Hi all! My Sully is an English and is 4 years old. He’s on the bigger side. During the winter, I lessened his dry food and added veggies. That backfired on me when he weighed 136. I almost fell to the floor. I stopped the veggies. Measure 1/2 cup dry food with some pumpkin. I walk him whenever I can....not too long on super hot days. He’s due for his yearly. In the beginning of the summer, he was 129. I think he’s lost off his rear but still seems thicker in his shoulder area. Any advice to really help him slim? No treats in the house. I give him carrots. He also loves marrow bones. Thanks! Jenn
Hi Jenn So that’s 58kg which does sound very heavy for a labrador although I have a working lab(American) and they tend to be longer legged and a leaner build. He weighs 30 kg. My previous lab was prone to weight gain so he was on a lighter version of the same kibble. It meant he had the same quantity but fewer calories. The serving sizes of kibble are far too much. If there is a range look at the bottom or even less. Also exercise will play a big part not only for his weight but also joint health. He will suffer in the long term if he carries too much now. Are you not able to exercise him early morning before it gets too hot? I am in the uk so we only get a few hot days a year and easy for me to say!
Is he neutered? https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0209131 http://veterinaryteam.dvm360.com/re...r-risk-factor-obesity-and-orthopedic-injuries https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0209131 Sadly many vets don't tell owners that neutering a dog predisposes the dog to obesity and that obesity is implicated in a higher risk of many other diseases.... But you can't put his gonads back on even if he is neutered, so what to do? I would put him on a raw diet, since research in human nutrition shows that it is carbs (which are converted to sugars by the body and result in high insulin levels) that lead to weight gain. ALL kibble contains carbs, since they are needed to form the kibble - whether potato, rice, corn etc etc. So, find a complete raw food. If you don't want to feed raw, consider Ziwipeak as the next best thing - since it contains no carbs and you can handle it like a kibble.
