Q: My small beagle, April, is getting fat. I've tried everything to make her lose weight and she won't budge. She now only gets one cup of food and one pig ear a day. Please help!

A: Treats often sabotage weight-loss regimens, especially in large households. Lots of family members want to ply the pets with ``love'' in the guise of a tidbit. In your case, April's pig ear may be the equivalent of another cup of food.

The calories in commercial treats vary widely. Consider that a cup of kibbled commercial dog food typically has about 300 calories. Then check out this treat list, compiled by petobesityprevention.com:

• Milk Bones (by Del Monte): 20 for the teeny-tiny ones to 225 calories for the bigger ones.

• BusyBones (by Purina): 309 for the small ones to 618 for the big ones.

• DentaBones (by Pedigree): 105 for the small, 188 for the medium and 300 for the large.

• Pig ears: about 130 calories for the small ones and 300 for big ones.

• Rawhides: 100 to about 600 calories.

That's a lot of calories! And they're not nutritionally balanced calories, either. But you do have alternatives:

• Green beans (frozen or fresh): 23 calories per half cup.

• Baby carrots: 4 calories each.

• Apple slices: 32 calories per half apple.

• Air popped popcorn: 15 calories per half cup.

So stick to unprocessed treats with low calorie counts. It might just boost April's weight loss. And don't forget the exercise. A good run every day is bound to help.

Dr. Patty Khuly has a veterinary practice in South Miami and blogs at www.dolittler.com. Send questions to khulyp@bellsouth.net, or Dr. Dolittler, Tropical Life, The Miami Herald, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132.

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