Fat little girl
Well... 108 lbs! Since Atlas has joined the family, she has put on a ton of weight. They are doing tests now... Could it be all the extra treats? Stay tuned. Mark |
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| Probably treats, and maybe she's into his food a little? As they mature they do tend to put on a bit anyway.... how old is she now? |
| She just turned four. |
| Oh my! I hope she's just eating too much..... |
Hope she's just eating lots of the good stuff and making Atlas do all the fetching and carrying.  |
| 4 years old now and de-sexed, past the growing stage fully it does not take much more for them to blow out like barrels. Whatever you are feeding in dry food, immediately cut that amount in Half, bulk it up with vegies like grated raw carrot, brocoli etc so she has the satisfaction of feeling fuller without as many calories. Stella is just well rounded at the moment, if all checks out OK then drastic diet is needed. Make sure she is not eating Atlas left overs or you are feeding the same with her and treating her the same as Atlas, both dogs needs and requirements are vastly different as Atlas needs more as he is still developing and at the moment also look at treats for her in the low Cal variety. Carrot sticks, poached chicken fillet broken up into wee tiny piece and used as a treat, nothing high cal or fatty. In her dinner you can also bulk up the reduced dry amount with Tuna in Springwater, poached chicken the lighter meats without all the fat and calories also. If in doubt at all, maybe have her thyroid checked to see nothing abnormal there. If out of balance they can gain weight easily and become big slugs. |
| Remember when Glacier left our foster home she was a trim girl, but when returned 5 years later she had blossomed to 153 lbs! Think blimp on four stubby legs. We've been fighting those last 10 lbs...from 95 to 85 for several years but thanks to thyroid, our old lady (12 year old) is now svelt once again...no, she's skinny! She has a waist line and ribs. Reduced treats, vegetables to fill her up (she loves canned green beans, not fresh), high quality food and exercise...yes, even at 12 and SLOW we insist on walks...we call them tortoise strolls. (more mental stimulation now) It is easy to let a long haired dog get away from you. Maybe you want her to be bigger than she should...I'm guilty of that. You should be able to feel ribs easily, inbetween ribs without much effort. She needs to pull in smartly behind the ribs when viewed from the top. They carry their muscles in their legs so don't mislead yourself the abdomen is all muscle. Hopefully all this weight is lovin' from Dad. They can sure beg with their eyes, "Come on, don't you love me??" |
| Wendel is four, too. He also has gained wait from when he has come to live with us in June 2009. He was 73lbs and I thought a bit skinny. Well he sure did fill out! He's 88lbs now and I think a bit thick around the ribs. He gets 4 cups of food a day between morning and night. So does Asterisk. The problem is Asterisk only eats when she's hungry, which may not be till before bed at 10pm. So Wendel will help himself to her food. He also helps himself to the garbage and counter tops. We go to the dog parks and on walks. I've also cut down on treats, but I think he's always going to be a bit chunky. |
boy I feel like a terrible mommy. I don't actually measure out Bella's food. I just give her a scoop of what looks like a cup or so at night and a little less for breakfast. Before I make my scoop I just take a feel of her body to make sure that I can still feel her ribs a bit and gauge if I think she is going to get a jog in with my hubby or me that day. If we miss a jog due to weather or it has been to hot or cold to get out for some exercise I cut back a little. I want to keep he at 70-75lbs after reading about everyone's hip and joint issues. Maybe I should be more precise but I think a good feel of my baby goes a long way and I do the same with the cats and horses. I must be on the right track since my vet agrees with me when I say "some one is getting a little plump and needs to cut back"........now if I just could be that disciplined with myself  |
Laika is 4 years old and has put on 10 lbs or so since Langley has come along. Now that there is a man in the house it is like she doesn't care about her weight anymore  He seems to like the game of not eating until she is done and once she comes over and takes a bite runs up to the dish. I try to stay close by and block her but sometimes I miss it. I tried feeding him in a crate recently he just tries to bury it  When I give cookies I break them and give him the bigger piece he is skinny man. |
