I think you can safely count green beans as "free." I'd add weight in green beans to total what her old meal size was, since the point of them is to fill her up and keep her from feeling deprived on this weight-reducing diet. Over the course of several weeks (or months) you could gradually reduce the green beans untill they are gone completely. In that way she may not ever feel hungry; she'll just eventually get accustomed to the new normal.

 Quote: Tracy Collins

I think you can safely count green beans as "free." I'd add weight in green beans to total what her old meal size was, since the point of them is to fill her up and keep her from feeling deprived on this weight-reducing diet. Over the course of several weeks (or months) you could gradually reduce the green beans untill they are gone completely. In that way she may not ever feel hungry; she'll just eventually get accustomed to the new normal.

Thank you and I love the photo of your canine family!

PS for everyone - We are walking every night and they love it!

I read that it is better when you are feeding a balanced diet, to cut the overall amount down instead of just cutting the fat. Fat isn't all bad, it is good to have some in the diet. I would recommend you cut the food and increase the exercise daily. You may need to play ball with your dog more, or like was said in a previous post, get them out there for a brisk walk. It would help you as well. I enjoy walking my dogs but like you am concerned about loose dogs. In my area, people just do not seem to get it, they need to keep their pups on a leash. It is hard to walk each dog separately. But you can take quick brisk walks with maybe two at a time? If not, Take them for a ride in the car. I do that on rainy days sometimes and they really enjoy getting out.
Be careful about feeding filler. I would keep the diet balanced just cut down a bit until you find the right combo of food and exercise.
I had to cut the food for my bindi, she tends to get chunky. I fed all the dogs the same amount (all weigh the same within a couple of pounds of each other) she was the only one who was getting a little plump. I have cut her food and she feels better and has way more energy...yikes!

" it is better when you are feeding a balanced diet, to cut the overall amount down instead of just cutting the fat. Fat isn't all bad, it is good to have some in the diet. I would recommend you cut the food and increase the exercise daily. "


Absolutely! Dogs need dietary fat.

The green beans idea is a standby because it works. I remove 15% of the food that keeps the dog at the present weight or 30% of what the dog is gaining on and "fluff up" the bowl with no-salt-added green beans, as Tracy mentioned.

But how is the UTI?

Of course dogs need dietary fat. It wouldn't be possible to eliminate it anyway on a raw diet. All animal-based food sources include fat, even if you removed every visible speck of fat.

My point was that a lot of what is fed in a raw diet is quite fatty--poultry skin, as well as body fat on cheap cuts of muscle meat. All of which is fine for a healthy dog of healthy weight.

But I think that removing some visible fat in the diet for a dog trying to loose weight (in combination with adding fiber) seems reasonable. Especially when the OP was concerned about meal volume. Fat gram = 9 kcal. Protein gram = 4 kcal. By weight, you can give the dog twice as much protein as fat for the same energy.

 Quote: Tracy Collins

Of course dogs need dietary fat. It wouldn't be possible to eliminate it anyway on a raw diet. All animal-based food sources include fat, even if you removed every visible speck of fat.

My point was that a lot of what is fed in a raw diet is quite fatty--poultry skin, as well as body fat on cheap cuts of muscle meat. All of which is fine for a healthy dog of healthy weight.

But I think that removing some visible fat in the diet for a dog trying to loose weight (in combination with adding fiber) seems reasonable. Especially when the OP was concerned about meal volume. Fat gram = 9 kcal. Protein gram = 4 kcal. By weight, you can give the dog twice as much protein as fat for the same energy.

Totally agree. I was respomding to Sharon. Didn't even realize there had been a previous post about
fat.

My fault; I replied without looking back.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

But how is the UTI?

We go to the vet on Wednesday night for another UA.

We went to the vet tonight for another UA and it looks good. She's been on antibiotics for 1 week. We will finish the 2 week prescription and return for another UA 10 days after. I'm hoping we can stop the antibiotics then and not go the 30 days.