Weight Loss Camp
As Americans have become more and more overweight over the years, our dogs have done it right along with us! According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, obesity is the fourth leading cause for canine deaths, and as many as 20 percent of dogs in North America are currently overweight.
Its not always easy to tell but, in a nutshell, if your dog’s sides are parallel from chest to hips, your dog is overweight! If you put your hands on your dog’s sides and you can't feel ribs, your dog is overweight! And if your dog is overweight, he needs your help to address it.
How Do We Do It?
We do it the only way it can be done. We help the dog eat fewer calories (but with similar volume so they don't feel deprived) and we help them move more--what every doctor tells all of us!
You could do this yourself in your own home, working around your own schedule. But making the necessary changes to get it done is not easy. Its not easy to completely disrupt a feeding and treating schedule to which your dog has become accustomed. And, it is surely not easy for you to look them in their beautiful eyes and deny them what you know makes them so happy in the moment--no matter how much you know it is in their best interest.
At Indigo Ranch, we are uniquely set up to offer your dog success. When they come to stay with us, they have a totally new routine. They don't have the same expectations, and they have all the excitement of new friends and the overwhelming desire to join the games.
With veterinary guidance, we help them eat better, and they move more because it's fun. It's a simple yet effective plan.
Weight Loss Camp is a specialized program, so we'll work with you individually to get you all ready to hit the ground running! If you think this might be the right program for your dog, message us directly at info@indigorescue.org and we'll talk more!
The Risks of Obesity in Dogs
Injuries
An overweight dog carries extra weight on their joints and in addition to making it more difficult for your dog to be active and exercise to stay fit, those extra pounds put them at risk of being injured with ACL tears (Anterior Cruciate Ligament tears caused by twisting on a hind leg). Surgery and rehabilitation for an ACL tear is hard on your dog, can be very costly, and frequently the over compensation on the good knee will cause a tear in the opposite side, too.
Heart Disease
Fat cells clog arteries and valves in dogs, just as they do in humans. As these vital pathways narrow, the heart has to work harder to keep blood and oxygen flowing, leading to an enlargement of that muscle which makes it less efficient. Left unchecked, heart failure becomes imminent.
Fatty Liver Disease
Just as in humans, a liver clogged with fat cells is unable to efficiently filter toxins out of the blood stream for elimination. Eventually the liver completely fails to function and death soon follows.
Skeletal Stress
Carrying excess weight puts undue strain on a dog’s bones and joints. The cartilage in the joints wears thin, leading to bones scraping painfully against bone. Dogs suffering from this malady will move stiffly and slowly, especially after getting up from a nap. Canine Hip Dysplasia, and Arthritis are two of the most prevalent skeletal stress disorders related to canine obesity.
Cancer
The connection may not seem obvious, but cancer rates increase dramatically for obese dogs.
Canine Diabetes
Canine diabetes is a serious disease that affects your dog’s ability to metabolize sugar. The pancreas is either unable to produce enough insulin to break down the sugar molecules, or the body is unable to properly use the insulin that is produced. Higher levels of sugar in the bloodstream can feed even the most minor bacterial infections, turning them chronic and life threatening. Studies show that maintaining a healthy weight lessens the effects of diabetes in dogs.
Our Process
We start by having you take your dog to the vet for a health check-up, including a complete baseline blood and urine screening done by your own veterinarian to ensure that they are healthy before beginning the weight loss program. Our vet will also review your dog’s health screening prior to beginning. Having this baseline information will also allow you to see, in very tangible ways, how the program has positively effected your dog's overall health.
Based on the latest veterinary research, we then determine the appropriate portion size and choose a specific food that decreases the daily calorie intake of the dog while ensuring an appropriate level of nutrition. We feed your dog a diet that is specific to their needs, in portion sizes that are appropriate for their skeletal structure. We also provide low-calorie, high fiber treats...because everybody deserves a treat now and then!
Your dog will immediately enter a routine exercise regimen--and he probably won't even notice it because he'll be having too much fun with his new pals! We will carefully increase his activity as he's able to tolerate it, allowing him to burn calories and get into shape gradually--and have an energy level that will make keeping it off easier.
Once your dog has reached his or her healthy weight, we provide a lifetime plan for the family so they can maintain their new healthy lifestyle.
Your Commitment
During Indigo Weight Loss Camp, your dog stays with us Monday through Friday, and comes home on the weekend. During the weekend we send home pre-measured food portions and specific instructions so you can keep your dog on their individual plan. The average weight loss program can range from four to eight weeks, depending on how much weight they need to lose.
When the dog loses the extra weight, it is, of course, up to you to follow through--with ongoing support from us if needed.
An important Note:
Indigo Ranch Boarding makes no claims to be a medical facility. What we do is help you and your dog follow through on the recommendations of veterinarians and dog behavioralists to help dogs get healthy and, in so doing, lose weight.
Rates
Four weeks stay, Monday through Friday: $1000 plus food
Eight Weeks Stay, Monday through Friday: $1950 plus food
(Depending on need, we can make individual arrangements if the dog's weight loss needs require)
VISA, MASTERCARD & DISCOVER ACCEPTED
One of Our Favorite BIG LOSERS
Butters was a three year old Yellow Lab who came to us weighing a whopping 142 pounds, and he could hardly walk. He ate laying down...he even played and wrestled with other dogs laying down! Because he had been eating way too much poor quality food, Butters' coat was greasy and had large patches of missing fur. He was not only very overweight, but clearly unhealthy and depressed.
After his stay with us, he was down to a svelt 84 pounds! Now, his owner's report that he has a beautiful coat and "catches air" when he plays ball. He's come a long way and now has a long healthy life to look forward to!
