Low Fat Meals For Fussy Senior Dogs

[catzatsea]

Hi There,

Looking for suggestions for Low Fat Meals for Senior Dogs looking to lose weight. Would prefer to stay off the Dry and canned food though would consider it if it is the best thing for the dog.

If you could include the recipes that would be awesome.

Thanks in Advance

Catz

[Prydenjoy]

I wont do up a recipe (sorry, that would take ages by the time I analysed it and made sure it was perfect, wouldn't want to post it otherwise!) but do some research on home made diets and use roo meat and turkey meat primarily for the meat component (turkey meat is more nutrient rich than chicken anyway), as well as fish. Use lots of beans for the veggie component (very filling and very nutritious), considering supplementing with Kelp (only a little bit, don't want to overdo it) and if you are a RMB feeder (as opposed to someone who cooks their food and adds calcium supps) use chicken or turkey wings (depending on the size of the dog!) and be sure to remove the skin (very fattening).

If you want more advice on a home made diet see my response to Palane in the puppy forum (about the puppy who only eats meat).

And of course, go for walkies every day

[catzatsea]

Thanks Jeanne,

What do you think of this The Complete Choice Range by Vets All Natural???? As They have a weight loss range as well.

http://www.vetsallnatural.com.au/Completemix.html

Walkies are done three times a day at the moment ( 15 minutes each time) and will expand the time as she is able.

Cheers

Catz

[Poodle wrangler]

Is she both fussy and overweight?

I understand you'd want your dog to have good nutrition, but it's safe to cut portion sizes quite dramatically while she needs to lose weight. Dogs don't have the same psychological issues with food as humans do. An otherwise healthy dog will eat what's put in front of them if they're hungry. If the food's refused, skip that meal and she will very quickly change the "fussy" habit.

Mashed pumpkin is a lowcal filler.

[Prydenjoy]

I got a bag of the Vets all Natural with Montie, that was years ago though and it wasn't a full bag, just a sample his breeder gave me, so I'm not sure of the results...

I'm not sure, based on the information provided. It uses soy, I beleive some dogs do not do well on soy, I avoid it altogether for my dogs. Also, it says it is available for dogs of different energy levels, weight loss etc, but then it only has one list of ingredients? One other thing, it didn't mention what percentage you are supposed to feed of that, and how many bones, how much offal etc. You'd probably be able to do much better preparing meals yourself, but if you don't have time then it would certainly be better to use some of that than follow one of those "prey model" diets that just consist of meat and offal.

I think if you fed raw chicken wings (skin removed), as well as offal, meat and veggie meals (I cook these meals for a variety of reasons), then two or three meals of the Vets all Natural per week might be good as a supplement, better than used as a staple at least :D

You might want to experiment with the frozen BARF patties as well, they are pre prepared, which makes it easy if you don't have time to make your own dog food, and I think have a better list of ingredients than the Vets all Natural (though for variety you could mix it up and feed a couple of meals of each per week with some offal and wings). The BARF patties come in roo variety as well, which is a bonus. Again, it isn't very specific in the packaging if or how much extra RMBs to feed, and wheather you'll unbalance the offal percentages etc by feeding such and such amounts of chicken bones, so there's a lot of guess work.

I did use the BARF patties for a while with Montie, but his health declined and since doing his meals up for him at home again his fur has fluffed up and shined up again and he's on the road to better health. All dogs do better on different things though!

I've probably just succeeded in confusing you more... Basically, if you are short on time and don't have the time or resources to formulate and make up a great meal for the dog, use the pre packaged stuff. Variety is great, so I'd be using the Roo formula BARF patties 4 evenings per week, vets all natural 3 evenings a week, as well as a chicken wing (skin removed) 5 or 6 mornings a week, and a bit of liver one or two mornings a week (perhaps lightly fried if she is a fussy eater). Even mash some cooked pumpkin with the Vets all Natural for an even lighter meal

Let us know how you go.