Yesterday at the vet we weighed Snowie and he's lost weight - used to be 34-34.5kg (which we've always been happy with). Yesterday he was 33.5 kg. Perhaps slightly less - he was dancing around the scale so it kept going up and down. My husband and I also weighed ourselves - and we've also lost weight - been on diet since January. We haven't changed Snowie's meals at all. But I'm guessing he's getting far fewer treats from us since there are no treats to be had in our house!! No bits of toast and butter. No cream to lick. No cheddar cheese to snack on. Snacks are now in the form of steamed broccoli - which he LOVES!! Begs for it!! I remarked to the vet that even though Snowie is so itchy (the reason for our visit), he's never been more perky - runs off on our walks to discover things, doesn't just plod along like before. She said a half kilo loss can do this. Wow! The diet has been worth it! I've worried his ribs are showing a bit, but given his energy and ability to jump now, I think a bit of rib showing is better.
did Betsy get chunky while you were on forum hiatus? I remember her being slightly bigger than Xena (who's currently 21.6 kg). I'm in no way implying that you're doing something wrong - I know that you know what you're doing - I'm just having a hard time imagining a chunky little Betsy!
No,that's ok leejane - that's what I like about this forum, the discussion, exploring thoughts, ideas, topics, sharing etc etc. Sky's new food is due today or tomorrow so switch over will start. She is going to go on Hill's Metabolic and Mobility. I am determined to get her weight down. Two new factors I have to consider: - she now has only one walk a day instead of the two she has had for years which kept her sleek - part of our plan to get her and puppy Red interacting is now a twice daily kong - they are on their beds next to each other - one in the afternoon and one in the evening. She had never had a kong before in her life until recently and she gets so excited when she knows it's kong time. I am taking the food from her daily allowance for these. I am currently transitioning the puppy food over (she is on Hills I/d from recent bad diarrhoea but going onto Hills Puppy) so am going to be doing both dogs over the next week. I hope both dogs are going to be fine on their new food. I am having to be really disciplined about weighing food, getting changeover quantities right - taking out enough to make kongs - it's not easy and takes time. I have to get more painkillers for Sky so am going to ask about the liquid one the vet mentioned last week.
I hope it suits her. I think Rheumocam and Metacam are the same thing. If so, when I started my last dog on Metacam it took over a week of daily doses to show a real effect, but then it seemed to completely relieve his pain -he was back to his normal behaviour. Just be prepared for results not to be instant.
This is exactly what Monty has - the same active ingredient as Metacam (meloxicam?) but cheaper and less smelly. Good luck, hope Sky likes the taste!
@Atemas As I mentioned before Maddie has lost over 10kg on the metabolic & mobility. As long as you stick to the allowance the weight loss will happen. We feed her for a target weight on 30 Kg and we are very mindful of any extras she may have much to her disappointment. You can also get metabolic treat bone shaped biscuits! You'll find the kongs are a godsend, we also soak the kibble and stuff bones ( the ones that come filled) with it. Maddie still thinks she's getting treats, Kong in the morning and bone in the evening! At the weekend I make up a weeks worth of kongs and bones and freeze them. We do give Winnie the young one the same ( metabolic) in the kongs and bones. It is just easier for us to do that. I do laugh every Saturday as I look at the top two shelves in my freezer, one stacked with bones the other with kongs! The weight loss has been steady anything from 250g - 750g a month and slowly we've got there. Top tip keep to the programme and you will reach the target weight. Keep us up dated!!
Yes I have been told to feed for a target weight of 25kg (she is currently 28kg). I have ordered more kongs so I don't have to keep preparing them so the top shelf of the freezer is gradually being taken over!
Betsy has a thicker covering on her ribs than I'd like, and I can't easily see her last rib, so I'd like her thiner - I like to be able to see the dog's ribs, not just be able to feel them.
Me and OH have a disagreement over this. Coco nominally has 200g of kibble plus variable training extras (and a can of Winalot!). He thinks Coco is thin. He isn't. If I get up first (weekends/holidays) I put out 150g. OH doesn't need to know, after all, the sticker on the box it goes in says "200g". After a week of holiday I am happy to see Coco's ribs when he turns. ....but does OH put out >200g the rest of the time?? I know not.
My OH us not allowed to Feed the animals for obvious reasons. (Glitter king)At one point we had five animals on different feeding routines and there's no way he would have coped. They only time he does feed is if I'm in hospital and theyve all been alive when i get back so i just don't worry who got fed what us anyone's guess a friend does come and help if I'm totally out of it and she says he's very generous. He gave Rory a whole fish fillet as a treat stuff like that. I sort it all out when I get back and don't worry but there does seem to a misunderstanding about what a healthy dog should look like.
Could you tell me a bit more bout the bones you give Maddie please? I am still waiting for my order of metabolic and mobility to arrive - bit frustrating - it's out for dispatch but is taking ages!
@Atemas So we buy filled bones, the ones from the pet shop that look like they are filled with cheap meat and lard! Scoop out the filling and then we just soak the kibble, mix in some oily fish and fill the bones back up. Wrap in cling film and freeze. Both Winnie and Maddie love them, they eat the filling and Winnie (pup) will have a nibble at the bone. They're always supervised with bones but we've never found that they've splinted. I absolutely believe that these really helped Winnie whilst teething as a pup and she hasn't been a chewer ( thankfully). Link from pets at home as an example, http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/meaty-filled-bone-dog-treats We just wash the bones and refill, any that we think are need replacing we just bin. If we say bones, both run and sit in front of the freezer! In terms of metabolic we buy ours from Ocado, their pet branch is called Fetch. The price is competitive and it gets delivered with our weekly online shop. You don't have to use Ocado for Fetch to deliver.
Sky is doing really well on the Rheumocam. It has definitely made her perkier and she has resumed her morning walks with DH. We want to buy it online now as everything via the Vets is so expensive. I understand you need a prescription from the Vets though which they charge for. Will we need to get a prescription monthly does anyone know? I'd like to get a biggish bottle so we don't have to keep thinking about it.
@Atemas Hi In terms of prescription we find it depends on the medication. Normally for use we have 2 or 3 monthly prescriptions. They won't issue a prescription unless they've seen the animal in the last 6 months depending on condition. The savings can be massive as the vets just can not buy the bulk meds at a cost effective price. Atopica for Maddie is £400 a month from the vet we buy online for just over £150. Speak to your vet and ask for the maximum they can give per prescription, then shop around online. I'm glad Sky is doing better!
Thank you for reply @Branston1080. The vet would only give me a prescription to use once but for 100ml as opposed to only 42ml she issued us with initially. I had to pay £10.50 for the Prescription and have ordered the Rheumocam online. As there is a 200ml bottle, I will see eventually if I can get a prescription for that. I understand the Vets need to check the dogs are ok on medication but their charges are so great. Yes it's lovely Sky is doing her early morning walk. - she has had a swim in the dyke a couple of times too .
Sky has lost 400g. Still needs to lose 2kg but the vet nurse was happy with that and I can see Sky's waistline reappearing. I had intended to put Sky on Hills Metabolic but the company I ordered through never delivered (it was such a mess up, I won't use them again). I am feeding her Symply Light/Senior which she likes and I weigh it out daily. So still a way to go but feel we are getting back on track and she is definitely perkier now she is on daily Rheumocam .
