Overweight dog

Question
QUESTION: I have an overweight beagle and need to know the best food to put her on to help in this problem.  She has been to the vet and she is medically fine other than starting to have some back problems probably due to her weight.  My vet uses the Hills Science Diet foods but the lead ingredient is corn so I'm not sure if that is the best for her or not.  What diet and exercise program do you find the most success with?

ANSWER: One of the objections to high corn content chows is their greater bulk.  It is not that there is any evidence the dogs don't do fine on them.  It is just that you must feed a greater volume and what doesn't get digested comes out the other end.  I fail to follow the logic of those that feed an expensive, highly digestible, concentrated chow and then dump a can of indigestible green beans in the dish with it so the dog has a full stomach.  Why not just feed the corn based chow?  Of course, I am not selling the more expensive chows or anything else.  

I would go along with your vet.  If he is taking advantage of you on price, go to Wal-Mart and buy the diet Purina 1 or even the regular Purina that are about the same thing.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: But what about the carb craze.  Corn, I thought was high in carbs.  Are the effects of carbs the same in dogs as people?  I thought the number one ingredient should be more like chicken or chicken meal?  My vet is charging me cost so if Science Diet's diet food is the best, I'll stick with that.

Answer
Do you think those selling meat based dog chows are any more to be trusted than what your vet tells you about his Science?  If you feed what it takes for your dog to lose weight of a meat based chow, it will feel less full than feeding a corn or other based chow.  I have fed Purina in the past, and see little difference in the dogs I am feeding Pro Plan now, other than the smaller, firmer stools.  Many times I have challenged those pushing meat based chows to direct me to an objective study proving they have any other benefits other than being easier to clean up after.  Never, not once have I ever been given any evidence meat based diets are better for dogs.  Go back to wherever you heard chicken is better.  Ask to see the studies that proved it.  Some people will say anything to sell their product, including bad mouthing the Vets that sell Science for a lack of objectivity.  I can't trust such hypocrites.