Need to knock a few pounds off...

APBTLove · 01-07-2010, 01:58 PM

Dutch is old, she isn't able to exercise like a younger dog to get the weight off.

She doesn't eat much at all. Just as an example, not saying that's what she eats every day, but she takes in about 2 cooked chicken thighs a day. It doesn't seem like much, I could hold it all in my hand.

If I had to guess I'd say she's 90+ pounds. She LOOKS fatter than she is, due to sagging teats and skin on her belly, and about 2" of fur. Hand walking her for more than half a block is too stressful. It's hard on her joints - which is why I want to get the weight off.

I've never had to deal with an overweight old dog. All of the old dogs I've had were thin.

I suppose it could be her digestive system slowing down, she just eats a very little bit.

dd · 01-07-2010, 02:03 PM

Does she get a joint supplement?

onyx'girl · 01-07-2010, 02:05 PM

Maybe her thyroid is off a bit.

GSDSunshine · 01-07-2010, 02:10 PM

I know some older dogs do well with water therapy. It is a no impact activity, so it would be good on her knees and still would give her more exercise. Perhaps doing that a few times a week would help.

And the cooked chicken thighs are with NO bones I assume??? Just making sure ya know.

Here are some links for the Water Therapy

http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/doghydrotherapy
http://www.k9sonly.com/wellness/watertherapy.php

These two places are in VA.

http://www.lhpaws.com/gpage11.html
http://www.pawstoswim.com/Html-Info/INFO-Index.htm

Good luck with the weight loss.

**Lauri & The Gang** · 01-07-2010, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted By: APBTLoveShe doesn't eat much at all. Just as an example, not saying that's what she eats every day, but she takes in about 2 cooked chicken thighs a day.

I just want to clarify - you are not feeding the cooked BONES, right? Just the meat?

shilohsmom · 01-07-2010, 02:20 PM

Dutch is more than welcome in joining our DDC (Doggie Diet Club). This week its brand new but I'm hoping to add more fun things next week

http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...page=1&fpart=1

APBTLove · 01-07-2010, 04:12 PM

Well of course not... I know about cooked bones.

Truthfully, I am in a bit of a rut and cannot afford to get watertherapy. It normally costs quite a lot.

I will have to see, Shiloh, weighing Dutch is like trying to wrestle with an eel lol the vet is quite a distance away, and our scale is the one where I weigh myself and then pick Jaeger up and see how much more he is (66lbs this week!). But I could start really working on this and post update half-arse stacked picture.

Yes, she is on a suppliment, she also gets aspirin and fish oil added. It's just her weight obviously stresses them..

She's nearly fifteen.

M&J · 01-17-2010, 03:20 PM

I bought the 12 x 30 for $80 on amazon.com last year. I have seen them for less at Big Lots. Ritaid had the same one I have for $40 at the end of the season.

http://www.intexcorp.com/metalframe.htm

I was paying $1 a minute at the canine swim center and said, "to heack with that". My ool has already paid for itself many times over. I take it down in September.

I have the dogs wade around in it for 15 minutes, once a week. Helps with their HD, as well as their weight.

APBTLove · 01-22-2010, 01:38 PM

I have a waterfront view and I take her in the water during the warm months, so a pool wouldn't work lol

She goes for her ball, or I support her abdomen and let her paddle without really moving anywhere for a while. But then of course I have to carry her out of the water because she's tired.

3K9Mom · 01-22-2010, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Quote:
skin on her belly

This just made me think of Cushings Disease. A pot belly is one of the most obvious symptoms. It's hard to tell from your photo whether or not she has one.

http://www.kateconnick.com/library/cushingsdisease.html

If this were my dog, I'd take her in to the vet. Get a "mature panel" blood test done (these should be done approx every 6 months for seniors) and a thyroid panel as well. If Dutch has any of the other symptoms that Kate Connick outlines in her website, ask your vet about Cushings.

Very often -- more than we realize -- what appears to be older age, or simply weight gain in our seniors is in fact illness, which can often be managed, frequently easily (like in the case of thyroid).

If she hasn't been in to see a vet in the last 2-3 months, before I put her on any sort of exercise plan or even a diet that may not be well balanced, I would definitely start with a thorough check up.

