Helping your dog lose weight

[lvoss]

I think you meant quantity of food.

I agree that cutting back on the quantity of food is a better route than the low cal foods that are high in fillers. You can make up the bulk with healthier alternatives on your own using veggies and even just adding water to make the meal into a soup. The water makes them feel fuller so they don't miss the extra volume of kibble.

Also remember if you are feeding treats, you need to cut back on the kibble to reduce the calorie intake accordingly.

[Kananga]

@lvoss:

I think you meant quantity of food.

I agree that cutting back on the quantity of food is a better route than the low cal foods that are high in fillers. You can make up the bulk with healthier alternatives on your own using veggies and even just adding water to make the meal into a soup. The water makes them feel fuller so they don't miss the extra volume of kibble.

Also remember if you are feeding treats, you need to cut back on the kibble to reduce the calorie intact accordingly.

+1

I usually cut down on Kananga's food on weeks where he isn't as active. He doesn't complain though as he's one to eat to live. I actually never give him treats because he doesn't show much interest in them.

It's a very basic thing to do in all honesty. Less calories burned, fewer calories to be consumed.

[Quercus]

@lvoss:

I think you meant quantity of food.

I agree that cutting back on the quantity of food is a better route than the low cal foods that are high in fillers. You can make up the bulk with healthier alternatives on your own using veggies and even just adding water to make the meal into a soup. The water makes them feel fuller so they don't miss the extra volume of kibble.

Also remember if you are feeding treats, you need to cut back on the kibble to reduce the calorie intact accordingly.

Ooops, yeah I DID mean quantity, thanks Lisa :o

[youngandtired]

Is Wellness Weight Managment filled with fillers, or should I just keep her on Merricks, which she loves and just cut back. What do the experts think? Thanks

[lvoss]

The Wellness Weight Management formula is actually much better than most. It is higher in grains, that is how they cut the fat content but it is very similar to their regular formula.

If Sahara really prefers the Merricks then try just cutting back the amount. The Grammys Pot Pie will make a gravy when water is added so try cutting the amount of food and substituting the volume with water so she feels full.

[Basenjimamma]

I always make "gravy" for my dogs..they love it and it fills stomachs..and it is free, well almost, we have our own well.

[Elscodobermann]

@tanza:

About the recommendations you find on food bags… honestly... I thing it is Twice the amount then a normal dog needs... way/way to much.... and of course if it has lots of calories... then doesn't matter... it is going to put on the weigh. And last but not least... I totally agree about set feeding times... period... they have X amount of time to eat... if not eaten... it is gone till the next feeding time.

Totally agree - Your eye should be your best guide to the amount your dog needs. I find Tilly puts on & loses weight really quickly - keep the same quality of food, just reduce the quantity.

Yesterday i went down to see one of the "pups" i bred - a dobermann bitch i bred 13.5 years ago (the best one i ever bred but she was never shown, just a loved pet - isnt that typical?)- when they opened the door this enormous thing waddled out - i thought it was the old girl - no, it was a 3 year old dobermann bitch they got last year as a companion for her. Honestly, she could lose 25 pounds and it would hardly show. I know she gets plenty exercise but obviously portion control had gone out of the window. So i read them the riot act - am going back next week to see if its made a difference!

[youngandtired]

when you see this beautiful dog and they are way overweight. All of a sudden my B, Sahara was 6lbs. over her ideal weight. Well, I can't have that so I am doing what I can to get it off. She already looks leaner, I think I need to weigh her tomorrow. She is getting less food, and more exercise.

[Brenda Alward]

My Vet said that Marko is overweight. I've cut back on his treats and food. I also feed him veggie when he's still hungry. But he's still not losing any weight. He's 41 lbs. Is that to heavy a weight for a Basenji. We have a big fenced in back yard and he goes out and runs with Bella every day. Also my husband takes them both on walks daily. Is there anything else I can do? Or do you think he's OK? I've had the Vet check his Thyroid and he's OK, so the Vet says. Help:eek:

[Rita Jean]

Is Marko a full Basenji? I do not know but I think 25 lbs or less is more correct. Hopefully the long time owners of Basenjis can help out here. Do you have a picture you could post on here so we could see Marko?

Rita Jean

[lvoss]

A 17 inch male should be around 25 pounds. There is some variability based on muscle and bone density so some will be a little heavier, some a little lighter. You should be able to see a visible waist on your dog when viewed from above.

How much are feeding him? Did your vet have a full panel run for thyroid or just T4? Was he well within the normal range? Or was he low normal?

[tanza]

IMO… that is way to heavy for a Basenji....

[Vicki]

Green beans and more green beans. I garden, and this summer froze many packages of beans and canned some, too. The dogs get canned green beans for treats (w/o added salt).

[Basenjimamma]

My dogs get raw carrots, they think they are "bones" and they love'em..makes for really pretty poop too..;)

[tanza]

@Basenjimamma:

My dogs get raw carrots, they think they are "bones" and they love'em..makes for really pretty poop too..;)

Carrotts are great for them… but remember, they have sugar.. so as they say.. everything in moderation...gggg

[nobarkus]

41 lbs?!! Wow that's a record. How much and how often are you feeding? Is it free feeding? What brand of food? Is he getting table scraps that are high in fat?

[Shaye's Mom]

I have a neighbor who has a little black daschhound - that little thing is so fat his stomach drags when he's walking sometimes. They think it's cute - to me it's a shame, the poor little guy - the only time he's outside is to do his business, then right back in, so he also gets no exercise that I can see. Not my business, but hard to watch.

[nobarkus]

I was walking Buddy in the park and ran into a guy that adopted a little black dog that looked like it was part Min Pin. Anyway the poor thing was way over weight which the guy said the dog went from 12lbs to 21 lbs because he was feeding it table scraps. He took the dog to the vet and now it's on a diet.

[tanza]

There was a person here on the Forum for a short time that posted a picture of her Basenji… she was as big around as tall, poor thing.... she was all put out that her Vet said the dog needed a diet... and thought she look just fine and was perfectly healthy.... didn't get the support to that from anyone on the Forum...

[nobarkus]

@tanza:

There was a person here on the Forum for a short time that posted a picture of her Basenji… she was as big around as tall, poor thing.... she was all put out that her Vet said the dog needed a diet... and thought she look just fine and was perfectly healthy.... didn't get the support to that from anyone on the Forum...

Some people have the abberated idea that a fat dog = a healthy dog. :eek: