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  1. #1
    Senior Dog Georgia's Avatar
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    Getting frustrated

    Sam has been on a diet since April 12 when he went to the vet and he weighed 99.6 pounds. We cut his kibble back to 1 cup twice a day, with a scoop of canned as a topper and a half can of green beans each meal. We also cut out most treats (he maybe gets 2 biscuits a day and anything else is carrots or fruits). I was happy, he was down to 94.4 pounds on May 9. Today, I took him in to the vet for a weigh in and he gained 2 pounds. He's now 96.4. So frustrating! He's also getting more exercise than he did over the winter. I don't know what to do. The vet said to drop his kibble back to 3/4 cup twice a day but I just don't think that's enough food for a lab. I used to have him on Pro Plan Focus large breed adult and switched him to Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach a couple months ago. I think that's what caused the weight gain because the SSS has more calories than the large breed adult and I kept feeding the same amount. The vet said if I don't want to cut his food back any further, she wants me to consider a prescription weight loss diet, but I'm thinking of putting him back on the large breed adult. The calories are less and he did well on it. I'm concerned the prescription diet will be too low in fat and he will lose his coat condition. He's still a young boy... Not quite 18 months old. Any ideas?
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  2. #2
    Senior Dog kelsyg's Avatar
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    My girls have been on a diet since Dec. I give them each 3/4 cup of Pro Plan ALS Sport twice a day with 1/4 cup green beans. I also give them a frozen Kong in the middle of the day filled with carrots and 1/4 can of Pro Plan canned food.
    They do get frequent snacks - because they are just so darn good/cute of carrots, apples, Pupcorn and Charlee Bears (small low calorie treats) They are doing fine - not acting hungry and have lost a noticible amount of weight.
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  3. #3
    Senior Dog Nancy0's Avatar
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    I think I would go back to the PP large breed adult over the prescription. I have never given any of my labs less than 2 cups total a day.

    Niner on the other hand is on PP SSS and that boy is skinny. I was just thinking this morning he needs to gain a few. Tell Sam to send some of those pounds over here lol

  4. #4
    House Broken LuckyLuna's Avatar
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    For a large dog to get enough nutrition, I really wouldn't drop the kibble amount below 1 cup twice a day. An 18 month old dog should be able to achieve an appropriate weight through other means.

    Although it may seem counterintuitive, I would feed a formula with a little more protein and fat. Dogs utilize protein and fat before they do carbohydrates; so extra carbs can tend to turn into weight gain. The higher the protein and fat in a formula, the lower the carb percentage. Your current kibble is a 26/16 formula. Maybe look for a kibble with 28-30% protein and 16-18% fat.

    Some people, myself included, have found their dogs more easily shed weight on a grain-free formula that has at least a moderate amount of protein and fat. But it's certainly not necessary to go that route.

    I'd look for a different formula; don't be too concerned about the calories; eliminate the canned food but continue to add the green beans; exercise diligently; and there should be slow steady weight loss. I am assuming there are no other health problems that have been identified.

  5. #5
    House Broken Maggie's Mom's Avatar
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    Has the vet checked his thyroid?

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  7. #6
    Senior Dog voodoo's Avatar
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    whats your definition of "more exercise"? I swear chili only gets about 15-30minutes a day and to me thats not enough exercise to lose any weight! I am thinking 1-2 hours a day is needed to lose weight.
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  8. #7
    Best Friend Retriever LucyTudeOn4Feet's Avatar
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    Boy, that doesn't sound like much food, I'd be leery of cutting back more. He's still just a teenager. What about more activity for him? Swimming is a really good one. If you don't have access to a small lake or reservoir for regular workouts during the week, what about a place like this? They offer workout sessions and list swimming as one, among other, exercise activities. Don't let the name scare you, they have a pool and agility.
    https://www.dogtrainingobedienceaggression.com/?redirect=false
    Last edited by LucyTudeOn4Feet; 05-24-2014 at 02:16 PM. Reason: Fix link

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  10. #8
    Senior Dog Berna's Avatar
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    You say he is more active now, so maybe the pounds he put on are not from fat, but from muscle. Note that muscle is heavier than fat.

    I like the "look and feel" approach better than pounds.
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  12. #9
    Best Friend Retriever Polly Pipkin's Avatar
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    Since Sam is only 18 months, I wouldn't put him on any prescription diet - he needs the food to grow. I would also cut out the canned food, and give him veggies as treats throughout the day, so he doesn't get really hungry. For a large lab, that isn't very much food.

    And as Berna says - muscle is heavier than fat. Do you have any pictures of Sam you can post?
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  13. #10
    Senior Dog Nancy0's Avatar
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    That's a good suggestion - to cut out the canned food. Do you moisten his food to begin with? My neighbor's dog never eats his food so when I go over there I moisten his food (they just dump it in his bowl) and he gobbles it right up. Getting the food wet will bring out the smells of the food and most dogs love it that way.

    Nancy

 



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