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3K views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  Dawnben 
#1 ·
I've only been able to get about 5lbs off my big guy. The Vet wanted about 25lbs off of him. I have no clue how he got so heavy. All my dogs eat the same thing. I asked my vet to run some tests, thyroid and such. He said he would after we give a good effort at diet. I've cut him down to 800 cals a day, vet said go under 1,100 . It's been 2 months. Shouldn't he be losing more?

Thank you...!
 
#2 ·
Insist on a Thyroid test right now. It's silly for your vet to delay this! If he is hypothyroid that will make it much harder for him to lose weight.
Also, if he is hypothyroid, its actually harmful to delay treatment.
The test is pretty easy and so is the daily medication.

What kind of dog is he? How old? How much does he weigh?
 
#3 ·
I had a hard time getting my dog to loose weight until I went to home cooking.
straight veggie diet for 6 months the mix was the same at the meat diet but I used beans for the protein no meat. He lost about an inch on his waist line every month. After six months I changed to 1/4 cooked turkey 1/4 quinoa 1/4 sweet potato and 1/4 mixed veggies and a vitamin and mineral supplement. He has maintained his slim waist line every since. He did not loose an ounce on the dog food no matter how little he ate. I don't know why this worked but it was great because he did not have to go hungry while he dieted the weight just fell off. You can just put it all in a crock pot its pretty easy if you have the time.
 
#4 ·
In addition to the calorie cut, have you increased his calorie burning with increased activity/exercise?
You would be fully within your rights to insist on the further testing now vs. waiting - if the vet is unwilling to provide that service, I would seek another vet. I don't really understand the vet's reluctance considering either way he/she gets the $$$ and the only one who stands to get the short end of the stick is you if you shell out the money for testing that shows nothing. If you are willing to accept that risk, it's not his/her place to impede you, IMO.
 
#5 ·
I don't understand his waiting , either. I dump a ton of money in his office, given the fact I have a houseful of aniimals. Sometimes he tries to save me some money, but I asked for the test! He said he just didn't think it was metabolic. But, I have two normal sized dogs and one fat one. I do know that for awhile he was skanking the cat's food. That's been stopped for a long time now, though.

He is half lab and half border collie. He's a BIG guy, very long and tall dog. The vet is saying he needs to be 60 lbs, yet he really is much b igger then my pure bred border collie. So I think the vet is off by about ten lbs...but he wants him to 60 and he's at 80 now5 now.

I measure his food, and I make sure he's not getting the other dog's food. He his a chow hound, unlike the others.

The vet said exercise for a dog doesn't do what it does for us. So not to over work his legs at this point, aka possible joint problems.

I'm very nervous about home made foods since my other dog got pancreatitis. But I'll try anythig.

Thank you for your help


I'm very worried about my boy.
 
#8 ·
Well he looks very vigorous and healthy!

I would just insist on a thyroid test, if for no other reason than your piece of mind. What you describe are certainly symptoms of metabolic.. that is you are not feeding him much and he is still heavy, plus he has a huge appetite.

Once spring comes, you can go for long walks. What ever your vet says, exercise is such a big help, physically and emotionally for everyone. If his joints are a problem, just take it easy... no tearing down hills at full speed. If he enjoys swimming that is super good too, and totally fine on the joints. Fetching a toy a few times from the water burns a LOT of calories!

Don't worry too much. He'll be OK with your love and good care! Just keep at it!
 
#9 ·
Dog food has added fat in most cases, and there in may be the reason home cooked works better for weight loss. Exercise is a MUST for any dog, walking, swimming, even a tread mill if you don't live where your schedule allows long walks safely.
 
#10 ·
My deal was I would try home cooking veggies meal for 3 months and if I saw a big change I would continue. He lost weight so fast I was thrilled, about an inch a month. I measured right above his back legs where there is supposed to be and indention. At the 3 month mark he has lost over 3 inches so I continued. Its funny that my other dog that was the perfect weight did not loose an ounce. It seems that it only takes off unwanted pounds. Both were healthy and energetic and their coats were shiny and their teeth seemed to not have so much tarter. If you decide to try it make sure that you include a good supplement because there are two things that they need that they can not get from a veggie diet that are necessary for good health. This is one I use ,and still do even though I added meat back into their home cooked meals
Canine
 
#11 ·
Hi everyone. I've had computer issues and not around for some time. UGH.

I had all three of my dogs to their vet last weekend. I love this new vet. He is really trying to work with Starbuck on the diet thing. I'm so confused, though. I agree, most vets do not know about dog foods, argh.
Thyroid test was fine. I almost wished it wasn't so he'd pop a pill :( Like Mamma.

Even though Starbuck didn't lose "weight" , the vet remeasured him and he's lost body mass? Not much, but some.

I still do not like the food I'm feeding. My prob is, remember my other guy had pancreatitis? So trying to find a food to work with his diet needs (do not care for royal canine but Starbuck did lose on that. but didn't think the ingred's were that healthy)

We are walking more now that the severe weather here in Mi is getting better. Not walking fast, just strolling to corner and back. Vet is worried about his knees/legs. He said no running, jumping and twisting right now.

Dawnben, what and how would you cook the vegies? The dogs like them? I suppose this diet would be good for a dog that had pancreatits, too?

I'm more interested in home made foods now, but not sure where to start. Raw scares me!

Hugs and thank you.
 
#12 ·
There is a lot of information out there on making homemade foods. I feed our Tessa a homemade diet based mostly on poultry, with some added carbohydrate (rolled oats or brown rice) and pulverized veggies (think food processor), about 10% organ meats (such as calf liver) and sometimes whole eggs. A diet based on muscle meat needs added Calcium which I get from ground eggshell. Alternately you can grind up the soft poultry bones if you have a grinder attachment for your mixer.

Tessa seems to be doing well on it. You can make it very low fat by removing skin and fat from the chicken. People advocate variety in the meats and veggies to make sure you get all the trace nutrients. Many people add a vitamin/mineral supplement as well. I make big batches and freeze in plastic containers. I figure anything I make from human grade food from the grocery store has got to be as good or better than commercial food that uses lesser quality ingredients and cheap grains...
 
#13 ·
my recipe for veggie delight dog food is in the food sub form. I changed it along the way because I found out about quinoa. Its a great source of protein and not a grain so no allergies. So if you use the diet eliminate the grain section all except the ground flax seed and replace with 3 cups cooked quinoa. I use the same diet now that I have added meat back into their diet I just leave the beans out and replace with ground turkey
 
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