pebbles Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Have a weight problem - Abby, 5yo Silky needs to loose at least a kilo. I've changed and cut her food back, evenings she has a tablespoon of wet food,(My Dog) the same of Blackhawk dry, couple of nights a week fish oil capsule, a small chicken neck twice a week. The neck nights the wet is cut back a bit. Used to feed chicken mince but felt that wouldn't help with the weight. A 10mg tab of Allersoothe (or Phenergan) daily for a contact itch. This works 80% of the time but if she needs a boost then 5mg of Microlone. This would only be about once a fortnight, often longer. Maybe a half of a Smacko during the day for a treat. She is sure she is being starved. Due to a stupid health issue I have I can't walk the dogs now, used to average a mile a day so I realise this has a bearing on the weight issue. She's not into chasing a ball etc in the yard and because I have to rest a lot she is resting with me. Any ideas, suggestions would be appreciated, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Anne~ Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Replace some of the current solid food with boiled cabbage. Cook it well and mix it in. I'd get rid of the smacko altogether. Dogs don't need snacks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pjrt Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 toss her kibble one piece at a time & make her work for every piece! That can be done indoors or outdoors. Just shut the other dogs away And ditch the smacko!! I call them mars bars for dogs. 1/2 A smacko for a small overweight dog is like just adding an extra cheeseburger to a daily weight loss regime for a person! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Unfortunately exercise might be one of the only ways, if you can't walk her is there someone you know that can? A local dog walker? And replacing the schmacko with veggies, if you really need to give her something. Or putting food into a kong and making her work for it, even wet food can be fed this way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Will she chase a toy or ball? When I couldn't walk my kelpie due to health issues I'd sit in a chair in the backyard and throw the ball for her until she was exhausted LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebbles Posted October 22, 2013 Author Share Posted October 22, 2013 Thanks for those ideas - cabbage, veges, no Smackos, dry food one piece at a time - I'm going to read all those to Abby then she can hate DOL instead of me lol. Unfortunately there's really no-one here to walk her, wish there was. I was driving the dogs down to the old race course for a free long run, tried it since I can't walk now and the silly devils jump out, have a pee then sit down waiting for me to go. Not happy doing that now anyway with summer here the snakes will be about. The chasing the ball/toy works for one run up the yard then she looks at me as if to say, "your turn"! If one of these "Specialists" don't come up with something to fix me, I swear I'm going to my Vet, reckon he'll do a better job!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leah82 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Can you get a treadmill to help with the exercise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebbles Posted October 23, 2013 Author Share Posted October 23, 2013 Great idea, Leah82, I'll make some enquiries, maybe someone around has one to sell or loan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebbles Posted October 30, 2013 Author Share Posted October 30, 2013 Update - Meal is now boiled cabbage, grated raw carrot, raw peas and beans with a very small portion of mince, still about a spoonful in mass and very small amount of BlackHawk dry. I'll up the cabbage soon, wasn't sure how she would take it. Tossed the Smackos, carrot stick or apple piece for any treat. Chicken neck about twice weekly. AND picking up a second hand treadmill on Friday so wish me (and Abby) luck lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Anne~ Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 (edited) Sounds like a great plan! Edited October 30, 2013 by ~Anne~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy.Tea Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Sounds like you're doing a great job. Cooked pumpkin is also another thing you could use as a substitute. Freezes really well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twodoggies2001 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Update - Meal is now boiled cabbage, grated raw carrot, raw peas and beans with a very small portion of mince, still about a spoonful in mass and very small amount of BlackHawk dry. I'll up the cabbage soon, wasn't sure how she would take it. Tossed the Smackos, carrot stick or apple piece for any treat. Chicken neck about twice weekly. AND picking up a second hand treadmill on Friday so wish me (and Abby) luck lol. I'm concerned that the meal consists mainly of mixed vegetables. Dogs can and do eat veggies but they are carnivores and I would base the meals on meat, with the addition of veggies, not the other way around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Anne~ Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Actually dogs are not strict carnivores. The domestic dog is able to, and does, survive on plant material alone. Meat is a better choice if you are looking at feeding them closest to nature, but it is not absolutely essential. In this case the diet is specifically for weight loss. The dog is obviously consuming too much and exercise is difficult. The dog is still getting protein from meat, just in much smaller proportions and vegetables are added as a filler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twodoggies2001 Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 Actually dogs are not strict carnivores. The domestic dog is able to, and does, survive on plant material alone. Meat is a better choice if you are looking at feeding them closest to nature, but it is not absolutely essential. In this case the diet is specifically for weight loss. The dog is obviously consuming too much and exercise is difficult. The dog is still getting protein from meat, just in much smaller proportions and vegetables are added as a filler. I know all that and dogs can survive on non meat diets, but I would use the veggies as a filler as you stated, but if it were me, I would feed more non fatty meat and use less of the veggies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisovar Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 I would simply feed leaner meat, if she must have dry food can you hide it for her to find? and also try to encourage more play, would she play with you with a tug? Interactive toys that catch the attention of the dog often produce good results. Feed her meal in a treat dispenser that she has to work at to eat it. Lots of little adjustments can add up to more activity with less movement needed by you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebbles Posted October 31, 2013 Author Share Posted October 31, 2013 I would rather be feeding meat and then the vege as filler but this weight just has to come off. Hoping with the basically vege diet and the walking machine this will get some results. Abby is 5 years old and has never really been into playing, she would rather a good bush walk. With this being a hot area and this summer predicted to be very hot, just have to reduce her weight. Next big town shopping trip I'll look to get some other meat to add - mince was in the freezer, people grade, supposedly lean. Maybe blade steak with fat cut off? Crisovar, you think I should get rid of the dry food? Giving just a small amount hoping it will help cover any losses from the diet she's on. Once the weight goes (hopefully) then I'll go back to a more balanced diet and maybe I'll be able to start the walking again (I hope!). Thanks everyone for all suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebbles Posted November 2, 2013 Author Share Posted November 2, 2013 Well, got the walking machine home, set up this am. Mickey jumped on with it not going and said 'where's the food', Abby hopped on/off and said 'where's the door'. This evening I took some of the banned food (smackos)Mick was happy, he walked at very slow speed (his weight is ok) then Abby got on (not going) had a bit of bribery then I started it on very slow and she actually walked a short distance with me waving a piece of smacko in front, did that twice. So I reckon we'll get there soon and be able to discard the bribery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted November 5, 2013 Share Posted November 5, 2013 get rid of the black hawk, it makes them podgy on very little. If you're worried about vitamins get something like the VAN health booster powder to fill the gaps and you can use foods like tinned fish, lean mince, cottage cheese etc for protein with the veg. Also feed her in the morning at least, and a little at night like a raw carrot to chew on. I find raw strips the weight faster, increases activity and you will find you will be feeding her a lot more once the weight strips off :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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