Advice please - overweight?

JoG

JoG

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Have just got back from the vet (grass seed removal again :rolleyes:) and am a bit annoyed to be told that Molly is overweight as i thought she looked better then she has been :(

I guess the scales don't lie but I really thought she improved - she weighed in at 21kg - the same as our Springer!!

Could I have any opinions please? She is a 4yo sprocker spaniel (field spaniel), neutered, stands 42cm at her shoulder. The vet wants me to try and get her to 15kgs...she is currently only getting 200g Lamb/Rice kibble a day in two feeds and it is 18% protein and cereal free

Beginning of June:

P1030209.jpg


About a week ago (clipping due again!):

Photo161.jpg
 
I am not really for cuttinf food down unless you are feeding a massive amount, although if i was you i would switch to RAW.

But i just incourage more and more exercise
 
She looks good in the first pic, the second not so good, but could just be the hair.

My fella, to the left in the picture, is on the skinny side but a good weight for his height and hovers around thr 40kg mark, if that helps? He does a good 7-10k hike with lots of hills every day.
 
Thanks guys :)

CC i think you hit the nail on the head - she is so furry that I assume it is fur and not fat :o our springer is like your lovely boy and I do prefer that size than the other side of good :(

I am also on a weight loss plan after disastrous dress shopping at the weekend so will up her exercise and cut snacks. Her exercise at the moment is mad spaniel beetling in the wood - maybe a power walk round the village on the lead as well would help? Me and her?! ;)

ETA - her kibble is 52% meat....have to admit that they're on that for convenience as occasionally I have to rely on our dogsitter to put food down and it is easier to leave kibble out ready :o
 
Swimming is very good exercise, is there anywhere local to you that she can swim?

She does look a little bit on the chunky side in the second pic. 15kg would be less than Henry though, how tall is she?

ETA Kibble is nothing to :o about, Henry is on kibble and lost all the weight he needed to ;)
 
The only problem with swimming is getting her back and the lake is a mile long!! :eek:

She is 42cm at her shoulder and about 50cm from base of neck to tail....I think the vet classes her as a cocker but she is half springer
 
She's only a bit smaller than Henry then, and for him 15kg would be emaciated, so if I were you I'd aim for 16kg and see how it goes.

I know - you run round the lake and get her to swim alongside, you will both be skinny minnies in no time:D
 
Girl after my own heart:D

Take her biking with you - Kirstyhen takes Otto, and Henry has been known to have a little trot along with the bike too:)
 
Definitely reminds me of our spangle - and the flouff vs fat weight problem! She was never a 'typical' spangle in that she liked a good hoon but was more inclined to bumble around in the undergrowth so her weight was always a challenge! She averaged out around 16kg (didn't like sitting on the scales!) and was a similar height to your girl :)

Biking and swimming were always good, but my favourite thing to (subtly) increase her exercise was to take her flingball thing and when I went to throw it, I turned round and threw it behind me (made sure it was safe!) so Madam had to backtrack in the direction we just came and then hoon back to catch up with me. I found if I threw it forwards, she was more inclined to go after it - and then disappear into the bushes! Throwing it backwards kept her running twice as long :D
 
Recipe for fast weight loss in dogs....can of Chum ,or Tesco`s premium meat,mix in with broad bran and feed .For a spaniel a 400gm tin max and the same bulk in bran.
 
No worries Katielou - if I wouldn't consider it my spoilt spaniels don't get it :o

I don't really want to change her food or the amount as she then just gets unsettled so will just up exercise :)
 
I think both pics show she is holding to much weight, although im one to talk, because i need my jaw wiring:rolleyes: I would be inclined to decrease food, but then im really strict with my dogs food, people would be amazed how much my dogs live on and they are all ideal weight, I only feed once and they get no extras what so ever and they are very well exercised and muscled.
 
Thanks Cayla :) I'm the first to admit they are spoilt rotten and we have got them into bad habits by feeding scraps so will cut that right out and up hte exercise....I like the idea of bulking out her food with green beans as my diet is huge amounts of veg to fill me up so in theory it will work for her too :D
 
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