Overweight sheltie

A

AshleyBomber

Forums Novice
We adopted my sheltie "Suki" (female) back in August of 2008, she is now 5 yrs old. She was previously a show dog, champion in US and Canada, not that that matters. Her owner bred her, and she had unhealthy puppies I guess. So this means she was of no use to her and wanted her gone. When I got her her teeth were awful, front teeth loose and falling out and terrible gum disease.
Since getting her we have gotten her spayed, had the two teeth removed, and a dental cleaning. She was overweight by a few pounds when we got her. The owner said that she had a thyroid problem but they hadn't given her meds in almost a year. I had her tested when we got her and the levels were normal. Since we have gotten her she has perked up a lot and seems healthier. But she is still overweight, even more so now. She is one of the smaller framed shelties, but she is about 29 lbs. The vet said she should be about 23 lbs. I suggested testing her thyroid again, but he said since her energy has improved it's probably not that. I give her 2/3 cup of Purina Pro Plan weight management per day 1/3 am 1/3 pm. The vet said it's not that much, and she should be losing weight especially since we are walking her at least once a day, usually try for twice. He said if she doesn't start losing weight she may need prescription food.. but I'm not sure the cost of it. Anyone have any suggestions?:confused2:
 
MobiusTubes said:
Check out the posts regarding Blazen in the Rescue forum. SunChaser has done some amazing things with this little girl.
Click to expand...

That was going to my suggestion as well! Sunchaser has somehow developed the miracle weight loss diet for Shelties (I think it should be marketed for humans...the loss is so dramatic!)
 
several red flags as far as the breeder she came from but thats another post....anyway....
If she had thryoid problems she needs medication!!!! Thryoid does not fix itself or go away! No matter how much you cut back on food or exercise her she is not going to lose weight. SHE NEEDS MEDICATION! Im surprised you vet didnt do a level full knowing she had been diagonsed with it previously?! I would be a little concerened with the vet also....:no:
 
Lightplum said:
several red flags as far as the breeder she came from but thats another post....anyway....
If she had thryoid problems she needs medication!!!! Thryoid does not fix itself or go away! No matter how much you cut back on food or exercise her she is not going to lose weight. SHE NEEDS MEDICATION! Im surprised you vet didnt do a level full knowing she had been diagonsed with it previously?! I would be a little concerened with the vet also....:no:
Click to expand...

Good point(s)!
 
Vets

She's been to two different vets, neither seemed too concerned. I know the woman I got her from has a lot of red flags, but I still wanted her to give her a better life, I felt so bad for her living there and she's the sweetest dog. I did get all of her levels checked full thyroid test, and they were all within the normal range. And since we was very lethargic when we first got her, and then perked up after we were taking care of her they didn't think that it was the thyroid, that maybe when she was diagnosed it was a fluke or something. We did originally ask for thyroid meds when she got her blood drawn for the test because we figured that was obviously the problem, but they weren't really doing anything. Then the vet didn't want to refill it since her levels were normal.
 
Hi! Well it sounds like you have covered the bases with both vets. I think I would try another kind of food that doesn't have the corn or wheat products in it. One of my girls was getting too heavy on dare I say it, Iams. I went to a local pet store and the owner recommended a new food that has no corn or wheat products in it. Here is the link: http://www.nutrisourcedogfood.com/products . The girls love this food and they have much better coats now. The website has a place where you can check for stores that carry it in your area. I think you can also order it online. As for cost, I think it costs about $4.00 more than a bag of Iams - $24.00 for a 20 lb. bag of food and it lasts almost three months. Marlie, who was gaining weight and should only weigh 22 lbs. gets a 1/4 of a cup twice a day with a spoonful of canned food and some hot water. Rasha who weighs 25 lbs. gets 1/3 cup twice a day along with the canned food. Both girls are stable with their weight and don't act hungry all day. It may be worth it to look try another food before the vet recommends a prescription diet. Good luck and let us know how things go.
 
I'd switch her off the the pro plan (junk), and put her on a better quality food. Wellness Core is grain free, and comes in a low fat variety. I'd also cut her food intake even more, and if she seems hungry, give her frozen green beans with her food. My smaller girls get only 1/2 cup per day, and they're involved in agility, and several other dog sports, yet even with the high amounts of exercise, are perfectly fit on the amount they get. I would also avoid prescription formulas. The stuff the vets offer is very low quality junk. Look at Hill's diet food, for example:
http://www.hillspet.com/hillspet/products/productDetails.hjsp?PRODUCT<>prd_id=845524441763452
"Ground Whole Grain Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal, Powdered Cellulose 10.4% (source of fiber), Soybean Mill Run, Soybean Meal, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp, Soybean Oil, Iron Oxide, DL-Methionine, L-Lysine, Potassium Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, vitamins (L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Choline Chloride, Taurine, minerals (Manganese Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite), preserved with BHT, BHA and Ethoxyquin, L-Carnitine, Beta-carotene. "
Junk :/
Also, was your dog's thyroid in the normal range, or possibly low normal? From situations several friends have dealt with, vets have often ignored things like low normal, and claim the dogs don't need to be on medicine for it. Friends with low normal dogs have eventually gotten their dogs on thyroid meds, and have noticed changes for the better in their dogs.
 
Have a look at this discussion from Illinois sheltie rescue about thyroid in Shelties (having higher levels than normal)

http://www.illinoissheltierescue.com/thyroid.html

Don't know about accuracy but it is interesting. Maybe someone from this rescue is on the forum?

Also - Ive never been able to get weight off a dog using the low fat dry food. I agree with the beans or perhaps add pumpkin (mine adore pumpkin). Could you give a lean bone in the morning rather than kibble - I did that with mine.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top