Hi Everyone,

I took Nika to the vet today and he told me she is overweight which I've always known and never done anything about because I've been feeding 1.5% of her weight (105 lbs) and I didn't think I should go lower. I honestly think she is predisposed to obesity. She was even plump as a puppy based on the photo taken at the shelter where she was rescued. She will be 6 years old in May and looks to be a GS/Malamute mix.

We agreed to lower her intake by 30% and I'm having a struggle that she will be eating less than my 60lb dogs. I've also partly convinced myself that if she could talk she would rather die younger and not always feel hungry while she is alive.

She is not routinely walked and the vet didn't think it would make a big difference to start. He said we really need to lower her intake. She has been raw fed since she was 8 months old. The vet also said this is the first overweight raw fed dog he has ever seen.

Any words of advice are appreciated and taken to heart.

Thank you.

Have you had a blood panel done? there could be a bit more going on. Thyroid issues come to mind.

Is there a reason why she isn't exercised? Regular exercise will help, even if it won't completely solve the issue.

....... chance it could be low thyroid activity, but an idea to ask your vet

up the veggies, green beans I think would fill the void.

As for exercise it sure won't hurt, sounds like you need to start slow and build up to it though

there will for sure be better advice from some of the experts, but this will get you going



Edited by Dave Owen (02/25/2012 11:20 PM)
Edit reason: whoops mara beat me to it

 Quote: Mara Jessup

Have you had a blood panel done? there could be a bit more going on. Thyroid issues come to mind.

Oops, forgot to mention that she had blood drawn today and urinalysis and urine culture. I should receive a call with the results around Tuesday.

 Quote: Mara Jessup

Is there a reason why she isn't exercised? Regular exercise will help, even if it won't completely solve the issue.

1) Because I'm lazy and 2) I have 2 other dogs. I can't walk them all at the same time because I'm afraid of not being able to control the situation if we encounter another dog 3)Because I'm lazy. :-( But I promise that I'm going to try to start walking her even if it's for 20 minutes a night. Just an FYI she does have a nice size yard but she is also on the lazy side.

 Quote: Dave Owen

....... chance it could be low thyroid activity, but an idea to ask your vet up the veggies, green beans I think would fill the void.

Great idea. I’m hoping Connie will chime in about whether it’s a good idea to use fillers.

I have 4 dogs, work 40 hours a week in a physically exhausting job and am knocking on the door of 50, but regardless of that, they all get walked together twice a day religiously, I would be racked with guilt if they didn't get out every day, and I can't begin to imagine how frustrated and disruptive they would be if they didn't escape the confines of the house.

An excerpt from Cesar's book puts it succinctly to me; when people say they have a big yard, it is just an extension of the house, a big kennel if you like, somewhere they never escape from, and imagine how miserable you would be if you never left your house 24/7, you would end up catatonic and depressed, and the dog is probably 'lazy' because he has given up even thinking about getting out of his cell!

I am ordinarily quiet on here, or prefer to keep a respectful silence rather than get 'involved' but if the dog is not being taken out because you can't be arsed, well I felt the need to get involved!

I know you are waiting on bloods, but the immediate assumption I would make is he is over weight because he isn't getting to burn the calories off, being sedentary and topping up the daily food intake will equal a fat dog;, my Doctor gave me an analogy once, if you eat one sweet biscuit a day, regardless of exercise, in one year you will put on a stone in weight, so the fact your dog is overweight isn't really a surprise!

PLEASE, for the sake of your dogs physical and crucially mental well being, take your dog for a walk!

What is the dog's typical raw meal? What foodstuffs?

You may be able to reduce the calories somewhat by reducing fat. Fat grams are more calorie dense than protein. The other option is to replace some volume with non-starchy carbs (fiber)--plain frozen green beans is a typical choice. Most dogs like them and will help to keep her from feeling deprived.

Remember that the percentages quoted for raw feeding are based on a dog's ideal weight. And are just guidelines. You have to serve meals based on the individual dog in front of you. A fat dog should be fed less.

Don't anthropomorphize what your dog would say about the meals. If left to their own choices, most dogs would be as fat as fools. Most of the ones I see are. If you feel guilty, replace the missing food with some attention, an activity, or exercise.

Fillers are excellent if you've got a dog that's still hungry (but IMO, what dog isn't still hungry?) Buy a bag of fresh, frozen green beans and add that to the food as you take out some of the regular meal. All it does is keep the dog feeling full while still getting smaller portions. The vet I work for always recommends this, and I've seen pretty great results. Diet and exercise is the way to keep weight under control.

I'll let you in on a secret. I don't walk my dogs every day. But I do take them out every day. You're lazy? I am too sometimes. That's the wonderful thing about parks/yards and chuck-its

I reduced my dogs weight by starting a raw diet. Adding a little water helps.

I would go stark staring mad if I didn't get out in the fresh air for a big yomp over the fields every day, and I know the dogs would too!

Now housework I loathe and detest, a perfunctory vac and wipe over the surfaces is as good as it gets most days, THAT I am lazy about, I would rather walk the dogs any day lol!

I value the fresh air too. But when it comes down to it, I value brainwork more. Doing some obedience and tracking gets both my dogs wiped out more than any run in the fields would. They keep me on my toes.

I get migraines. Bad ones. And I'd rather just sit on my patio in the backyard throwing a ball or laying a short track somewhere than walking around the neighborhood.

I'm just not a super human. I work 40 hours a week, train schutzhund on my days off, and go to school. I'm tired. I take my dogs out every day, but if I do something other than a walk I'm okay with it.

I see it this way, a walk will not keep my female happy while I relax and read or eat dinner. And sometimes not even a hike or a long game of ball will. But brainwork? Obedience? Tracking? That will tire her out.