Obese Dog

[AmyMay]

There’s a strong possibility that we maybe rehoming a clients dog, due to their move to sheltered accommodation (their elderly). I walk the dog daily, and he also spends time with us in our home, so we know him very well, and are very fond of him. He and Daisy are absolutely the best of friends, and so the transition will be fairly straightforward.

But he’s very, very overweight and only five years old. He’s a Shih Tzu.

Exercise is not a problem, but in terms of dieting him do the collective recommend simply feeding sensibly at the recommended amount (he’d be fed the same as Daisy), or putting him on a specialist diet food? I will caveat all of this by saying he’s fed a lot of treats, and I don’t routinely feed them.

A raw diet is not an option.

 

[Goldenstar]

I would use a diet kibble and measure it carefully .

 

[Sandstone1]

I would feed a light diet. weigh it out and cut out most treats. He will probably lose it once the treats stop.

 

[PapaverFollis]

The diet foods are mostly designed for the humans doing the feeding. So the appropriate amount of calories looks like a bigger bowl full. If you aren't going to be tempted to just give a little more because it looks like a small amount then you can stick with an appropriate amount of normal food.

 

[Sandstone1]

Most diet food contains more fibre so the dog will feel more full and be able to have slightly more food than they would if they have normal food. This helps if the dog is likely to scavenge.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

There’s a strong possibility that we maybe rehoming a clients dog, due to their move to sheltered accommodation (their elderly). I walk the dog daily, and he also spends time with us in our home, so we know him very well, and are very fond of him. He and Daisy are absolutely the best of friends, and so the transition will be fairly straightforward.

But he’s very, very overweight and only five years old. He’s a Shih Tzu.

Exercise is not a problem, but in terms of dieting him do the collective recommend simply feeding sensibly at the recommended amount (he’d be fed the same as Daisy), or putting him on a specialist diet food? I will caveat all of this by saying he’s fed a lot of treats, and I don’t routinely feed them.

A raw diet is not an option.

Easy, send him to me, my Shih would love a friend....
Sorry, light diet and steady gentle exercise, no treats unless you take it out of kibble x

 

[Stiff Knees]

Spot was 14kg overweight when we got her. We fed normal food, gave her gentle exercise and gave raw veg as treats. The weight soon came off. Good on you for taking on this dog ?

 

[{97702}]

George certainly wasn't obese when he came to me, PonyParty had made sure of that, but he was still overweight as he had so much to lose! I found the best thing was a decent amount of exercise combined with a normal amount of food for his size - he soon changed shape, muscled up and slimmed down

 

[AmyMay]

Spot was 14kg overweight when we got her. We fed normal food, gave her gentle exercise and gave raw veg as treats. The weight soon came off. Good on you for taking on this dog ?

That’s my inclination to be honest SK. It really is the treats that have made him so overweight. He’s walked twice a day by me, although I’m very careful about what I do with him because of his weight. He loves the beach and runs around like a puppy and plays ‘hard’ when he’s given the opportunity, so I’m hoping that weighed food and no extras will pay off. My aim is to get him to his goal weight in about six months.

He’s actually the fourth dog we’ve been asked to take, but the only one we’ve felt able to say ‘yes’ too. Daisy and he adore each other, and it will be a win, win all around.

 

[Stiff Knees]

That’s my inclination to be honest SK. It really is the treats that have made him so overweight. He’s walked twice a day by me, although I’m very careful about what I do with him because of his weight. He loves the beach and runs around like a puppy and plays ‘hard’ when he’s given the opportunity, so I’m hoping that weighed food and no extras will pay off. My aim is to get him to his goal weight in about six months.

He’s actually the fourth dog we’ve been asked to take, but the only one we’ve felt able to say ‘yes’ too. Daisy and he adore each other, and it will be a win, win all around.View attachment 59001

He is lovely, but yes, very fat!!

 

[Stiff Knees]

We found grated carrot very useful to bulk out Spots food. At least her stomach didn't think her throat had been cut!

 

[SOS]

Diet food can be very useful... it’s not just for the owners, the kibble are soaked in water then re dried so they are swollen and make the animal feel fuller. A bit like if you ate some crackers and then drank a glass of water, you feel quite full. It then stops them begging/scavenging for food as they are hungry.