| Well here's the thing... Stella has been on the Prescription diet ID dog food for quite some time, because she has always had a sensitive stomach. Her weight has been anywhere from 90-96 lbs consistently. Now she has jumped to 108 and looks like she has some padding. We did blood work, and are waiting for results... we are also checking her urine because she has had a history of UTI's and we want to check her our when she seems to be doing fine, to check all her levels. Then there's the lump I found by her rear hip... very hard and it feels attached. They did the needle thingy for that, but if it grows we will have to remove it and biopsy ( which I'm sure I will do anyway... just trying to catch my breath after the bills from Zak). THEN...haha... She always has anal gland problems-- chews back there and releases her glands.. we think it's due to a poor tail docking... there is not even a stub... maybe it bothers her and she chews? i dunno... Anyhow... it was good to address all these issues and I should hear some test results soon. I am going to go find a new dog food today- a reduced calorie food that doesn't have too many ingredients for her sensitive stomach. I will also try the vegetables mentioned and we are all going to start long walks- as soon as I hear back about the test results. OK that's where we're at. thanks for all the support! Mark |
If you are otherwise happy with Stella on her current food - I would consider leaving her on it and decreasing the portions. If you are concerned about her missing the same volume of food, the veggies would fill that gap well - assuming she tolerates those too. If her tummy issues are that severe that precription food is needed, I would be real hesitant about switching her off it and possibly creating a mess.  Hoping everything checks out well; perhaps lowering her food amount, adding in some veggies for bulk and increasing her exercise would do the trick!  Also - her tail dock should not feel a nub if done correctly, so I would think she has some other issue causing her to chew at her butt. Anal gland issues alone will do that. Veggies and bulk should help them too  |
| I'm with Dawn!!! Just changing their food is enough to upset the GI tract and more so if its sensitive. If she's doing well on her current food I'd stick with it and reduce the volume, adding vege if she's really acting hungry. Tiggy only gets 1 cup in the morning and evening but I do lots of treat training. If I feel her getting a bit more padding due to extra treats I'll cut the cup down a bit for a couple of days. She doesnt counter surf, unless its something really good so I figure she's not starving all the time. |
| Poor Stella girl (and you) Hope all the blood work comes back okay! |
| Stella has been getting 1 cup in the morning and 1 1/4 cup in the evening. I feel that if I cut that down, she won't be getting enough food. I have been over treating... and that stops now. I bought some carrots and I'll treat her with carrot slices. We also are going to start walking- as soon as she gets the all clear from my vet. Thanks so much for all your knowledge. No matter how knowledgeable I've become- and that's pretty knowledgeable- I still learn so much from the wonderful people here. Stay tuned... Mark |
| Mark with her sensitive tummy have to agree with Dawn, dont change the dry if it is working fine with her. Bulk it up after making it 1 cup morning and afternoon with vegies and lean stuff like the tuna or poached chicken fillet (No Skin, no fat) to give her the satisfaction of feeling full without the extra calories, does not mean she has to be this way forever, if everything checks out OK only to help get the plump off her for the time being and reduce the weight. Provided also she takes the veggie bulk or lean meat bulk OK with no issues there. Yes off doing more exercise with her too and even just throwing something she will chase in the yard is great too, to keep them active. Hope the lump is nothing and also all blood tests come back OK, if so then strict diet for madam then with more activity to lean her up.  Now tail docking, nothing to do with her anal glands, have had over the years two with absolutely no nub at all, no problems there with that. Maybe just something she is proned too and needs attention occassionally with a squeeze to empty it out. Vet or groomer are experienced with that on a more regular basis. |
| Question- Broccoli cooked or raw? |
| Mark, Bella was up to 97 lbs shortly after I got her around 2 1/2 yrs ago. I was giving her more food than I am now. I have cut her down to 2 cups of food a day. 1 in the am, and 1 in the evening. Canned green beans were the easiest thing to give her. Broccoli can be very gassy, so I might think twice about that one. Bella would eat non stop if I would let her. Don't cave in to the big brown eyes. You could reduce that last 1 1/4 cup to 1 in the evening, as long as the Thyroid comes out normal. |
| Mine are not gassy on brocolli at all. Mark just steam it a little, still firm but sort of like just blanched and introduce a small amount firstly to see how she goes on it with her sensitive tummy. Zuchini is great too, steamed but not overcooked again just try one thing at a time and see how it is with her system. Carrots raw, grate them and mix in to her dry. Take each step slowly when bringing in a veggie and just a little bit to try and see how she goes. Dont forget fish or chicken just for a bit of variety for her with the reduced amount of dry, again one thing at a time to make sure she can handle it OK without upsetting her tummy. |
