Feeding

[Colleen]

We adopted our four year old sheltie a few months ago and she was overweight. We are feeding her 1/2 cup dry Blue Buffalo chicken and rice in am and pm with 2/3 cup green beans added to dry food. She seems to be hungry all the time. She is a larger sheltie probably 15 1/2" tall but is larger length and bone structure. Does anyone else think this is enough or not enough food? Don't want her to be hungry. SHe is getting more active with our other sheltie and seems o.k. THey do get animal cracker twice a day. Thanks.

[Ann]

Shelties are experts at The Hungry Look. What you're feeding your girl is certainly enough, especially if she needs to lose weight. My four, who weigh around 20 lbs each, get 1/4 cup twice daily and even at that, we have to watch the scale.

You didn't say how much she weighs, and if she's losing weight you're on the right track. If not, you might try cutting at least one feeding to 1/3 cup instead of 1/2.

[danisgoat]

Originally Posted by Ann

Shelties are experts at The Hungry Look. What you're feeding your girl is certainly enough, especially if she needs to lose weight. My four, who weigh around 20 lbs each, get 1/4 cup twice daily and even at that, we have to watch the scale.

Congratulations on the new adoption!

My girls also only get 1/2 cup per day of food (we feed FROMM) and they are also around the 20 lb mark and are at a perfect weight as per our agility instructor and veterinarian.

[BarbV]

Never use the bag as a feeding guideline for your dog.

If the dog is overweight, then cut down, period. You'll get the look, but eventually they will get used to it.

Supplement with low cal veggies....carrots are great for that.

p.s. I should be following my own advice here, because I've got a tubby boy at the moment, thanks to winter!

[Emmasmom]

I have found it depends on the food, too, for how much to feed. As Barb said, I never go by the bag. Instead of watch their weight, their shape, activity level, etc. as to how much they get. Liam's gets about 3/4 cup twice a day, now on Blue fish and sweet potato, but he is one I have to try and get and keep weight on. Natalie gets 1/2 cup twice daily - she is the more active of the two girls. I switch between Petcurean Summit and Blue life stages chicken and wild rice. Emma now gets 1/3 cup twice daily of Blue chicken and wild rice - this food has made the world of difference with her (she is much more active).

Use your best judgement - if they need more, they get it. If they need less, they get less. This depends on activity level etc. Don't forget to include the treats given during the day in the daily caloric count.