Teaming Up: "We're killing our dogs by making them fat."

Chow Hounds by Dr. Ernest Ward, Jr.

The American Dog reports

"Dogs are more like us than we may realize. Not only do they share our love for food, but just like us, they are at risk for obesity. In fact, obesity affects more than 50 percent of this country's canine companions, which significantly increases their risk of developing heart disease, arthritis, and thereby decreasing their expected lifespan" says Dr. Ernest Ward, Jr. But, it doesn't have to be so, and "Dr. Ernie" is showing the way.

His new book, Chow Hounds, teaches people what they need to know when it comes to feeding their dogs a nutritious diet even if a dog doesn't need to lose weight. Dr. Ernie's "Hybrid Menu" and highly nutritious recipes will help owners provide maximum nutrition at minimum cost.

Dr. Ernie artfully exposes the reality that people and their dogs are the target of shrewd marketing coupled with a calculated assault to stimulate attraction to pet foods and treats by adding sugar, salt and fat.

But, we should know better by now. "Whether we know it or not, we're partially to blame for encouraging an unhealthy lifestyle for our dogs," says Dr. Ernie. Not to worry: there are ways for pet owners to break the chow hound cycle, and Dr. Ernie's prescriptive plan will show us how. He will help dog lovers discover how to:

- Create a simple, safe and effective weight-loss program complete with specific calorie calculations;

- Find pet food without added fat, fillers, sugar, and salt;

choose the right protein/carb mix; and pick the correct diet for weight loss;

- Maximize a dog's fitness, including how long and how far a dog should be walked each day;

and

Dr. Ernie appears regularly on the Rachael Ray Show. He is a uniquely qualified expert on obesity"”both in humans as well as animals"”not only because he is a veterinarian with almost 20 years of clinical experience but is also a certified personal trainer and USA Triathlon accredited coach.

Dr. Ward practices at Seaside Animal Care in Calabash, North Carolina.