Comment

Comment by Maple (owners Alicia n Orlando) on March 23, 2013 at 8:17pm

Thanks everyone! This is all is very helpful.

Comment by Beth on March 23, 2013 at 12:48pm

I should add that if it makes you feel better, Jack got up to a whopping 42 pounds.  Of course he's big (14 inches at the withers), but still.....     He is now about 34 which is a bit underweight.   But it did take the better part of half a year to get him to 37 which is probably ideal for him.

Comment by Becky S on March 23, 2013 at 12:40pm

I don't know about dogs, but as a dietitian who specializes in weight management when people have rapid weight loss they are usually eating very low corie / very low fat so the gallbladder isn't doing very much, so then if they have something high in fat the gallbladder let's them know it's not a happy camper!

Comment by Linda on March 23, 2013 at 8:14am

Bev....I use No Salt Added canned veggies.  The dogs don't need any extra sodium any more than we do.

Comment by Bev Levy on March 23, 2013 at 8:06am

Love those green beans! Gives them bulk without the fat. Stay away from canned (too much salt), frozen or fresh is better. They don't need to be cooked. It takes awhile so don't expect immediate results.

Comment by Gromit, Sparkle, and Doug on March 23, 2013 at 1:12am

Gromit got up to 37lbs+ in 2011.  I put him on a diet of 1/3 cup of Science Diet Lite kibble + 1/3 cup of green beans twice a day plus daily walkies.   The weight came of slowly but it did come off and he's a nice svelte 29lbs now and according to his breeder, looks perfect. He's back on his regular kibble at 1/2 cup twice a day.

The biggest thing I noticed after most of the weight was gone was how much more active and happy he was.  He easily leaps into my lap instead of dragging himself up there.  I love seeing him frisky and happy.  Now of course we have Sparkle so she keeps him busier too.

Comment by John Wolff on March 23, 2013 at 12:04am

I got a hanging scale (yard sale, for other purposes) but it goes to 50 lbs.  From a hook in the basement joists, I suspend a big nylon shopping bag inches off the floor.  Put the dog in the bag to weigh.

3rd-hand anecdotal rumor about humans often getting gall bladder trouble after rapid major weight loss -- any truth in this?  applicable to canines?

Comment by Bailey B. on March 22, 2013 at 11:40pm

I don't really have anything useful to add, but I wanted to say that Maple is a really cute name. :3

The corgi mix I had when I was younger was overweight, and my parents put him on a diet a few times, but it was never well planned, because he never really lost his weight, which was very bad on his back, especially as he got older.

Comment by Beth on March 22, 2013 at 11:17pm

I'd aim for somewhere around a pound a month or so;  you want it to be slow, but you do want them to be losing.  It will happen, just be diligent!  

Comment by Linda on March 22, 2013 at 11:13pm

When we got Max he weighted in at 54 lbs.  And it wasn't his fur...he was a fluffy shaved bald.  Weight control food...1/4 cup twice a day.  Even the vet will tell you what the package recommends is way too much.  Non fat cottage cheese or yogurt mixed in for breakfast and canned chicken...it's 98% fat free...or tuna in water with either sliced carrots, green beans, peas....I buy the store brand, they have a salt free version.  I use carrots for treats...a dog treat was one a day.  In fact they both go to the fridge asking for a carrot but not to the pantry where the dog biscuits are. Took a couple of months but got him down to 37 lbs.  Vet was fine with that because Max is a big boned corgi.   He still gets the same diet and so does his niece, she is a "normal" sized corgi but it has kept her from bulking up as they get older.  They've been on this diet for over 6 years, both are healthy. Max is gonna be 11 and Katie is 9.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page