Weird question

maggieandluke · April 2011

So I thought I would pick your collective brains: how do you all help your dogs lose weight? I know dogs follow the same eat better, exercise more principle. My dog weighs a *little* more than she should (I blame my mother for giving her table scraps). So she has been on a strict diet, but it being the winter her exercise was still pretty much the same. Now that the spring is here, and it if stops snowing, I have brought her on some runs but she is soooo slow its more of a fast walk. Do you ladies have any creative ideas to help with dog exercise? What types of dog food that arn't ridiculusly expensive (remember poor college student here) do you know of that are also healthy?

MyWedding13 · April 2011

What about Iams weight management? They are reasonably priced. Does your dog like to chase you or play fetch? Those are easy way to get him or her to exercise.

saltyisb · April 2011

Replace dry food feeding with wet food. Wet food has less calories and is better for your dog. Some animals like the crunch of dry food so you can always mix the wet food with dry food. Also, be careful with any treats you give.

gettingmarried412 · April 2011

We take our dog to the dog park for an hour a day in the morning, and then he pulls FI on his rollerblades in the afternoon. He needs a lot of exercise though because he's a really active breed. Have you tried using a laser pointer? A lot of dogs will chase these for hours, in your house or in your backyard. I'm not sure about cheap food, we get a really healthy food for our dog and it's expensive. I do know that staying on a consistent schedule (like feeding him/her at 7am and 5pm every day) can help. We've also trained our pup on the treadmill (lol), but I'm not sure if you have one of those. He can run while I'm making wedding stuff

Gretta19 · April 2011

Oh this question is right up my alley - I train and show dogs and like to think I know a little about a lot as it pertains to dogs!

I am kind of a dog food snob - I think that it is JUST as important for my dogs to get good quality food as it is for me, especially when they are being fed the same thing over and over again. I fed raw for a while because it was actually less expensive, but now that I have a new large breed puppy raw chicken is not nearly as sanitary or practical an option. The most important thing to consider is that meat is the first ingredient, not corn or some type of meat byproduct.

I feed Taste of the Wild High Prairie and supplement with raw eggs, carrots and sweet potatoes, with a coat supplement for my coated dogs that are actively showing. I chose TOTW because it is very highly reviewed by knowledgable sources and priced very affordably compared to its close competitors. Kirklands Signature at Costco is the most affordably priced food I know of that peopl speak highly of, but you can only get it at Costco and I don't have one anywhere near me. My dogs also get other healthy scraps, like vegetable peelings or fatty bits of meat. If you want more info on healthy dry dog foods check out dogfoodanalysis.com - I have attended a few seminars given by the woman who runs the site, she seriously knows her stuff.

As far as what type of exercise is going to work for your dog what breed/breeds is she? I am a HUGE believer in trying to let your dog do what it was bred to do, or something close to it. I can't take my Gordons hunting every weekend, but I CAN let them run in an open field, or make them hunt for a dummy with pheasant sent on it and nothing makes them happier. If I took my dachshund rescue girls to a field to run they would look at me like I was crazy, unless there were a bunch of prairie dog holes for them to dive into! They take a little more encouraging to get going, and like yours a run would be more like a slow walk. They love the dog park, or going on hikes - I can't run on the trails we go on, but they can trot around smelling things and are perfectly happy.

HTH!

saltyisb · April 2011

Oh and also look at the ingredients in the food you are giving your pet. Make sure there are no fillers such as corn or wheat or by-products. Trader Joes has good food with no fillers for a reasonable cost.

While it is more expensive, I prefer Wellness. I can seriously notice a huge difference in overall health and the quality of coat when an animal is on a good food with no fillers. I work in the animal welfare industry and quality of food makes a huge difference in the quality of your pet's life!

Gretta19 · April 2011

Also, be VERY careful mixing dry dog food with anything with a high moisture content (wet dog food, raw eggs, stock, etc.) if your dog is a breed that is prone to bloat. While what causes bloat is still a mystery I am pretty confident in stating that there is enough anecdotal evidence out there to conclude that this is not a good idea!

saltyisb · April 2011

I've always understood that dogs can get bloat from *possibly* wetting poor quality kibble with water, not high quality. It can also be caused from numerous other things (eating too fast, drinking water too fast, breed, etc.). Your best bet would be to talk to your vet. If you have an established relationship with a vet, you can always just call and ask what they recommend. It sounds like your dog is not overweight too severely, so it might not merit a vet trip (or the cost of a trip to the vet), but it doesnt hurt to call. I call mine all the time for advice...

AshnRobo · April 2011

I cook for my dogs!

We give them 1 cup of human grade kibble. We buy from a supplier locally that orders from a company in Texas. There are no additives, no "meal", nothing bad.

I cook lean meat (like turkey or chicken) measure out three ounces, 1 tbsp plain non-fat yogurt, 1 cooked egg (any way but fried), 1 clove garlic (blended or minced but this has to be done fresh daily), 1 oz of digestible (to dogs!) greens I usually go with alphalfa sprouts (which I recommend) or spinich (if alfalfha isn't available if you go with spinich though it has to be steamed in addition to...) blended or minced, then we add some "total dog supplement" let it soak in water for 10 mins.

My dog has never been healthier. If she ever starts to gain weight I just cut back on the kibble and add some green beans (cooked).

I'm going to assume your dog is going so slow b/c it is out of shape so just keep working with her and try to push just a little harder every day, but don't over do it. Dogs try so hard to please sometimes they can hurt themselves!

Source for diet: www.keystonegermanshepherds.com

maggieandluke · April 2011

Thanks ladies!
She is a chow-husky mix, but I swear she is a cat in a dog's body. When I first got her, she is rescue, I tried playing fetch with her and I received the most deadly of stares... which continue to this day when anyone tries to play fetch with her. Beyond the three walks a day she gets, her daily activity includes following the sunspots around the apartment. Unfortuntly there are no free dog parks within a reasonable distance of me, so that is out of the question. I will look into the differnt brands ya'll recommended.

