too thin??? or more weight??
More pictures of her thin frame. she is around 50 lbs:   I am thinking of increasing her daily feedings from 1 cup 2 times a day...to 2 cups 2 times a day. I think she will eat all of it..... The question I have is :::: It is better for an elderly dog to be THIS thin? or to have some meat on them?? Thanks in advance for your opinions on this... |
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| Having had a 15 year old OES, I had struggled with the same thing. But, I learned that as a super senior, Lucy would only eat what she wanted and stopped when she was full... so, I gave her more food and just threw out whatever she didn't finish. I also gave her more yummy stuff as she got older and not just dry food. I figured she was 15... so, let her enjoy herself! I think Pearl does look a little thin, but, she has obviously lost some muscle mass as a super-senior. I think if she would eat more, then I would give her some more food. It is good for them to stay thin.... better, on their back legs/hips, however, I would increase her food a bit more. I would start at 1.5 cups, 2 x a day.....and see how she tolerates the extra food and then increase it a little more. Do you also supplement with human food (chicken, or ground beef etc?) |
| I think getting thin as a senior is somewhat normal for a human or a dog. I thought it was a result of a smaller appetite as you age. It is hard to tell from the pictures but she doesn't look too thin to me. Maybe someone with more experience with older dogs can answer. |
She looks fine to me. Seniors do indeed lose muscle mass so they automatically are thin in the rear....you should see Jack  It is much better on their aging hips and other joints to be lighter. I've notice appetite does go down with age......except for the above mentioned.. I was just feeling Harry (about 10 or so) and marveled at how healthy he feels for a guy his age. Weight and muscle tone......and no sheepdog cysts  Senior tummies are very tender. I wouldn't be mucking about with big diet changes. |
| Val, thinner is better. Thinner dogs live longer (on average, by about two years ! ) The more weight on those senior joints, the harder it is for them. That said, I just upped Belle, who turns 14 today  to 1 cup x 3 times a day from 1 cup x 2 times a day. It seems like she burns a little more energy in the cold weather, but use your own judgment. Kristine |
| It is better for a senior to be thinner. IMO - in general for our dogs you should be able to "feel" ribs and backbone but not "see" them super easily and for the senior citizens just a tad thinner than that is o.k. It's easier on them and better for their health to be on the thinner side of normal rather than the opposite as they age. That being said, from the pictures I would like just too see just a tiny bit more "meat" on her but it is difficult to see from your pictures. Their digestive system gets a little less efficient as they get elderly, so my suggestion would be to do as Kristine says she is doing for Belle, which is switch to 3 meals vs. 2 a day. I would think they might help her to feel more satisfied throughout the day and would be more efficient for her digestive system to handle. I wouldn't do what you mentioned and double what she is getting now, especially not all of a sudden. Perhaps maybe give her 1-1/2 times what she is getting in each meal now if you stick to 2X a day. Do you feed a senior formula diet? They tend to have less fat, lower protein and more fiber content. You've asked a good question, Val !!! Their dietary needs change as they age, just like ours do. Linda Zimmerman |
| Linda, I agree with everything you've said, but one thing I've learned, it's my gut, not science, is that seniors actually need MORE protein, unless they have kidney problems. I do blood panels to make sure liver and kidneys are functioning fine and as long as those numbers are OK, I'm sticking with the higher protein (or rather, not cutting protein). I know it goes against what we're taught, so don't take it as gospel, just my gut speaking, but loudly. FWIW KB |
| Jack is standing beside me reading the screen.....he is a smart OES.....and nudged me, "See, I need 3 meals a day not two!" |
I think she looks ok from those pictures. And also remember Pearl is built slim - she doesn't have the heavier bone to start with.  Simon's in the same boat, and he has lost so much muscle mass, even covering his skull.  I also feed higher protein feed to all mine, my 2 senior boys included. I just had senior profiles done on Harley and Simon a couple weeks ago. Harley is like poster-child perfect, and will be 14 in March.  Simon has some off values, but they were related to his heart and resulting kidney issues. Everything else was in the normal range. They weren't severe enough to change any of his meds or treatment plans. |
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