Undecided

Brodie was getting a bit pudgy, so I asked my vet about switching. (She texts, I love it!) She wants him on puppy food as close to a year as we can, mainly for the extra stuff in puppy food she feels is important for proper bone growth. So we are sticking with puppy food but I did cut down on his food from 2/3 cup twice a day to 1/2 cup twice a day. He thinned out almost immediately so if he starts to go too far in the other direction, I will try 2/3 cup for one meal and 1/2 cup for the other.

Between treats and food, is she taking in too many calories? Between the two dogs and getting potty treats for both even when both do not go, I felt Brodie was getting too many treats so instead of a Mother's Hubbard mini biscuit, we cut it back to a half and now he gets only a piece of the biscuit, like one of the corners.

Having doxies we are uber attentive to food. Heavy doxies and long backs can result in thousands and thousands in medical bills for disc surgery. We've always kept ours very lean. As I mentioned in another thread, I read somewhere recently that thinner pets live longer lives - our 19 year old cat proves that - she is skin and bones but gets brattier and more opinionated all the time.

Let me know what you decide for Willow.

 

I would cut back for sure and fill in with a bit of pumpkin or green beans if she's acting hungry, or baby carrots - but not too many because of the fiber. Haven't had a young pup in so many years, but I think we switched to adult around 6 months or so. You are right to be concerned as Ann says Shelties can become fat so quick and it's harder to take off than to keep them lean. Thinking really evolves around food. My first Sheltie I switched to senior food at around 11, but my vet now says to keep feeding the quality adult food I do, and not to switch to senior unless there's issues.

And yes, treat calories count! Charlie Bears treats are really low cal liver dry treats that my dogs LOVE. Don't know if you can get them there. 3 calories per treat.

 

I agree about switching to an adult food as well. I can also attest how difficult it can be to get them to drop the added weight and how hard that increased weight is on them. Piper is a total food hound and acts like he's starving ALL the time. Last summer I worked so hard to get him to lose weight and yet this past winter he still managed to gain a pound from all the cookies my 90 year old mother gave him (she denied this of course lol). Plus Piper injured his shoulder 2 years ago (he was overweight then too) when he was 2 and it took so long for it to heal and rehab I don't want to risk reinjury. Definitely best to keep them lean.

Yes Sharon, we can get Charley bears here...my guys love them also!