Note there is a difference between diet and light foods, look for a weight loss food rather than a maintenance food. In fat dogs I always recommend only feeding the correct food for desired weight, splitting into two meals a day and then a handful on the side as treats. Use food games/mind games with kibble in to keep the dog entertained and make feed times last longer and therefore they feel fuller.

If you must treat be aware carrots are quite sugary and calorific so be careful feeding too much. Despite them being the go to vegetable for years, too many carrots are not good. The amount of fat dogs we see that just have a ‘few’ carrots a day!

Completely agree too much exercise at this stage can put too much stress on the joints.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

That’s my inclination to be honest SK. It really is the treats that have made him so overweight. He’s walked twice a day by me, although I’m very careful about what I do with him because of his weight. He loves the beach and runs around like a puppy and plays ‘hard’ when he’s given the opportunity, so I’m hoping that weighed food and no extras will pay off. My aim is to get him to his goal weight in about six months.

He’s actually the fourth dog we’ve been asked to take, but the only one we’ve felt able to say ‘yes’ too. Daisy and he adore each other, and it will be a win, win all around.View attachment 59001

Apart from being a little fat bloater, he is very similar to P dog! ☺

 

[Stiff Knees]

We did lots of research but none catered for the worlds greediest obese Labrador, so we winged it, and it worked.

 

[Goldenstar]

Oh that’s obese poor little chap .
He will be handsome in six months .
I would be careful with the exercise .

 

[Stiff Knees]

We did lots of research but none catered for the worlds greediest obese Labrador, so we winged it, and it worked.

 

[Stiff Knees]

Double post...excess of gin, apologies, hic.

 

[EventingMum]

My dad's collie became hugely obese due to my dad's dementia meaning he was feeding him multiple times a day and also sharing his own food with him. When we took him over we were very strict with no treats and also fed the correct amount of Hill's Prescription weight loss kibble which was very effective - it had previously proved ineffective when dad fed far too much of it topped with grated cheese!

 

[meleeka]

I think you’ll find a big difference just by cutting out the extras. Also weigh the food and the weight will come off quite quickly.

 

[Nicnac]

He's gorgeous (despite being a bit of a porker) Friend took on fat dog from elderly relative and just fed it normally but without the treats. Normal exercise and playing with her other dogs saw an unrecognisable and much happier dog within a few short months.

 

[misst]

When Tilly gained half her body weight due to steroids and being unable to exercise properly,and me giving unsuitable treats if I am honest, the vet was helpful. We fed the usual food a good quality wet food but reduced by 10% always weighed. She lost the weight slowly over several months without any special foods.

 

[Odyssey]

I'd feed a good quality fairly high meat/fish protein kibble, such as Millie's Wolfheart, plus plenty of (non root) veg, rather than a high carb "diet" kibble. Carbs produce more insulin, which is the fat storage hormone, than protein and fat, and dogs have evolved to eat mainly animal protein rather than processed grains. Meat or fish and veg are much healthier for them, and good for weight loss.

 

[deb_l222]

Will he swim? If he will, that will be fantastic exercise and very low impact while he's still a porker.

My advice (for what it's worth) is not to overthink it too much. Feed him what you feed Daisy, in the same quantity to begin with. After a couple of weeks, you will soon see if he begins to lose weight. If not, reduce the amount by one third and see if that works.

If he has no underlying medical issues, I don't think you need any fancy diet foods. Just less food!! No human food at all, that's probably what has caused his issues in the first place. Veggie treats (carrots are good) but I can't see any harm in the odd dog biscuit or two as long as it's not several boxes a day

He's fabulous and I'm sure he will fit right in

 

[Bellasophia]

he’s a very lucky boy to have you and daisy in his new life..I would look at the desired weight for the breed, then feed the calorific amount he should be getting and combined .with the active lifestyle he will be getting ,he will be svelte within six months.No treats.
Looking forward to following his progress..they are such sweet,kind dogs .
What is his name?

 

[Moobli]

How lovely that he can come and live with you and Daisy.
I’d cut out treats altogether for now, up his exercise gradually (definitely incorporate swimming if he will) and keep a record of how much you’re feeding (I wouldn’t bother with a special diet), quite quickly you should know whether to reduce his intake further.

 

[AmyMay]

Thanks all so much for your thoughts. I’ll update you (if and) when he arrives xx