Can anyone 'condition score' my labrador?

[3BayGeldings]

Or whatever the doggy equivalent is?

She's nearly 13, and used to be quite podgy up until a few years ago when we finally twigged that we've got to be cruel to be kind to lengthen her life, and therefore cut her feed down! She was on diet food from the vet for a while and she's currently on half a cup of normal dry food twice a day and a few scraps, and gets at least an hour of exercise a day usually with plenty of swimming. At least 1 big walk a week, e.g. today we were at the beach. She's got plenty of energy and is bounding around on her walks, which i'm sure had we not put her on a diet she wouldn't be doing - the amount of fat, stiff labs around makes me realise this! The only concern is that we can now feel all down her spine (which we've never been able to before) and her ribs show through her coat sometimes. Is this normal?? Or is she too thin?

Any thoughts appreciated! She's stiff in her back legs after big walks like today, but only for a few seconds when she first gets up.

Some pics from recently and today:

And this one, just because i think it's nice

And knackered after the beach

(She's called Holly by the way, and we've had her since 7 weeks old

If only she was that young again

)


Thanks for any opinions!

 

[CorvusCorax]

It's weird, she looks a little too heavy in the first two and fine in the rest. Well done for getting weight off her, it's a common factor in most joint problems in dogs. She looks very well for her age.
I have no issue with being able to see a dog's ribs when they breathe in and to be able to feel their spine, it is totally normal IMO. I have a lean dog and I would rather have a lean one than a big one, it is harder to get it off than to put it on, especially in older dogs that cannot take high impact exercise - if they suffer joint problems because of their weight, it turns into a vicious cycle.

Feed and exercise sound fine, I would maybe scale down huge walks and keep her on the ground as opposed to loads of jumping (if she does any), although someone might be able to recommend a supplement for her later years.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

She is goregous!!

As for her weight she looks about right

- maybe just give her a bit more so she stabilises her weight. Try giving her some tinned fish a couple of times a week with her biccies (tuna, pilchards, sardines etc) as they are full of good oils for her joints and coat and will also give her some extra calories. I get mine from Aldi, Lidl, Nettos etc as they are cheaper than the normal supermarkets. They really love the the ones in tomato sauce. You could also crack a raw egg into her biccies once or twice a week as well.

Give her a big hug - she is lovely!

My sisters lab has been on a strict diet as she is 9 and was starting to puff when charging around - has been to vets (eye infection) and has lost about 10kgs and is like a puppy again!

 

[joeanne]

She is 13 and doesnt look like a dump truck?
Hats off to you! Thats some achievement! EVERY lab I know seems to be a walking tub of lard.
The only exception I have seen was a working lab.....
The fact she isnt carrying extra Lbs has probably done her joints the world of good!

 

[3BayGeldings]

The first two are from over christmas, so i guess she must have lost more weight since then? Or lost her coat - it's coming off in clumps at the moment! My Mum's just informed me that i'm taking her to a free 'veteran MOT' appointment at the vets sometime over the next 2 weeks (thanks for telling me before i made this post Mum

) so i'm hoping they can reccomend how we can help her with stiff back legs and what supplement or oil to feed her.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[3BayGeldings]

Aw thanks SilkyUnicorn and Joeanne, nice to read your compliments

That's a good tip about the fish - we'll try her with some. And is it safe to feed raw eggs? I've heard conflicting opinions

Thanks again

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Just put the fish in with her biscuits - she will shovel them down!!

Put in all the oil etc from the tins as well.

My friends old collie started to get stiff and got some fabulous tablets from Global Herbs - within 24 hours of taking them he was bouncing around like a puppy and driving us all mad!!

Will find a link for you to look at.

 

[3BayGeldings]

Thanks very much. No doubt the vet will reccomend something but it'll be from their own range and therefore their own prices too

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Raw eggs are definately safe - mine get at least one a week. Again I just crack them in with their biccies.

I can't find the link as they have changed their website

- but give them a call and see if the still do it - I would defiantely use it for mine as it really worked and worked quickly. Its the same Global Herbs that do horse stuff.

 

[Spudlet]

She looks good to me - she has a waist and a nice bit of a tuck up

Her ribs aren't really protruding, her spine is covered in the pics, but if you can feel them that's good. Well done on keeping her so trim!

http://www.purina.com/dogs/health/bodycondition.aspx This may help you

Or you could just do as I do and work with someone who wrote their Master's dissertation on canine obesity and shove your dog at them occasionally

 

[Kallibear]

She looks perfect in what I'm guessing are the recent picture - -looks a little plump in the snow picture.

You have quite literally given her an extra couple of years of life.

I too see so many fat stiff crippled labs staggering about at the age of 10. It's so sad.

I have a black lab who's very similar. She's always been slim and is a little lighter in build and weight than your girl (not much though). She's 14, going on 15 now and still wakks 10miles with my mum every morning!

This is my lab, who's a perfect weight, for comparison:

You can usually feel the spine more prominantly in older dogs, as their muscle tone starts to go due to their age. You should be EASILY able to feel her ribs, see them when she breaths in (if he coats not too long) and she should have a neat 'wasp waste'. You shouldn't be able to feel the boney edges of her hips well however, not see her ribs most of the time.

The vet will prob give her metacam for her stiffness - Melba started on some last year and it made the world of difference for her - hadn't realised how much she'd slowed down

Now sadly she has quite severe arthritic of her lower spine, causing compression of the spinal cord and making her hind end a bit weak. It makes her a little wobbbly at times and such a shame as she othewise has next to no arthritsis of her leg joints (prob due to her being slim all her life)

 

[3BayGeldings]

Thanks Spudlet, that link's really helpful.. according to that she's about right! I love her little waist - a few years ago she didn't have one i'm ashamed to admit

. She walks with a 'sashay' so her waist is always very prominant nowadays

 

[3BayGeldings]

You're right - everytime i see a heavier lab i feel so relieved that we decided to do something about Holly's weight. Your girl is lurrrvely, looks in fantastic shape for her age. I can only hope mine looks so well in a couple of years! If only they reached 15 then started getting younger ay?

Cheers for your reply.

 

[helloamys]

My Labs 12 in June - I'm glad I've seen this post, He's got a couple of good years left

.

And some of them pictures look similar..

We couldn't get him too sit for long enough to take a picture

And I wouldn;t worry about her rib, Scubs are always nearly always visable, not so much in winter as he lives outside so has a lovely thick coat, but in summer he looks almost starving!

Its worth it though, hopefully he'll get a good few years