01-07-2010, 01:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
APBTLove Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 3,102	Need to knock a few pounds off... Dutch is old, she isn't able to exercise like a younger dog to get the weight off. She doesn't eat much at all. Just as an example, not saying that's what she eats every day, but she takes in about 2 cooked chicken thighs a day. It doesn't seem like much, I could hold it all in my hand. If I had to guess I'd say she's 90+ pounds. She LOOKS fatter than she is, due to sagging teats and skin on her belly, and about 2" of fur. Hand walking her for more than half a block is too stressful. It's hard on her joints - which is why I want to get the weight off. I've never had to deal with an overweight old dog. All of the old dogs I've had were thin. I suppose it could be her digestive system slowing down, she just eats a very little bit. __________________ What IS a Pit Bull? Rescuing GSDs.

01-07-2010, 02:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
dd Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 5,363	Re: Need to knock a few pounds off... Does she get a joint supplement? __________________ dd

01-07-2010, 02:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,611	Re: Need to knock a few pounds off... Maybe her thyroid is off a bit. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

01-07-2010, 02:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
GSDSunshine Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tallahassee, Fl Posts: 1,601	Re: Need to knock a few pounds off... I know some older dogs do well with water therapy. It is a no impact activity, so it would be good on her knees and still would give her more exercise. Perhaps doing that a few times a week would help. And the cooked chicken thighs are with NO bones I assume??? Just making sure ya know. Here are some links for the Water Therapy http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/doghydrotherapy http://www.k9sonly.com/wellness/watertherapy.php These two places are in VA. http://www.lhpaws.com/gpage11.html http://www.pawstoswim.com/Html-Info/INFO-Index.htm Good luck with the weight loss. __________________ -Kira Fur Family: Dakota "Koda" GSD 02/20/2008 Chloe Calico 9/21/2007 "The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too"

01-07-2010, 02:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
shilohsmom Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 6,653	Re: Need to knock a few pounds off... Dutch is more than welcome in joining our DDC (Doggie Diet Club). This week its brand new but I'm hoping to add more fun things next week http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum...page=1&fpart=1 __________________ Rosa Mom to; Shiloh, 8.5 year old LCGSD Shoshona, 7.5 year old LCGSD Eli, 5 year old LCGSD Every dog deserves to have a human that thinks they are the greatest dog that ever lived!

01-07-2010, 04:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
APBTLove Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 3,102	Re: Need to knock a few pounds off... Well of course not... I know about cooked bones. Truthfully, I am in a bit of a rut and cannot afford to get watertherapy. It normally costs quite a lot. I will have to see, Shiloh, weighing Dutch is like trying to wrestle with an eel lol the vet is quite a distance away, and our scale is the one where I weigh myself and then pick Jaeger up and see how much more he is (66lbs this week!). But I could start really working on this and post update half-arse stacked picture. Yes, she is on a suppliment, she also gets aspirin and fish oil added. It's just her weight obviously stresses them.. She's nearly fifteen. __________________ What IS a Pit Bull? Rescuing GSDs.

01-17-2010, 03:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
M&J Knighted Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,783	Re: Need to knock a few pounds off... I bought the 12 x 30 for $80 on amazon.com last year. I have seen them for less at Big Lots. Ritaid had the same one I have for $40 at the end of the season. http://www.intexcorp.com/metalframe.htm I was paying $1 a minute at the canine swim center and said, "to heack with that". My ool has already paid for itself many times over. I take it down in September. I have the dogs wade around in it for 15 minutes, once a week. Helps with their HD, as well as their weight. __________________ Mary I got a dog for my husband. It was a good trade. LILLY and RUDY In Memory of MADISON, The King 12/89-6/04 In Memory of JAKE, The Perfect Dog 9/01-11/02

01-22-2010, 01:38 PM	#9 (permalink)
APBTLove Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 3,102	Re: Need to knock a few pounds off... I have a waterfront view and I take her in the water during the warm months, so a pool wouldn't work lol She goes for her ball, or I support her abdomen and let her paddle without really moving anywhere for a while. But then of course I have to carry her out of the water because she's tired. __________________ What IS a Pit Bull? Rescuing GSDs.

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