Doggie slimming tips needed

Angua2

Angua2

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I have been informed that my 5 year old spayed staffie cross is carrying too much weight and that she needs to go on a diet. She is full of energy and will happily hoon round the fields at the yard chasing the crows without any problem, happily leaving the other dog - a 10 year old 3 legged staff desperatly trying to keep up.

I watch her like a hawk so that she doesn't steal any of the other dogs food, but she is a little bit of a scavenger given half the chance.

Does anyone have any tips on what I can feed that would help me with this weight loss. I have looked at all the "light" feeds in the feed store and have come away non the wiser.

The person that informed me of my dogs aparent plight said that she should go on a cabbage diet for a week.... but I can't say that I am all that keen on the idea especially as the dog concerned doesn't eat cabbage
 
Hi there - So many dogs are overweight that a lot of Vet practices now run pet weight clinics, so you could enquire at yours. The "Light" diets are really designed to keep weight off and not for dieting. Truely low calorie diets should only be sold under the supervision of a Vet or Vet Nurse, so that weight does not come off to quickly/slowly...same principle as dieting yourself. Reducing your dogs normal ration by 1/3rd will induce weight loss..but care should be taken as the levels of nutrition will be lower, potentially causing deficiencies. Ask your vet if you can weigh your dog fortnightly on their scales and record the weight loss.Hope that helps.
 
I shall keep an eye on this thread as I have a 'good doer' too.

Cutting his rations and forced exercise doesn't seem to be doing a great deal. Forced, because unless he is on a leash he'll turn deaf and trot back home 100m from the house!

The young GSD's, on the other hand, are absolute hell to keep weight ON!
 
My friend has a staffie x lab
She will eat anything put infront of her (whether on purpose or not!)

However, she is given science plan light (ok not the cheapest in the world but..) and she is top shape! and I mean almost perfect!!!! and this is a dog that is NOT taken on long walks every day and doesnt get the chance to chase crows round the yard etc!
 
I am so pleased that you are taking this seriously. People do not realise that overweight dogs can have health problems.
You say your dog "hoons" round the fields chasing cows but do look seriously at the excercise you give.
My Lab was once overweight and I followed the vets suggestions and also made sure she does lots of fun excercise. Her walks are rarely "on lead" although I realise I may be lucky to have lots of lovely walks where she can be free to run and play. I also started Agility with her and went also to places where she can swim. I spent hours throwing her ball into the lake for her to fetch.
She has lately taken up flyball as well, so she has two good training sessions each week.
trouble is, although I walk for hours each day, and do the agility and flyball, Beau keeps fit now, but it doesn't seem to have the same effect on me! Lol. Wish I could lose the weight too.
 
My ridgie has always been a bit porky but last year developed arthritis in a front leg, she is now 10. My vet advised me to get some weight off her so she went on a diet!! I fed Purina Pro Plan OM (Obese Management...cringe). The diet that the vet advised wasn't suitable for mine as I have 3 so I adapted it to fit in with our routine.
She had 3/4 scoop dry food, 1 150g sachet wet food and a sausage for breakfast. A chew such as medium sized Pedigree Jumbone at around 5pm and a few dry biscuits at bedtime.
Her arthritis is almost non existent now and she looks veeerrry smexy!!
She lost 8 kilos in 5 months!!
 
Thankyou for the suggestions, I am now going to the feed merchant with a little more enlightenment. I think part of my problem is trying to find the right balance between her and the older 3 legged one.
 
I have a lab who is overweight, swimming, light food (either the obesity from the vets or your choice of light food, and lots of walking and NO scraps helps her shift it a bit.
 
I would go raw, straight onto Atkins for Dogs, plenty of bone and less meat, the ratio you get in chicken wings. The dog is then full of their own form of fibre, bone, they are not hungry and also have to expend some energy in eating things like lamb bones, so they get exercise into the bargain.

It is by far the cheaper option too when you find and support a local butcher who is only to happy not to have to pay for the bones to be incinerated!

Cabage for dogs NO NO NO NO! That is not a diet it is starvation and do that for long enough and you could cause all sorts of problems. You wouldn't recommend cabbage for humans!
 
Henry is on a diet too - I don't think he had much exercise before I got him though so it hasn't been too tricky for us. The vet did recommend swimming to us as really good exercise, he has 1.5-2 hrs of walks a day and very stingy dinners to make up for all the sweeties I have to give him to make him behave. I have been giving him strips of dried chicken as treats - I get them from a proper pet shop, and they are meant to be low fat. I break them into little bits, Henry will do nearly anything for them and they don't have any additives in them.

Good luck, it is really great when they lose a bit of weight - Henry has so much more energy now he's a bit fitter!
 
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