Nellson could use your help

[dogonit]

Nellson is overweight. Bloodwork indicated his thyroid levels are low side of normal. He is not on meds. We prepare all meals. Lean ground beef with brown rice..lean beef with veggies...chicken....His snacks are peppers or apple...He gets lots of walks and loves going. He is in perfect health except for being round...I cannot cut down his portions any further..he gets 1/2 cup at dinnertime and 1/3 cup in the morning..what else can you suggest to perk up his metabolism???

[SpeedyPug]

Will he run or chase anything?  We don't get the walks we should sometimes so we play fetch in the back yard with a ball (nice weather) and we zoom bones across the floor for the pugs to chase all the time.  They'll run after bones, toys, stuffed babies, etc., etc.  We also play tug of war and for some reason, the pugs love to chase feather wands and cat toys on strings.  They run and jump and eveything...who knew pugs could jump all 4 feet off the ground? 

[dogonit]

Nellson has never chased anything..ever. Not even as a puppy did he feel inclined to fetch...he will play tug with the Griffs but picks them off the floor and game over....walking is his only form of exercise...he walks til he finds a nice human at the dog park, then stops for attention...He will go round as many times as I choose and never tires of the trip to the park..He just is not losing any weight and I am concerned about his health down the road..arthritis or diabetes.

[lizzthrasher]

Will he play tug with you?  One of those rubber tug toys?

I know my guys only get 1/3 cup in the morning and 1/3 cup at night of kibble: but they will of course tell you they are starving.....but they are not fat.

I would consider cutting out the apples, and making sure he isn't mooching delicious people food.  I know I am constantly in trouble for sharing my snacks with the furkids.  Ever since the dentals, you'd think a little taste of spumoni gelato would kill them...Lucas figures they should be completely sugar free.

It's a lot like people dieting;  sometimes you have to figure out what you are eating without thinking of it:  the extra spoon of this or that that you didn't want to put in the fridge, The quick piece of leftover whatever, and anything consumed without a plate or standing in front of the fridge.  I often get the "those aren't garbage disposals" lecture.

I know I am completely crazy :  Last night I mentioned out loud that I needed to get Beau something to have as a snack when Belle gets her aspirins.  He doesn't understand why she gets a candy and he doesn't.  You'd have thought I suggested an all prime rib diet!  I was empahatically informed that I was not allowed to buy Beau his own candies.....

[blanche]

It's not much different from our own weight loss issues:  Calories in, calories out.

In kibble fed dogs the calculation for weight maintenance is 30 calories X number of pounds.  And each kibble lists the number of calories in a cup of food.  Some folks say it's 50 cals, but I find that too high for most dogs that aren't active.

In raw food, I feed no more than 4 ounces to the dogs and Tank gets 2.5 ozs at each meal.  I feed twice a day.

And no free feeding.  There is no way to control weight in a multi-dog household if you free feed.

All of these calculations vary with the dog's activity level and the time of year.  In the summer, everyone gets a bit more, in the winter, a bit less.

And I don't restrict treats with this method.  I do feed pretty low calories treats--generally dehydrated organ meat--but not liver as a rule--I use lamb lung or heart.  I also feed green beans.  I avoid carrots to some degree as they are high in sugar and that can convert to fat easily.

And everyone gets forced out to the park for exercise even if all they do is follow me around hoping food will drop on them (Tank).

[Jug and Pug]

We also give 1/3cup kibble morning and night...... treats - small pieces of cheese or carrot.

When I make salads, I also made them think lettuce is the best treat EVER......I give them tiny pieces and the first time they took it they looked at each other in disgust.  Now they eat pieces and really enjoy it.    Hey, if you like grass, then lettuce isn't far off!  When they start hopping and twitching their noses we might have to switch it up.

[keep on pugging]

Just retest again in a few months and see if the level is the same, then discuss the medication with your vet.

[dogonit]

Yup an hr of walking and reduced calorie and he has not dropped an ounce...will retest in July...he has no metabolism...just looks at food and it goes to his thighs....I resmble that....

[clummy]

I feel his pain - we share a metabolism as well. 

[lizzthrasher]

Aww, Nellson, Auntie Lizz understands.  Believe me. 

[Anna]

Poor Nellson.  You're not alone buddy.  I THINK of food and gain weight.  stupid hypothyroidism.

[littleman]

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