Gretta19 · April 2011

With husky and chow she should definitely be able to be a jogging partner, and probably a much better one than my Gordons! I would guess she has a pretty strong protection instinct and won't want to get too far from you, whereas mine think they need to be 100 yards away looking for a bird! Just ease her into it, and maybe have a vet double check her hips and elbows if she acts sore.

Oh, and I can totally relate to the chasing of sunspots

FI and I can tell what time of day it is by where one of my dachshunds is stationed as she chases a patch of sun from our skylight around the living room!

kristinanddan · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_weird-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:c7616da4-4c4a-4fac-801d-5a12ddc183b5Post:15959c1f-a032-4400-b457-ea2d538e4e8c">Re: Weird question</a>:
[QUOTE]What about Iams weight management? They are reasonably priced. Does your dog like to chase you or play fetch? Those are easy way to get him or her to exercise.
Posted by MyWedding13[/QUOTE]

Please don't feed your dog Iams, it is very low quality and full of fillers.

kiyamurph · April 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_weird-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:c7616da4-4c4a-4fac-801d-5a12ddc183b5Post:a705c68e-c493-4341-bfb8-e379181abbfb">Re: Weird question</a>:
[QUOTE]I've always understood that dogs can get bloat from *possibly* wetting poor quality kibble with water, not high quality. It can also be caused from numerous other things (eating too fast, drinking water too fast, breed, etc.). <span style="font-weight:bold;" class="Apple-style-span">Your best bet would be to talk to your vet. If you have an established relationship with a vet, you can always just call and ask what they recommend.</span> It sounds like your dog is not overweight too severely, so it might not merit a vet trip (or the cost of a trip to the vet), but it doesnt hurt to call. I call mine all the time for advice...
Posted by saltyisb[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Be careful with this advice. My FI is a pharmaceutical sales rep for Pfizer's animal division and he's on good terms with a lot of vets. He was telling me that for the most part, a vet will recommend a food like Science Diet or Iams (all garbage food) because they get a kickback on those food sales. So just because a vet recommends a certain food, it doesn't always mean that it's good. If you want to find a good food, definitely research and do your homework. For the most part, a lot of food (Iams, Eukenuba, Science Diet, Ol Roy, Pedigree, etc.) that's sold in grocery stores and big chain pet stores sell food that's laden with fillers that aren't good for your dog. Your best bet is to buy food from an independent pet store because they usually sell better high quality food. HTH!</div><div>
</div><div>ETA: I agree with gettingmarried4. It really helps to feed your dog at a certain time everyday. I'm not sure what your normal feeding schedule is, but it's not a good idea to leave food in a bowl and the dog just goes and eats at its leisure. If you feed the dog twice a day, take the bowl away as soon as they're done and they don't get anymore food until it's time to eat again. I know some people give their dog more food even after they've finished what was in the bowl because they give the sad dog look. Don't give in! <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />

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Hellokatie0517 · April 2011

My dog could stand to lose a pound or two. I blame FI because he is always giving her extra treats. So, we're just cutting back on treats and I'm doing my best to walk her everyday. If all she can do is a fast walk then that's great. Take her for a walk then after wards go for a run. Just think, how much extra exercise you'll get. There's no harm in going at your dog's pace especially since she has been dorment all winter. I agree with PP, check with the vet and ask what they recommend.

spalko · April 2011

I work in a vets office and the NUMBER 1 thing you can do to help your dog lose weight is to cut back on the amount of food they get daily. Your dog should probably be getting a cup of food a day, thats an actual cup, not a coffee cup, measured out! Typically when we suggest this people look at us like we just suggested they amputate the dogs hind legs. Your dog isn't going to hate you or go hungry, trust me!

Also, if your dog is used to getting treats for good behavior, replace the doggie biscuit with a green bean. You can buy a #10 can of green beans for super cheap and this should last your dog for quite some time.

As for what foods to feed, price is always going to be an issue with most people. If you can't afford a truly expensive brand and still want a decient food, I would suggest Iams or Purina Pro Plan (and no we don't sell those brands at the vets office!) The more expensive foods are not always the best foods, I'm sure you've heard of the food Blue Buffalo, well they just had an issue with a lot of their puppy food because it was seriously lacking in essential nutrients that puppies needed and it was making them sick. So more expensive isn't always the best choice.

I would also suggest not going to places like PetsMart and asking them for help because they are only going to try and sell you the most expensive brands they carry. If you do change dog foods, make sure its a gradual change (over at least 5 days) so your dog doesn't get diarrhea from the sudden change in foods.

Bloat is caused by there being too much air in the dogs stomach and the pressure on the other organs can (not always) cause the stomach to flip. There are a ton of reasons as to why bloat can be caused but eating too fast and then too much fast-paced exercise afterwards are high risk factors for dogs that are deep-chested.

If you are feeling too overwhelmed call your vet and simply ask their opinion, or stop in to have your dog weighed to see just how 'overweight' they are. More often then not, they'll tell you right then and there how much weight your dog should lose, the best plan of action, and the best food to feed all for free!!!

Ohhh, something else to consider and then I'll be done! If you do all of the exercise and the cutting back on food and your dog still isn't losing weight, they may be hypothyroid. Dogs that are hypothyroid typically have a poor hair coat and can't lose weight no matter how little they eat in a day. The test is expensive to run and if positive the dog will have to be on medication for the rest of his life but it'll keep you from pulling your hair out not knowing why fluffy isn't losing weight.

Hope some of this helped... sorry its so long! I'm very passionate about what I do

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