Vet tried to fat-shame Hoku

[windycanyon]

I'm going to side with the vet for a moment, not saying this is your case at all. Maybe I have been lucky to get weight savvy vets over the years, but we've been spot on w/ our "eyes" and hands. I tell my vets to be brutally honest w/ me when it comes to weight and when I think mine are 2-3# heavy, that's usually what they say too. I am sure that some say my dogs are too lean, but I'd rather them not be set up for unnecessary sports / play injuries etc. One of my vets (been seeing her for at least 15 yrs) used to breed labs and show but got out of it several years ago and now just does agility. I know she was not exaggerating when she told me that some of the dogs were 15-20# overweight at a specialty we were at a few yrs ago together. She was clearly frustrated a few weeks after when I had one of mine in for a well check. I told her I appreciated her being concerned w/ dog weights personally. She has told me she has to be so careful w/ people anymore because if not, the people will walk out the door and never return, so many vets won't address the "weighty" matters. I think that's sad... I have seen some of my own pups who had rolls over their shoulders and/ or big blobs of fat in the forechest at 10 mos old. I (as breeder holding warranty) express concern. 9 of 10 times I get the response that "he's just a big boy and my vet says so, afterall, look at his paws!" (funny thing but most of my labs have big paws anyhow). I remind them that weight is an issue w/ joint problems and so many other health issues. I always think about a poster at the one vet clinic that showed how crowded the heart and lungs are of an obese dog vs one at a healthy weight. Anyhow, one of those pups died at a young age a few years ago-- he weighed 106#. His male littermates were all 60-70# and there is no way he should have been over 75# even w/ a little spare. I was so sad... and today at age 12, I rec'd word that another littermate died suddenly. We are all in tears as she was healthy, active, and happy until last night (hemangio was the dx, nothing they even saw coming or could have prepared for). But gosh, she lived a great life w/ her "boys" and new family (I placed her at age 7 w/them). Another littermate just finished another PACH title 2 wks ago on his birthday weekend. No one can believe he is 12. I have Fuji, another littermate here, and we are about to go take a 3miler memorial walk for sister Jazzy... you know, once you lose them, you never get a second chance. Again, maybe some of our vets just care too much...

If you can feel her ribs easily, and there is no other large fat storage places, you are probably at a correct weight. When you have to dig thru more than 1/4" of fat to find ribs, the dog is too heavy. I just wish my weight management was as easy as my dogs. Yes, the walk will do me good too.....

[Georgie]

Welcome to the familiar experience of owning a lab!

I'm use to it now but in the beginning it really annoyed me and it seemed like everyone had a comment about labs and their weight. Whenever I told them WHY my lab was not overweight, indicating all the markers of a healthy weight-appropriate thriving lab their faces went BLANK.....they were uninformed and knew absolutely nothing about health criteria of a lab, or often any dog.

[arentspowell]

I wouldn't completely disregard what the vet is saying. I don't think she looks fat from the pictures but she's still a puppy and its hard to tell with pictures, but my point is, your breeder, no matter how reputable and how experienced as a breeder she is isn't a vet (unless she is and in that case, then this comment obviously doesn't apply). I guess, just kinda going off of what Windycanyon is saying, your vet studied medicine and your vet is the one physically examining the dog, not your breeder. So even though she may be growing consistent with her lines, I would still give what the vet said some thought.

[Georgia]

Sam used to weigh 99 pounds and the vet told us he needed to lose 10 pounds. I thought he looked fine. We got him down to 85 pounds. I have to admit he looks better. He also has more energy and can run faster.

[Maxx&Emma]

Hoku is still young and I would not pay attention to those comments right now. I completely agree a puppy needs reserves and "plush" is a perfect description, IMHO.

My Maxx is an easy keeper and prone to gaining weight very easily, it is a constant battle. He gets plenty of exercise, hiking, swimming, fetching, training, running, etc. I wish I could find an easy way to keep his weight consistent and correct for him. He is a big boy to begin with and I am completely serious when I say a couple extra apple slices daily for a week show up on him. I would love for someone to tell me how to keep his weight consistent and correct for his frame. Any suggestions would be very appreciated!

