Helping Heidi Shed The Pounds

PuppyLove

Today we had Heidi at the vets because she had a lump on her belly, I was fearing the worst but the vet is pretty certain it is just a cyst as she is spayed and it feels like one.

Heidi really needs to shed the pounds. She is about 15 so has lived quite a long life but the vet thinks she could live longer if she loses some weight. She weighs 10.8kg and needs to get to 7kg. So she has joined the weight loss programme at the vets. She is on a special diet, is allowed no treats what so ever, which she is going to find very difficult!

I never saw her as fat, but I guess I'm just so used her now, the vet called her obese lol! I never really thought she ate that much, but after I followed her around today, I can see where she is getting the weight from! Standing other the table waiting for food to fall, the kids feeding her scraps, kids leaving their plates down and her eating it all, eating bread from the hens feed bucket, pulling scraps out of the bin, sticking her nose under couches and pulling out bits of biscuits the kids might have stuck in there etc.

So we have lot's of things to do to make sure Heidi doesn't have access to all those anymore. She goes for a weight in every 2-3 weeks at the vets, starting now.

Anyone ever had a pudgey pooch?

Another tips for helping her loose weight? I'm thinking more light walks, she can't go on big walks cause of her age and weight.
She doesn't play with toys

Cali

Poor Heidi. I'm glad you're the type of owner who doesn't take offense to "your dog needs to lose weight."
I would do the light walks, and just watch her food intake very carefully. I know that's hard with children sneaking tidbits but good luck with her!

tankstar

Speacial food? Sch as vet food? Waste o moey i thats what it is.

Feed her her regular food, just less of it. I would feed half of what she is supposed to have, and fill the rest with geen beans, they are filling and few caloires. Light walking will help.

Does she like swimming? Could take her swimming, easy on the joints. Great work out

Feed her through a treat ball, wont loose muchthat way, but a bit, but it will make her work for the food. She will feel more full since she will be eating slower, and not gulping it back like most dogs..

ScentHound

Not pudgy, my Beagle is down right fat.



Several years ago her thyroid completely shut down. I feed her weight control food, and exercise her regularly (i.e. walks, playing fetch, playing chase). She will never be thin, but she has lost about 5 lbs, which is a huge amount for a dog her size.

Cali gave some really good advice. Exercise and food intake is the easiest way to control weight.

Good luck

elisabeth

Increase activity (even if it means a few short walks of 10 minutes each) and decrease food intake.

My girl is 13 and needed to loose some weight (she is raw fed) and so we increased her acitivity by slowing adding in two more walks per day (she gets 3-4 now). They only last about 10-30 minutes each but they do the trick (also great for the mind).

She also is now enrolled in doggy swimming, which is great for older dogs because it is easy on the joints. Might be something to look into in your area.

I would also decrease her treats and or food. Take a look at what your feeding her throughout the day (food diary is good) and see where you can eliminate.

Good luck!!!

Mikey

My biggest tip is to talk to your vet. Telling you your dog is obese with no tips on planned weightloss sucks and is irresponsible-talk to him/her about how quickly she should be losing weight and how.

Exercise and cut food down slowly but talk to the vet for sure. Loosing weight quickly can be as dangerous as being fat or more so

PuppyLove

Like i said above she is on the vets weight loss programme. She is supposed to just eat her diet food, which is just Burn's high oats, she stole a sausage the other day which went on her confessions card lol! She is getting there though and I have noticed her lookin slimmer and being more active already. Oh and she hates swimming too lol