|
Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member! Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us. |
|
| LinkBack | Thread Tools |
03-13-2009, 03:01 PM | #1 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Havre de Grace, MD
Posts: 1,536
| Weight Loss Diet I took Gus to the vet today for his rabies shot. The vet confirmed that Gus is overweight (10.5 lbs) based on his body composition. I think he's been overweight since I got him. I called him cobby, but other family members used the f(at) word. He's been a couch potato. We recently started "long" walks together. So, he'll now be getting exercise. He loves to eat. I've been feeding him the recommended portion (for a 7 lb dog) of Wellness for Small Breeds, mixed with a little Wellness canned white fish & sweet potato. He also gets treats in small sizes. I'd like to change his food to something that will help with weight loss. Any suggestions?
__________________ Niko (3 yrs) Gus (5 yrs) Squirt (17 yrs - RIP) |
Welcome Guest! | |
03-13-2009, 03:47 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| I'd cut back on his portion size as the recommendation on the Wellness package is only a general guideline. If he's more of a couch potato, he needs less food. When Lady was overweight (and became diabetic as a result), frozen green beans slightly thawed were our salvation. They are high fiber and fill them up. I put them in a Busy Buddy Twist & Treat so she had to work a bit to get them. It was a fun game for her and slowed her down. What kind of treats are you feeding him now? How often? That was the big mistake I made with Lady that lead to her diabetes a year and a half after I adopted her. All the treats she had throughout the day added up to the equivalent of an entire extra meal. |
03-13-2009, 04:05 PM | #3 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Havre de Grace, MD
Posts: 1,536
| Treats: A small piece of beef or chicken in a Kong with the Kong liver treat to make him work a little harder to get the meat. Estimate 3 to 4 fills per day. This is to keep him busy & satisfy his chewing needs, i.e., not a reward. Bully sticks, raw hide, & bones make him excessively thirsty so I try to minimize. I'll try the green bean substitution in the Kong. For rewards, I give him the small pieces of Wellness kibble. I take these from his meal ration. After I posted this question I found that Wellness makes a Healthy Weight mix. So, I'll give this a try too. It's funny that I'm also trying to put some weight on Squirt. No, Gus is not eating Squirts food. Well, he get's some once in a rare while.
__________________ Niko (3 yrs) Gus (5 yrs) Squirt (17 yrs - RIP) Last edited by bildio; 03-13-2009 at 04:07 PM. |
03-13-2009, 04:11 PM | #4 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: so cali
Posts: 223
| they also have wellness core, not sure if you're into the grain free food but they do have a reduced fat formula For Dogs - Grain-Free, Protein-Focused Formulas
__________________ Mooselove <3 |
03-13-2009, 04:30 PM | #5 | |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Havre de Grace, MD
Posts: 1,536
| Quote:
__________________ Niko (3 yrs) Gus (5 yrs) Squirt (17 yrs - RIP) | |
03-15-2009, 06:15 AM | #7 | |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Havre de Grace, MD
Posts: 1,536
| Quote:
It says 1/4 cup per day. I feed twice a day. So, 1/8th cup per feeding. I measured it out (5 or 6 kibbles), & it seems like so little food. Poor little guy is going to be starving.
__________________ Niko (3 yrs) Gus (5 yrs) Squirt (17 yrs - RIP) | |
03-15-2009, 07:17 AM | #8 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: yorkie town
Posts: 876
| I can't give you any advise on what to feed him,But I wanted to say you had me laughing when you said the other family called him the f(at) word.I am guilty as I like them fat and cuddely to but I will not feed to much since the Dr. thinks its bad for them.
__________________ YURI and SARAH Sassy,Rocki,and Ginger NEWBIE'"S |
03-15-2009, 07:33 AM | #9 |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Joey had a weight problem last year, I think it was due to a trick training class, and we had to up the treats to get him to perform. Try cutting the dinner food by ½ and adding 5 green beans. The green beans "fill them up" without added too many calories. Frozen green beans are good because they don't add any salt. I cut the morning meal by 1/3, we were simply giving too much food. He get Merrick's Bully Sticks to chew on, and since they are so hard they are more of a chew stick than a food source, but I do think it helps with the hunger. I also, use his breakfast and half his dinner for training. Much of the "training" is regular fetch, but this adds to his exercise. Try to weigh weekly and work for an ounce or 2 as the weekly goal and adjust the diet if he isn't losing. I think no snacks are important when they are on a diet or using their regular food as snacks. Joey lost the weight, but I'll will always have to watch it. Sometimes feeding three times a day works better with some dogs, but don't increase the total amount, just divide the two meals into three servings.
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals |
03-15-2009, 01:07 PM | #10 |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Georgia
Posts: 4,566
| I've never used green beans for a snack, but it sounds very interesting!! Has anyone used fresh green beans? If so, do you steam them or serve them raw?
__________________ Prince, rest in peace. We miss you and love you so much. |
Bookmarks |
|
|
| |
|
|
SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart