With over half of all canines considered overweight, dog weight loss is at the forefront of a lot of pet owner’s minds. While we know that a healthy weight can help our dogs live up to 15 percent longer, many people don’t know that their dogs are overweight. And when their veterinarians recommend weight loss for their beloved canines, they don’t know where to start.
Mill Creek Store Manager Fay Harris knows exactly how that feels. She’s helped her own dog lose a third of his body weight, and now she helps coach dog owners who want to help their own dogs achieve healthy weights. She theorizes that changing your thinking about dog weight loss can also make this journey easier. We talked to her to find out more.
FH: First, I like to talk about the difference between food and love. And how I often find myself substituting food for love with my own dog. We love our dogs so much, and we want to make them happy. But in the end, it can be detrimental to their health if we give them too much food. When we want to show them love, it can be through walks and playtime and not just through food and treats.
And then I like to talk about moist and fresh foods. Any time we can substitute moist and fresh foods for calorie-dense dry kibble it’s going to be easier to have them lose weight. So, we talk about raw food, freeze-dried foods or canned foods. We even talk adding about canned pumpkin to kibble diets.
But we also talk about foods that they already have around the house. If you’re making zucchini for dinner that night, some people love the idea of grating their leftover zucchini and saving it. They combine the zucchini with other grated fruits and vegetables throughout the week. Then, they sprinkle some of the grated fruits and vegetables on their dogs’ meals as a substitute for part of the kibble.
FH: I like to look for food with a lot of moisture. I prioritize this characteristic because water has no calories. Water is also very filling. I think that some dogs aren’t satisfied by their food, so they eat more and beg more. So, having food that contains a lot of moisture adds a lot more bulk to the food. I also think that fresher, non-processed foods are more satisfying and satiating. So, by adding those fresh and moist foods into the diet, your dog will feel more satisfied.
FH: I think lots of people forget to measure food. They just scoop some out and place it in a bowl, so it’s easy to overfeed. It’s important to use an actual measuring cup or a food scale to accurately measure the food at every meal.
Some people might not know that the recommendation on the bags of kibble are very broad guidelines. Many people interpret them as something that needs to be followed exactly. And sometimes people misread the guidelines. Sometimes there’s some verbiage that makes it confusing, and people think that the feeding recommendations are per feeding rather than per day.
Some dog owners forget to count the calories in treats and chews. The treats and chews that our dogs eat all day can add up to a lot of calories. And sometimes a dog might eat food that falls from the table, and those calories also add up to a surprising amount. An easy solution is to adjust the amount that you’re giving your dog at meal times based on the number of treats and chews that he’s eaten that day.
Only 10 percent of your dog’s diet should come from added vegetables, treats and chews. The other part of his diet needs to come from a nutritionally balanced dog food.
You can also make your dog’s life more interesting by making eating more challenging. So that might mean he has a raw meaty bone for dinner one night a week. He might enjoy a puzzle toy or completing tricks before getting his food. The occasional challenge is a great way to add love and stimulation to your dog’s life.
FH: Before I came to work at Mud Bay, my little guy, Rueben, weighed twenty pounds. And I didn’t think he was overweight because I thought his stomach would hang down if he was. But my vet said that he was overweight. I was told that he’ll never be a 13-pound dachshund, but he could potentially be a 16-pound dachshund. So, I started giving him less kibble and did some other things the vet suggested.
And he reached 16 pounds, but his weight plateaued there. When I came to work at Mud Bay, I transitioned him to a raw diet with the highest moisture content I could find. And the weight just melted off him. And he is, in fact, now a 13-pound dachshund!
So, I would suggest that if you’re running into obstacles, you should first check and make sure that your dog isn’t eating food you don’t know about. If someone’s giving him extra snacks or he’s eating a lot of chews, you should adjust the rest of his diet.
Then you need to decide if you’re feeding too much food. If you’re certain that the dog isn’t overeating, it’s worth seeing your vet to rule out health issues. If he checks out fine, we need to find the best ways to reduce calories that will leave your dog feeling the happiest and most satisfied.
And finally, we should consider how to incorporate even more moist and fresh foods into your dog’s daily diet. In my experience, that’s usually a very effective step in promoting dog weight loss.
Mill Creek Store Manager Fay Harris has been a Muddy for nearly 8 years. Come visit her store, and you can talk about other fun ways to add more love into your pet’s life.
⚽🌍 This week, Sean from Mud Bay Belltown is heading to the Belltown Dog Park to ask dog owners and Mud Bay customers in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood for their World Pup Cup Predictions! 🥅
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Today’s World Pup Cup prediction comes from Dorthey and her two pups, Boba and Lychee, for the match between Belgium and Egypt.
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#mudbay #pupperdictions #worldcup #soccer #worldcup
Mud Bay Delivery offers free same-day delivery 🚚 when you order before 2 pm. From food and supplements to toys, treats, and even frozen items, we’ll bring it all right to your door. It’s available seven days a week, with free delivery on orders over $30.
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Shop anytime at MudBay.com and let Mud Bay Delivery bring your pet’s go-to items straight to you. Click the link in our bio to place your order today.
#mudbay #healthypets #mudbaydelivery #pnw #pets
When the bone broth becomes the treat.
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Turn Open Farm Homestead Turkey Bone Broth into easy, homemade frozen treats with the Messy Mutts Silicone Treat Mold this summer. Made from flexible BPA- and PVC-free, food-grade silicone, the molds feature convenient fill lines for portioning and a notched center that makes it easy to break larger treats into smaller pieces.