| If you use canned green beans, make sure they are UNSALTED. If I run low on them I steam & cool some frozen ones. Haven't needed to try any other veggies with Mariah. Sometimes she gets a bit of gas but her stool is very firm. She gets 1/2 can beans & 1 cup of food with 1 medium sized biscuit per meal & gets fed 2 times a day. She maintains her weight between 78#-81# on this. She carries a lot of bone & muscle which is heavier than fat so I keep that in mind. And she is still very active for a 10 year old dog. If I fed her just kibble she'd bulk up. The boys seem to maintain their weight on straight kibble. |
| You should have seen the look on their faces when we went from puperoni to carrot slices for their treats... but after a while they really liked it. The broccoli didn't go over well, but I will try it steamed. I will try green beans and chicken too, but slowly, due to stellas sensitive stomach. Her blood work came back pristine, but the thyroid test was on the lowest side of normal, so we are testing further. The lump came back as fatty tissue, but I am feeling it daily for any growth- and we start walking today.. I can use those walks as much as the dogs. It also makes me laugh how serious I get when Stella puts on extra pounds, but I let myself balloon up without worry. This summer will be good for all of us- the summer of trimming down! |
cinemarco wrote: You should have seen the look on their faces when we went from puperoni to carrot slices for their treats Yeah...sorta like "What the ????" I don't know how the veggies will go over with her sensitive tummy. I have had very good luck with my one boy who has a sensitive interstinal tract, feeding Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach. Not a diet food but she may tolerate the veggies in with the kibble. |
| Good luck Mark! I've had to be more careful with Maggie both due to her age (5) and Henry. She will eat her dinner and then share his if I don't watch and prevent her. She gained a few pounds before I realized what was happening. Now I measure everything and I sneak Henry extra food when Maggie is not around. |
| Thanks for the Pro Plan tip Marilyn. I have been thinking about switching as I believe most of Bella's allergies are environmental. We started a mix today. Nigel's breeder uses Pro Plan too. I am good with Purina as they were not involved with any of the recalled food that killed my last boy, Winston. Believe me...I am obsessed about ingredients after losing him. |
| Well- Stella vomited all night long. All her tests came back and she is in great shape, so it must be the added vegetables to her diet. As soon as her stomach settles, it's just going to be 2 cups of kibble ( Prescription ID) with a touch of wet food mixed in for flavor- and nothing else until she loses some weight. I always separate her and Atlas when they eat, so she is not getting any of his food. This is just how it has to be until she is back in shape. |
| poor stella. I hope she feels better. It is so hard when us gals gain weight!!!! I need to have more veggies too Walks will help you both. Good luck stella!!!!!! |
Mark I've been debating to post this,figuring I'd really catch flack  .... oh well here it goesI know you probably got the Hill's from the vet. Have you ever read an independent review of what's in it http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/showproduct.php?product=1401&cat=7 Here is the one for Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/showproduct.php?product=1069&cat=7 I guess what I'm trying to say is over the years we've bought these dog foods because they are recognized and well thought of brands. But are we really feeding our dog's grain by-products left over from processing other products? Dog Food Analysis has really opened my eyes as to what is in the kibble we feed our beloved pets. No, I'm not advocating raw feeding, though I'm enjoying the results at my house. There are some great kibbles out there. My experience with my GSD has made me very sensitive to what I'm feeding. I had tried both those products on him and several others. Multiple tests at several vets... I'm the one who just happened to stumble on the fact that he had a grain allergy. Look at most of the popular well known kibbles. The main ingredients are grains(and mainly grain by products). The first 5 years I had him I had a skinny dog with intermittent loose stools who just didn't like to eat. In the year I've had him on grain free kibble, he has gained weight and now has an unreal coat(We call him 75 pounds of hair and 25 pounds of dog.) I was poisoning my dog  The bottom line is that everyone has to do what they feel comfortable with. I realize cost is an issue for some people. A dietitian I know always says "calories taken in better equal calories out or lookout for the love handles to start." In most cultures food = love. The plan of more exercise for you and Stella is the best bet. The girl just isn't into the veggies. |
| The topic has been how much to feed. In my previous post I also brought up the question "is what I'm feeding adequate?" Here's another link that discusses that topic. Just food for thought..... http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/8_7/features/15728-1.html |
| Thanks so much for that link and for the advice! |
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