We started our three dogs on BARF over two months ago because our oldest GSD (8 years old) was overweight. We did a lot of research, purchased the here recommended books, followed the feeding suggestions ect. The immediate results were astonishing. All three lost body fat, look lean and muscular, their teeth are nice and clean, good breath, healthy ect. However, our 8-year old has not shed a pound. (body fat but nothing on weight) We started when he was 139 pounds. We had him on kibble, no treats, no table food or overfeeding, yet in the almost one year we had him (we rescued him from a breeder who wanted to put him down), he has gained more and more weight. I read on the internet, that older dogs who get spayed/neutered tend to gain a lot of weight. Although he looks good by body fat (cannot see the ribs but I can feel them although not as clearly as my female, 80 pound GSD) but he still weighs 139 pounds. He has HD and we wouldn't mind putting him through surgery but we know that the vet would ask for the dog to lose some weight, would inquire about the food, would very likely disapprove ect. We are at a loss. I feed him veggies and raw meat and bones, supplements such as Omega 3, MSM, Glucosemine, Chondroitin, Enzymes and natural, organic Apple Cider Vinegar. His stool bounces between normal to diarhea and back to normal.
Do you think something is wrong with him that he cannot shed weight and only loses body fat. (we were so sure he lost weight, considering the drastic change in his appearance)but we were wrong. Is it normal sometimes for dogs to not lose the weight but the fat? I am very anxious and feel I failed him although I see great results and try to tell myself that I give them the best I can. Oh, I walk him every day for at least twenty minutes, more he cannot do because his hips start bothering him and this is another reason why I would love to see some pounds gone.
Can anyone suggest help?
Thanks
Ines Ventura

Check with the Vet for health issues, Try swimming, good excercise for any critter or person and easy on the bones.

Have you had his thryoid checked or a full blood panel?

No, I haven't. Do you think it could have something to do with that?

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Have you had his thryoid checked or a full blood panel?

I too would follow Nancy and Dennis's suggestion about a blood workup, and while I was at the vet's I'd ask about the body mass index, which is a technical way of talking about the ratio of fat to muscle, just to make sure he really did lose his fat.

Older dogs carry their excess fat differently. At age eight, he could easily be carrying fat in his neck area, just in front of the shoulders, instead of the rib and hip area.

Press your thumb and index finger deep into the side of the neck just ahead of the shoulder, and pinch them together. Are your fingers more than 1/2" apart? Then there's probably enough fat there to make him overweight. So what you're seeing as thinning over his ribs may not be indicative of the whole story.

I'd continue as you are doing (along with getting his thyroid and other markers checked; he's a good age for a complete senior workup anyway). The vet can also suggest an exercise regimen, based on the degree of HD and/or OA.

As Dennis says, low-impact exercise is vital. His metabolism has probably slowed at his age, so he needs less food, but his brain doesn't know that. Exercise can help him trigger a metabolism increase to better burn off those calories.

Two months is a pretty short time. If he has started taking off fat around his ribs, he will probably start in the neck-shoulder area next.

This is good that you're doing this, IMO. There is not much that's more important to a dog's health than appropriate food and weight control.

I'd forget about the neutering at a later age affecting his weight; that's such a gray area, and the studies are contradictory -- and really, unless he does have hypothyroidism (which is treatable), then overweight means one thing: he's taking in more than he's using.

One last little tip: don't worry about him not getting enough nutrients when you reduce the amount of food; if he's overweight, he is getting too much.

I've had good luck with adding a little extra cooked low-sugar vegetables (green beans, broccoli, etc.) for a while to help him feel full on the decreased amount of food.

I'm not a health professional, so you'll want to go over this stuff with your vet. I have worked with fatties who had OA or other joint issues, and I've seen the profound effect that weight management has. It's worth the effort -- believe me!
<img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Editing to add this: Real food (like you are feeding) is the best weight control tool ever. Commercial grain-heavy food, loaded with a macronutrient dogs can't even digest properly, can leave the dog both overweight and unsatisfied, IMO. Dogs are designed for meat and bones, and some produce --- not wheat, soy, corn, and the like. Good job! JMO.

Thank you very much guys. I will make an appointment with the vet tomorrow.
One question to this though: I give him the amount of food based on his 139 pounds. So if I decrease the food, let's say ideal weight (or targeted weight) is 120 pounds, I should feed him accordingly to as if he was 120 pounds?
Actually, within two weeks we saw a big change around his neck. You know when you lean down and hug them from the front, and hold his neck? I turned to my husband and said:" Feel his neck. He lost so much around his neck" and he agreed. But you are right, I just tested him on his neck and my fingers are more than 1/2 inch apart. I definately have to go to the vet. I am worried about him for I wish for him to be more active. Swimming is out of the question. He came to us scared of water, got a bit better and then fell into the pool and he could not make it out of the lower bench. Since then he only goes near the pool reluctantly when we are swimming, only to say Hi and I wish I could make him to further his recovery.
Thank you.

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.....I give him the amount of food based on his 139 pounds. So if I decrease the food, let's say ideal weight (or targeted weight) is 120 pounds, I should feed him accordingly to as if he was 120 pounds?.......

Absolutely. Always feed for the target weight and not the present heavy weight.

About swimming: There are at least three threads on this board from recent months about helping dogs get over fear of water. This is worth the effort, IMO, especially with a dog who has joint problems and extra weight. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> P.S. Good work! This is the best thing for this dog -- to control his weight and also this switch to fresh food -- not to mention some gentle range-of-motion exercise. JMO! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Actually walking in chest high water is better than swimming - at least this was explained to me by a canine physical therapist for my HD dog.

Also walking UPHILL helps build mass on the back legs

Range of motion is good and there are some balance excercises as well.

While I don't go regularly to the canine rehab- the first appt set me up with a good excercise program and taught me some things about building muscle mass in the legs. The muscles hold the joint together and reduces the inflammation. Also I give a good glucosamine supplement. A lot of folks like Glycoflex III, and I have been giving a product called acti-flex 4000 which is manufactured locally and seems as good as the Glycoflex.

I have seen the rear leg muscles go an many older dogs (Not to say 8 is that old) and without the muscles the hips have a harder time.

As suggested here by others, swimming and/or walking in chest-high water is the very best exercise for a dog with HD. I will also suggest (quietly, so I don't get blasted <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> that I've seen first-hand some amazing results with acupuncture. Can be hard to find someone trained to do it, I know, and it is certainly more expensive than hopping into a pool, but I have seen dogs (and cats) who literally were dragging their back legs begin walking again. Good luck!

"William,
I have a female german shepherd that has the same problem as your. She will be 10 yrs. in Dec. Two years ago I started her on RD and kept her on it for 6 months. She lost 25 lbs. She has maintained her weight with careful monitoring.