dogs.

Portion Control

I'm a dog mom who loves to keep her pet's health in check and help other pet parents do the same. 

While you're working on helping your dog become more active, it might be a great idea to put on those running shoes and get moving with them.

health

Health

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

Here’s How We Helped Our Dog Shed Some Pounds & Get Moving - The Daily Report

I recently sought help for a street dog (I named her Seeti because she always comes running at the sound of my whistle) who had TVT, a type of life-threatening cancer. I called up a vet in my area who directed me to <a href="https://barkindia.org/">Bark India Charitable Trust </a>. Their volunteers came within 24hrs to pick Seeti up, started her on chemotherapy, and dropped her back in no time. She’s been recovering very well ever since.   You can check the <a href="http://www.weforanimals.com/Veterinary%20hospitals/veterinary%20hospitals.htm">We For Animals listing </a>to find such organizations. You can also check People For Animals registered units and hospitals on their <a href="https://www.peopleforanimalsindia.org/pfa-units.php">websites </a>.

Don't Ignore The Sick

Don’t have the time to cater to your neighborhood dogs? Try helping out those doing great work for the voiceless by donating and sponsoring whatever you can. In the past few years, I have regularly donated to a bunch of individual stray dog caregivers in Bangalore like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ayyappa.kolluru">Ayyappa Kolluru </a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sanjanaa_narendra/">Sanjana Narendra </a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nabanita.chakraborty.144">Nabanita Chakraborty </a>, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008514764365">Tanya Singh </a>, to name a few.

Contribute What You Can

I’ve been skimming through this comprehensive <a href="https://pets.webmd.com/pets-vaccines-directory">Pet Vaccines Directory </a>at WebMD to educate myself about vaccinations that dogs usually need. Additionally, you can familiarise yourself with animal-protection laws in India so you can combat prejudices set against them. You can easily access this type of information on the websites of the<a href="http://www.awbi.org/">Animal Welfare Board of India </a>and the <a href="http://www.moef.nic.in/">Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change </a>.

Educate Yourself

Back in 2020, soon after moving to a new area in Bangalore, I spotted a dog howling on a neighboring house’s terrace. I thought the owners might have left him there for a couple of hours. Turns out, they never took him in. He was always on the terrace, come rain or shine. I reported it to the local animal welfare team, who immediately spoke to the dog’s owners and sorted it all out.

Take cruelty personally

I'm an animal activist and I love to help people do more for their street animals. 

You can easily find such heroes in your city by hopping onto social platforms and actively searching for dog-loving communities online.

artsandculture

Society, Arts & Culture

Feeding street dogs is great, here are 4 ways to do more for them this year. - The Daily Report

<ul><li>You need - instant oats, dates, andsesame seeds.</li><li>Soak half a cup or about 100 gm of instant oats in a little water for 5 minutes. We used plain Quaker oats. </li><li>Make sure the oats are not fully immersed in water otherwise they’ll not bind together. </li><li>In the meantime, rinse and grind 5 seedless dates in a mixer. </li><li>Add the dates blend to the oats and mix with a spoon until smooth.</li><li>Use your hands to make small barfi. </li><li>Take a couple of tbsp of sesame seeds on an open plate. Coat the barfi in the seeds.  </li><li>Let the barfis sit in the fridge for about an hour. </li></ul>

Dates Barfi For Dogs

Pro Tip: This dish should be a treat and not a full meal because of the high sugar content in dates. Don’t give your pooch more than one barfi at a time. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CZEbqLjjYrE/?utm_medium=copy_link">Watch how we prepared </a> this dish for our doggie.

We cook for our dog every day and here's what we cooked this weekend. 

Giving different foods to your dog keeps them excited and increased their nutritional value. Do prepare these easy and healthy dishes to keep your pooch happy! 

Two easy and healthy dishes to make for your dog this week - The Daily Report

Are you giving your dog the exact same food day after day after day? It can not only lead to boredom but also limit the spectrum of nutrients and even increase their risk of food sensitivities. Rotational feeding is switching up your pup’s menu on a regular basis to broaden their palate and incorporate more nutrients into their diet. It’s easy to start doing but should be done safely.

Rotational Feeding For Fussy Dogs

Keeps your dog excited Dogs often become <a href="https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/ss/slideshow-dog-picky-eater">fussy about their food</a> when they get bored with it.Boredom can also make them eat non-food items like dirt or garbage, which could be dangerous. Switching up your puppy’s food keeps them open to new foods and makes mealtimes more exciting.

Benefits Of Rotational Feeding 

There are a plethora of microorganisms in your little furball’s gut that are helping him digest his food properly. So, when you change up your pet’s diet and include different types of foods containing fiber and probiotics, you increase their longevity.

Diversifies the gut bacteria 

Rotational feeding means your fur baby will be able to take in a wide range of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. Moreover, a varied diet reduces the risk of your dog developing food sensitivities later in life.

Allows nutritional variety  

For our dog Abby, we switch between chicken and eggs on a regular basis. We do two boiled eggs in her dinner for two days and then a palmful of chicken for the next two days. This goes on for six days of the week, and then we skip the protein altogether on Sunday to give her tummy a little break.

Change Their Protein Sources 

Going completely grain-free is never advised unless your dog is allergic to grains. We switch between red rice, white rice, and ragi flour for a grain-inclusive meal. We do boiled veggies and yogurt for a grain-free meal.

Alternating between grain-inclusive and grain-free 

We keep things interesting for our dog by providing an assortment of different textures at mealtime. We give her dry kibble 1-2 times a week and home-cooked food the rest of the days. When we <a href="https://thedailyreport.in/2022/01/13/road-tripping-with-your-dog-heres-how-to-prepare-for-it-like-a-pro/">travel with our dog </a>, we keep different types of dry food for uncertain times.

Alternating between dry and wet foods   

Here is a general timetable to transition your dog’s diet:  <ul><li>Day 1: Replace 25% of the old food with the new food. (Ex. – Swap only the protein) </li><li>Day 3: Replace 50% of the old food with the new food. (Ex. – Swap the grain for veggies) </li><li>Day 5: Replace 75% of the old food with the new food. (Ex. – Bring in new protein and new grain) </li><li>Day 7: Fully transition 100% of the old food to the new food.  </li> </ul>

How To Do It?

I'm a dog mother and love to share ideas on how to keep your pooch healthy & happy

when you change up your pet's diet and include different types of foods containing fiber and probiotics, you increase their longevity. 

Here’s How We Helped Our Dog Shed Some Pounds & Get Moving - The Daily Report

Feeding street dogs is great, here are 4 ways to do more for them this year. - The Daily Report

Two easy and healthy dishes to make for your dog this week - The Daily Report

Your dog fussing about food too much? Try rotational feeding! - The Daily Report

Manisha S