Feed for overweight small senior dog

Caramac71

Caramac71

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I’m looking to get a bit of weight off my dog. He’s 10 year old terrier x (we got him as a rescue and were told he’s Cairn x chihuahua). He’s not massively overweight but vet says a bit of weight loss would be good and has suggested looking into a low fat diet.

I think a lot of his weight gain is down to titbits, but I thought I’d take the opportunity to research a better diet as he’s been on his current food since we got him 9 years.

Currently he gets a mini kong stuffed with burns small breed kibble and a bit of meat or cheese in the morning, and in the evening he gets 1/2 foil tray of senior wet food and approx 2 tbsp burns.

He’s never been a fan of dried food on its own, but I’m wondering if a small amount of fresh fish or chicken might be a better replacement for the foil tray food?

Burns do a weight control feed but not in small breed and I think the kibble size will be too big.

Obviously titbits and treats will be sparse from now on, but can anyone suggest a healthy food for his senior years?
 
Fish (you can get loads of doggy friendly stuff conveniently dried in pet shops) may be a better option than cheese as a treat but one other thing to consider is the timing of meals... It sounds to me as though his main meal of the day is before bed when he is basically going to snooze and put the calories on as fat. I feed my (slim, entire (which I know helps!), rehomed older) terrier-x his main meal of the day after his main morning walk and then feed his lighter meal at night after his second walk. This means he gets most of his calories to replenish after his big walk and they can burn off in his second walk.

So, as a start, I'd try swapping the two meals you have.

Not sure what sort of size he is but, as a guide, mine is around 5kg and slightly lean at that weight - he lost a little since I got him due to increased exercise and vet is delighted to see a lean animal as most are a bit chubby so says it is fine. He gets a whole tray of organic meat in the morning, a dessert (table if we are doing a lot) spoon or so of whatever treats we happen to have around (fish/hide/liver/chips!/chews/etc) for various training purposes throughout the day and pretty much ad-lib low quality kibble at night (it isn't his favourite either and I'm lucky he self-regulates well enough for this). We walk for a couple of hours per day, mostly on long lead during the working week (road safety) and similar/a bit more with off-lead at weekends.
 
I would cut the morning food of meat or cheese just give him the kong most adult dogs can live on 1 meal a day, my jrt can get porky I often give her a feed of half a tin of tuna the really cheap one or half a tin of pilchards with some brown rice a few times a week instead of the regular food, I was watching a vet thing on TV a few weeks ago, the vet said cooked cabbage is very good to bulk out food for over weight dogs, my dog will eat it but I am sure some won't might be worth a try.
 
Our adult working labradors get 1 x thermos lid cup of good quality kibble morning and night, more on workdays.
Cheese is very fattening indeeed, and not terribly good for dogs.
 
Zooplus does all sorts of good quality, low calorie treats. I get big bags of dried sprats which mine like. I also get rabbit ears. Something like that could replace part of an actual meal for him.
 
Last edited:
Thanks everyone. I've replaced the kong goodies for just kibble and fat free yoghurt, and popped it in the freezer. He wasnt impressed this morning! I've sent off for some feed samples and I'll be mindful to weigh his food and take his kong feed out of the daily allowance.

I've also given OH a talking to as I think he and the dog share snacks throughout the day when I'm not around!

I'll take a look at Zooplus and see if I can find some healthy treats. Thanks for all the suggestions.
 
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