Thoughts on intake and weight loss

[mysweetkaos]

OK so I replied to another thread about Kcal's per day for dogs. I am wondering about my boys and if it's enough/not enough....etc. Here's the info if anyone has any info. I would appreciate it. I will put up a pic of Sherman.....I think he's a good weight, but we all know a mothers love is blind. Other problem, I don't think Kaos is eating that much we have done weight management food and cut back on amounts, he is very overweight due to his activities being very limited....yet he acts like he is starving all the time....what can we do?? I am so torn, part of me wants to let him live out the rest of his days fat/happy since his level of pain indicates he doesn't have long....but logically I know he needs to get more weight off



Kaos 9.5 yrs, very minimal activity @ most he gets 15 min walk on grass once a day per vet instructions and because more than that leaves him in a lot of pain. 120 lbs (don't shoot me prime weight was always about 105-110, we're trying) He is 30 inches tall. Eats Castor/Pollux weight management 4 cps a day, 340.5 x 4.....so 1362 a day...is that too much?

Sherman Tank, Mastiff/GSD mix 9 month (+), 92 lbs, 2-4 miles walk a day, 2-3, 15-20 min fetch sessions. I'm guessing about 27-28 inches tall seeing him next to Kaos. Eats Castor/Pollux large breed adult 5 cups a day, 323.7 x 5 ....1618.5.

[Emoore]

Kayos. . . I think you're over-thinking things. If your dog is overweight, he needs to eat less calories and move around a bit more if his health and mobility will allow. If his activities are limited then he just needs to eat less calories.

You can do that by cutting back on the amount he already eats (for comparison Rocky gets 1200 Kcal/day, but he's 78lb.) and adding in some veggies for bulk. You can do that by switching to an even less calorie dense food.

Or you can decide that he's an old dog without a whole lot of years left and you're fine with him being overweight. None of us can decide that for you.

[mysweetkaos]

Originally Posted by Emoore

Kayos. . . I think you're over-thinking things. If your dog is overweight, he needs to eat less calories and move around a bit more if his health and mobility will allow. If his activities are limited then he just needs to eat less calories.

You can do that by cutting back on the amount he already eats (for comparison Rocky gets 1200 Kcal/day, but he's 78lb.) and adding in some veggies for bulk. You can do that by switching to an even less calorie dense food.

Or you can decide that he's an old dog without a whole lot of years left and you're fine with him being overweight. None of us can decide that for you.

Thank you...I do tend to overthink especially with Kaos. I want to feel like I am doing all I can for him. What veggies can I add on a daily basis? He just acts so hungry all the time. His thyroid test last week came back good, so that isn't an issue. As he gets the pain meds into his system a bit more the Vet is hoping we can up his activity level. Double edged sword, he is fat from arthritis pain and his pain is probably worse because he's fat

[Emoore]

Yeah, I think having him lose a couple of pounds will probably make him more mobile.

For veggies I'd boil up a big pot of broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, carrots, etc and give him some at each meal to compensate for however much you're cutting out. So if you cut 1/2 cup kibble at breakfast and 1/2 cup at dinner, you could add 1/2 cup of veggies at each meal.

I give my dogs canned veggies once or twice a week when I have leftovers from my own meals, but I think it would have too much sodium if you're giving it twice a day.

[mysweetkaos]

Thank you. I just threw some broccoli, carrots, and green beans in the steamer. I also have potatoes on hand....can you add some of those? (cooked of course) Thanks again for your advice. I often throw apple and banana in Shermans food, he loves it. Kaos however is a bit pickier....so hopefully he will eat his veggies Isn't it funny we will eat canned veggies without thinking about it much....but not give it to our dogs...how sad is that?

[Emoore]

Potatoes are fairly high in calories. I'd think adding them would defeat the purpose.

[mysweetkaos]

Good to know....thank you! Is celery ok? I just remember when I had gestational diabetes...it was one of the few items I could eat freely, that is why I thought of it.

[Emoore]

Celery should be fine. . . it's really really low in calories. I don't know if he'll like it though. I can't stand the stuff. *shudder*

[MountainGSDs]

http://www.petobesityprevention.com/..._Dry_Foods.pdf



http://www.petobesityprevention.com/