[janedoe]

Ignore it. I wonder if vets throw that stuff out there because they have nothing else to criticize. I had an encounter with the orthopedic surgeon for Zo when his assistant told me that Zo was underweight. The surgeon had told me how much Zo needed to weigh because of her dysplasia and I was meticulous about it over the course of the year between surgery and recheck. The surgeon backed the assistant and when I pointed out that I did what he had told me to do, he left the room.

Vet after vet told me that Argos was too heavy and when I challenged one, he told me that Argos should weight 80 lbs because that was the standard. Ridiculous. Argos is not purebred. He's a much larger dog than a standard lab. There's nothing standard about him.

Now I just say, "No. I'm good with the weight." We check their thyroids every year and each one has things going on so my judgment is best.

[Abulafia]

I wouldn't completely disregard what the vet is saying. I don't think she looks fat from the pictures but she's still a puppy and its hard to tell with pictures, but my point is, your breeder, no matter how reputable and how experienced as a breeder she is isn't a vet (unless she is and in that case, then this comment obviously doesn't apply). I guess, just kinda going off of what Windycanyon is saying, your vet studied medicine and your vet is the one physically examining the dog, not your breeder. So even though she may be growing consistent with her lines, I would still give what the vet said some thought.

The Vet had never met her before, and did not do an exam. We were there for a microchip. The Vet walked out with her weight record and said "I think she's gaining weight too fast." Her comments were not based on a physical exam of Hoku. When she has been in for physical exams the (other) Vets have never said anything other than that she looks good.

Also: *I* examine her, all the time, both visually and manually. She has a waist. I can feel (not see) her ribs. I check her obsessively precisely because I don't want her to become overweight. No one wants an overweight dog. But looking at a number on a paper can't tell you what you need to know.

[arentspowell]

The Vet had never met her before, and did not do an exam. We were there for a microchip. The Vet walked out with her weight record and said "I think she's gaining weight too fast." Her comments were not based on a physical exam of Hoku. When she has been in for physical exams the (other) Vets have never said anything other than that she looks good.

Also: *I* examine her, all the time, both visually and manually. She has a waist. I can feel (not see) her ribs. I check her obsessively precisely because I don't want her to become overweight. No one wants an overweight dog. But looking at a number on a paper can't tell you what you need to know.

I guess that does change things. I'm sure she isn't fat especially since she's a growing puppy. She looks beautiful in your signature photo by the way. I know weight can be a touchy subject for humans and for our pets. I didn't mean to offend by any means, I just know sometimes we see our pets differently than others see them. For example, when my MILs lab was a little over a year he was looking pretty fat. We pointed it out to her but she just couldn't see it. She didn't think he was because she sees him every day and the weight crept up little by little until he was overweight. It wasn't till our comment that she asked the vet about it and he confirmed that Beau indeed was fat and needed to drop a few pounds.

[Shelley]

My thoughts are along Daos' thoughts, I like my puppies to have a little bit of (plush) padding as they grow, as a resource if they get sick, or when/if they go off their food while teething. 2 pounds a week sounds about right for this puppy, for now. Bitches slow down those huge growth spurts much sooner than the dogs, so around 10 months to a year or so old, so if I notice my girls, or my puppy family's females seem a little on the chubby side, it's time to cut back on the food.

In my opinion, vets aren't the best resource for determining a healthy weight for a growing puppy especially from show lines. Obese is obviously not optimal, but Hoku looks age appropriate to me.

[Abulafia]

I was annoyed by the way the Vet handled it, but to be clear, I'm not livid. She's a big, solid dog, and her dam did tend to the heavy side. I'm not dismissive of that, or the dangers involved. I don't like how the Vet handled it, but the last thing I want is a dog who slips slowly into overweight and then suffers.

Is she big? Yes, I think she's big. I don't think she's fat—and she's still growing daily—but I also don't want her to get there (fat, that is).

... I'm not even bothered by the fact that she's solid enough to raise a Vet's eye. I am fine keeping a closer eye on her intake. I just didn't like the bedside manner.