Overweight

[Sharon7]

Gosh, do you mean 1/4 cup twice daily or just once? That's a huge cut from 1/2. I would go from 1/2 to 1/3, definitely check the fat content, and continue his exercising. I've had to do weight reduction on 4 Shelties who came to me as adults, and slow and steady weight loss is best.... just like for people. Too bad he doesn't care for the veggies though!

 

[Ann]

Gosh, do you mean 1/4 cup twice daily or just once? That's a huge cut from 1/2. I would go from 1/2 to 1/3, definitely check the fat content, and continue his exercising. I've had to do weight reduction on 4 Shelties who came to me as adults, and slow and steady weight loss is best.... just like for people. Too bad he doesn't care for the veggies though!

Good catch, Sharon. I didn't read Mary's message clearly and thought she meant 1/4 cup twice a day. That's the minimum I would feed a Sheltie, especially one over 20 pounds. It sounds like he gets plenty of exercise, that's the only thing I'd increase if not. And yes, weight loss is a process, so it will come off over months, not weeks.

If that doesn't work, ask your vet to check his thyroid. Shelties can be prone to thyroid issues. There are threads here about thyroid...normal readings for a Sheltie are different from other breeds, so make sure your vet is aware of that when reading test results.

 

[Piper's mom]

I agree with Ann and Sharon that 1/4 cup a day isn’t enough food if it’s kibble. If your feeding him raw then you want to be feeding him approximately 2-3% of his ideal weight. Raw I measure so I feed a certain # of ounces/day, not cups. I also find it’s difficult to get them to lose weight because of the amount of carbs in kibble. I personally believe that dogs don’t need carbs…they can certainly live on them (the dog food manufacturers make certain of that) but they don’t NEED them. I rarely feed my guys carbs, maybe occasionally when I make dog cookies with oatmeal but none in their food ever. You also want to avoid the veggies and fruit that have sugar in them (carrots, sweet potatoes, apples etc)…they may seem like they don’t have much but it all adds up. A good veggie to add is celery…very low sugar but lots of fibre and vitamins. Purée the vegetables, also eggs just barely soft boiled are good for dogs and occasionally added may make him like the veggies better.
A really good book is The Forever Dog by Rodney Habib and Dr Karen Becker…lots of information about how to help your dog live a long and healthy life.

 

[Mary W]

Those are all great foods, Mary. You can't go wrong with any of them. I don't know about the raw food since I don't use it, but what you'll want to look for on the other two is the percentage of fat content in the nutritional list on the bag. I know that "small breed" foods tend to have higher fat content than others. You'll want the food that has the lowest fat content while your boy is dieting. I feed small breed food too and know that can be an issue when they're portly, so the fat content is something I keep an eye on.

I wouldn't worry too much if your boy doesn't like the veggies. He may tell you otherwise, but he'll survive just fine on the amount of food you're feeding him. Do try chopping the ones he likes, it will add bulk to his meal if he'll eat them and make your life easier. Good luck, stay strong and keep us posted!

Thank you Ann! I will keep you posted!

 

[Mary W]

Gosh, do you mean 1/4 cup twice daily or just once? That's a huge cut from 1/2. I would go from 1/2 to 1/3, definitely check the fat content, and continue his exercising. I've had to do weight reduction on 4 Shelties who came to me as adults, and slow and steady weight loss is best.... just like for people. Too bad he doesn't care for the veggies though!

1/4 cup twice daily - he seems to be doing good with it so far and continues to turn his nose up at green beans but it’s only been a few days so far. Thank you for your support!