[Onyx]

So I've been struggling to keep my dogs weight down for about... half a year now? She used to be a perfect healthy weight according to her vet (7 pounds) but a month after getting her spayed she has blown up to 10 pounds! She's been stuck at this weight ever since and that was like about 6 months ago. She's 4 years old now by the way.

I've tried lessening her amount of food and what not but it hasn't worked. She's all the way down to eating just 1/4 of a cup of Orijen kibble a day. She gets absolutely no treats or human food ever. I've been trying to exercise her which I've been walking her twice a day, 10 minutes each walk. BUT half a month of this exercise and she has started limping and now dreads going outside. I gave her a 5 day break of walking to see if that was the cause of limping and what do you know, the limping stopped once the walking did.

I don't know what to do, I can't really minus her food any more than that and I don't want to increase her exercise even more when it's already hurting her
Suggestions? Also, how long do you think it will take for her to go from 10 pounds back to a healthy 7 pounds?

 

[20887]

Can you start her on short walks and then work up to longer ones? Maybe the two 10 minute walks were too much to begin with. Try just a quick 5 minute walk, then a few more minutes, then up to 2 walks a day.

 

[Jerry'sMom]

Tabitha and Jerry were on the Green Bean diet this past year.

I fed her .2 ounces of kibble (that's about 30 pieces of Royal Canin which are very small) twice a day and all the green beans she wanted.
Jerry got .5 ounces of kibble twice a day and a few green beans... He is much more active than Tabitha. They did lose all of the extra weight and are on regular meals now

 

[Squirrelflight]

Hi! My girl has a tendency to have weight issues and I put all of my dogs on Wyson Epigen.

This is an excerpt from the orijen website ..


A BIOLOGICALLY APPROPRIATE CALORIE DISTRIBUTION

There are three sources of calories available to your dog: protein, fat and carbohydrates. While protein and fat are essential for your dog; carbohydrates are not. In fact, dogs require absolutely no carbohydrate in their diet.

Simple carbohydrates from cereal grains such as rice or corn can cause your dog’s blood sugar levels to elevate and fluctuate and when not used for energy, carbohydrates are quickly and easily stored in the body as fat. Indeed, excess carbohydrates are the leading dietary cause of overweight conditions in dogs of all breeds.

By providing more calories from protein and fat, and fewer calories from carbohydrates, ORIJEN provides a calorie distribution that mirrors your dog’s natural diet — promoting a long and happy life by helping reduce the risk of obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes.

-- Orijen is 25% carbohydrates. So basically it is 25% unnecessary calories.

Wysong Epigen has NO CARBS. I like having a carb free dog food because we free feed so this keeps their weight correct and allows any carbs to come from treats etc.

Here is a link the the epigen if you want to take a look at that. Wysong Epigen™ Starch Free™ Dog Food, Cat Food, Pet Food

I would also have her thyroid checked if you havent. That can cause weight gain as well.

 

[Jennmay]

When we had my older Chi spayed she went from 7lbs to 11lbs. I have issues getting her weight off to so I'm interested in all the advice given here also One thing I have a problem with is the kids giving her chicken her fav.

 

[susan davis]

My Emily has gained 2-3 pounds on Phenobarbital. Maybe I'll go use some of that wysong food. Sue

 

[bean]

Since putting my older 3 dogs on premade raw they all have lost weight and are in perfect health.

 

[23083]

You may want to get her thyroid checked by your vet.
If thats okay, ask about switching her to a weight maintenance kibble. Wellness has a healthy weight kibble. I'm sure Orijen does too.
In addition to green beans, you can substitute canned pure pumpkin for weight loss. My dogs love the stuff.
You can stuff a small kong or hollow bone with plain yogurt and freeze it as a low fat treat.
Keep us posted!

 

[rubia]

two 10 minute walks doesn't seem like much exercise,

maybe the extra weight on the knees is the problem, what did the vet say about her knees ??

I think the green beans are great, mine also likes fingerling carrots and apple slices for treats

 

[doginthedesert]

've been trying to exercise her which I've been walking her twice a day, 10 minutes each walk. BUT half a month of this exercise and she has started limping and now dreads going outside. I gave her a 5 day break of walking to see if that was the cause of limping and what do you know, the limping stopped once the walking did.

To me a dog that age who can not walk 20 minutes a day is a dog worth being investigated further. Have you been to an orthopedic specialist? If I were you I would find a vet that was willing to investigate that limp, even if it is just intermittent. From what you are describing she is not morbidly obese, I mean two ten minute walks just seem like so little to me for it to cause a limp in a otherwise healthy dog.

As far as food, I agree, lower carbs and high quality protein are the way to go. I have never heard of this green bean thing, but aren't pumpkin and carrots primarily carbs? I would shy away from those two if your effort is to loose weight, but maybe I am totally off on that.

 

[Squirrelflight]

My Emily has gained 2-3 pounds on Phenobarbital. Maybe I'll go use some of that wysong food. Sue

You can get a free trial from there website. It says it takes like 6 weeks to get it but I got mine very quickly.

 

[Onyx]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. She's going to get her thyroid checked and an x ray on her bad leg some time this month. Vet has no soon appointments. Luckily she hasn't had any issues with her leg lately. Weird thing is when she would limp she never whined or anything and usually when she's in pain she has no problem expressing it.

A side note, I was looking at this raw dog food website and for the weight my dog is now it suggested that for my dog to lose weight she should be eating about 120 calories a day. Sounds like a tiny amount. I calculated what she's eating now and turns out she's eating about 147 - 150 calories a day.

 

[pam6400]

I would try offering the green beans. One quarter cup seems so little with absolutely nothing else. Green beans are very low in calories and may make her feel fuller. Good luck.