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Pour in the collagen-rich bone broth, freeze, and serve. Made from humanely raised turkey bones and slow-simmered with pumpkin, carrot, and turmeric, it adds flavor, hydration, and enrichment to your dog’s day.
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Minimal prep. Maximum tail wags. Shop Open Farm Homestead Turkey Bone Broth and the Messy Mutts Bake and Freeze Dog treat maker in-store or online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #openfarm #messymutts #summer #staycool
Reduce. Reuse. Go for a walk.
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The Eco Collar and Leash Collection from RC Pets is made with REPREVE® webbing, created from 100% recycled plastic bottles. 🇨🇦 Proudly made in Vancouver, Canada, these collars and leashes are designed to be durable, comfortable, and ready for everyday adventures.
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And now you can shop RC Pets Eco Collar and Leashes for your dog in-store or online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #dogwalk #dogs #rcpets #recycled
Starting today our friends at Fluff & Tuff are once again kicking off #IGiveAFluff to help put toys in the paws of shelter and rescue dogs who need them most.
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And we want you to be a part of it, and it couldn’t be easier to participate!
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Here’s how it works:
📸 Snap a photo or a video of your dog with their favorite Fluff & Tuff toy.
📱 Share it on social media using #IGiveAFluff.
🐾 Fluff & Tuff donates a toy to a shelter or rescue dog.
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Since 2015, with the support of pet parents like you and the generosity of Fluff & Tuff, over 22,000 toys have been donated to shelters and rescue dogs.
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Want to participate, but need a Fluff & Tuff toy? Maybe a soccer ⚽️ ball for your pup with a certain soccer tournament kicking off this week? We’ve got you covered!
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Stop by your local Mud Bay or visit us online. Click the link in our bio to learn more about #IGIVEAFLUFF
It’s never a bad time to chill. 🧘♀️ 🐾
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Swell`s My Chill Time Premium Dog Gelato is made with functional ingredients like chamomile and passion flower tea, which help your pup stay cool, calm, and collected when summer activities makes thier day-to-day a little more stressful. Plus, it includes blackberries, 🥥 coconut milk, ginger, beets, and 🍯 🐝 honey, which are great for digestion and antioxidant support.
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Swell Premium Dog Gelato is not only a tasty treat on a hot summer day, but it also helps keep your pup living their best life and staying CHILL. Shop My Chill Time from Swell in-store or online at Mud Bay this summer. 🌞
#mudbay #swelldoggelato #swell #dogs #chill
Adventure-ready and made for the water, the Ruffwear Float Coat helps keep your dog comfortable during every swim.
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The Float Coat offers a secure, telescoping neck closure that adjusts to fit a variety of dog sizes, while the lightweight foam panels support natural movement and buoyancy in the water, keeping them comfortable and safe.
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Plus, it offers a super handy, low-profile handle that makes it easy to lift your pup out of the water, and reflective accents that add extra visibility for long days at the lake, beach, or river.
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Bring your pup in-store or shop with us online for the Ruffwear Float coat today!
#mudbay #summer #adventures #ruffwear #doglife
🌞 🎆 🎉 Summer brings celebrations, late nights, travel and events that can leave your pets feeling uneasy.
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Mud Bay is here to help, offering products that bring calm and comfort to your cat or dog when things get noisy.
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We carry calming collars, tinctures, treats, and pheromones to help your pets handle everything summer brings—Shop Mud Bay in-store or online to find the right calmatives for your pets.
#mudbay #summer #keepcalm #healthypets #calming
Fluff & Tuff`s #IGIVEAFLUFF is Coming Soon!
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Starting June 8th, National Best Friends Day, our friends at Fluff & Tuff are once again kicking off #IGiveAFluff to help put toys in the paws of shelter and rescue dogs who need them most.
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And we want you to be a part of it, and it couldn`t be easier to participate!
Here`s how it works:
📸 Snap a photo of your dog with their favorite Fluff & Tuff toy.
📱 Share it on social media using #IGiveAFluff.
🐾 Fluff & Tuff donates a toy to a shelter or rescue dog.
🐾
Since 2015, with the support of pet parents like you and the generosity of Fluff & Tuff, over 22,000 toys have been donated to shelters and rescue dogs. Want to participate, but you need a Fluff & Tuff toy? Take a tip from Frank and stop by your local Mud Bay or visit us online. Click the link in our bio to learn more about #IGIVEAFLUFF
Canagan canned cat food is grain-free and made with your cat in mind, using high-quality protein from chicken, salmon, tuna, and more.
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It’s inspired by what cats are naturally built to eat, with a focus on animal protein and no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
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It’s also an easy way to add moisture to your cat’s routine—something many cats don’t get enough of—which can help support your feline friend with kidney and urinary-tract health.
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🛍️ Shop Canagan Complete Cat Food in-store or online at Mud Bay.
Summer is coming, so be like Goose 🐕 and stay cool 😎 ❄️ on every outing with the Swamp Cooler Harness from Ruffwear.
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Whether she’s out on a trail or enjoying a long walk or run, this harness is built for warm-weather adventures, offering cooling comfort and secure control in one breathable design.
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Shop in-store or online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #adventures #pnw #dog #summeriscoming
Mud Bay Memorial Day Hours ⏰
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Today, Monday, May 25, all Mud Bay locations will be open from 10 am to 6 pm.
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Delivery orders placed after 2 pm on Sunday will arrive on Tuesday. Store pickup and Instacart will still be available. 🐈 🐕 🚚
#mudbay #holidayhours #healthypets #mudbaydelivery #pets
