weight for a 2 1/2 year old black Lab

Discussion in 'Labrador Health' started by puppy mom, Oct 28, 2019.

  1. puppy mom

    puppy mom Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2017
    Messages:
    64
    My vet says my lab is overweight. every time I have taken her they say she needs to lose weight. this started at 68 lbs and so I cut back her food to 3/4 cup twice a day instead of 1 1/2 cups twice a day. I took her in each week just for a weight check. she started to lose a pound or two. then all of a sudden her weight went to 72 lbs. I questioned the accuracy of the scales because it never stopped on a number and kept changing going up and down. so they weighed her on the scale in the back. same thing happened. I understand she doesn't sit completely still and yet I don't know if this is a true weight or not. well the vet started her on a metabolic weight management dog food. she has been on this now for three weeks. this one she gets 1 1/2 cups twice a day. and at first she was eating it fine. then she started not wanting to eat it. so they want me to give her mirtazaine 15 mg once a day. for a week. I gave it to her for two days and she did the same thing not wanting to eat. I stopped giving this to her. she is now into the third week, she is eating. this food smells awful and yet I am not sure if it is working or not.. she has had solid bowel movement . I don't know where to go from here. any suggestions.
    puppymom
     
  2. 5labs

    5labs Registered Users

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2019
    Messages:
    819
    Location:
    North Yorkshire
    Aside from her meals, what treats/extras does she get from everyone?
     
  3. puppy mom

    puppy mom Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2017
    Messages:
    64
    HI, she doesn't get any treats. before all this started though she got salmon bones and other treats. I looked at the calories and stopped all treats. I did try to offer carrots and green beans , she didn't like either.
     
  4. Athena

    Athena Registered Users

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2018
    Messages:
    140
    Location:
    NE coast, USA
    You can't manage this without an accurate weight - it's silly. I would insist that somebody at the vet practice pick her up and get on the scale with her and then subtract their own weight. This way you have a starting point. Then do the same at monthly intervals?

    Feeding is half the issue: exercise is the other half. Did your vet discuss this with you? (and if not, why not)

    How much daily exercise is she getting? Can you gradually increase until, for example, you've increased 20% or whatever your vet suggests?

    Neither of my dogs eat veggies but several of my friends' dogs like cut up apples, watermelon, and cucumber.
     
  5. Athena

    Athena Registered Users

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2018
    Messages:
    140
    Location:
    NE coast, USA
    You can't manage this without an accurate weight - it's silly. I would insist that somebody at the vet practice pick her up and get on the scale with her and then subtract their own weight. This way you have a starting point. Then do the same at monthly intervals?

    Feeding is half the issue: exercise is the other half. Did your vet discuss this with you? (and if not, why not)

    How much daily exercise is she getting? Can you gradually increase until, for example, you've increased 20% or whatever your vet suggests?

    Neither of my dogs eat veggies but several of my friends' dogs like cut up apples, watermelon, and cucumber.
     
  6. puppy mom

    puppy mom Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2017
    Messages:
    64
    You are so right ! I have told them this and they don't seem to consider that they scales could be wrong. I did talk with the Vet and he did ask about her exercise. She likes to walk , each morning she does so for almost 30 minutes and she loves playing outside in the yard. I agree with asking them to pick her up and weighing her that way. they try to get her to sit by giving her cheese from a can! I told them that I don't want her having this stuff. she doesn't get it at home and I don't want her having to have it to sit. I take her back on November 7 for another weight check.
    thank you
    puppymom
     
  7. J.D

    J.D Registered Users

    Joined:
    May 9, 2019
    Messages:
    920
    Location:
    Hampshire UK
    If you aren’t happy with the vet’s advice do you have the option to go to a different vet?Maybe one with decent scales! Are you able to weigh at home using the same picking up method?
    Almost 30 minutes a day isn’t enough exercise for a young dog.
    My nearly two year old gets 2x45 mins a day plus garden play. One of the walks includes a lot of ball chasing as we walk. I am not even sure that is enough.
     
    Edp likes this.
  8. Edp

    Edp Registered Users

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2014
    Messages:
    1,350
    I agree with @J.D 30 mins walk is not much. Is that on or off the lead ? At that age Meg would need loads more than that. She got minimum about 2 hours off the lead in one or 2 stints..plus bigger walks at weekend. All running about freely. Weight management in dog is the same as humans..decrease calorie intake and increase exercise. Can you increase her exercise?
     
  9. puppy mom

    puppy mom Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2017
    Messages:
    64
    this is not off lead. I live inside the city and off lead is not something which can be done
    I live inside the city and can't walk her of lead. she does like walking on the treadmill. I have taken her to a off lead private area. she loved it and was able to run and play for as long as you wanted to stay. I didn't understand that she needed 2x45 mins a day. plus back yard play. I will have to step this up for her. I wish I didn't live inside the city . too many ruled.
     
  10. J.D

    J.D Registered Users

    Joined:
    May 9, 2019
    Messages:
    920
    Location:
    Hampshire UK
    I think if you up her exercise as much as you can she will lose the weight. Could you or another family member maybe run with her?
    If you don’t like the food the vet is suggesting see if there is a lighter version of the one you were previously using and give the lowest recommended amount for an adult dog. Having a dog at a healthy weight now may help prevent further health issues later in life. You should be able to feel her ribs but not see them.
    Keep us posted with how you get on.
     
  11. Edp

    Edp Registered Users

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2014
    Messages:
    1,350
    Regardless of the accurate weight figure she is at the top end of healthy and you will be able to see by looking at her if she needs to loose weight. Personally I think weight management foods are a bit of an expensive gimmick when all you have to do is feed less. More exercise will be the key for your dog though and something you can enjoy together. Let us know how you get on :)
     
  12. puppy mom

    puppy mom Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2017
    Messages:
    64
    I live alone and I am 72 yrs. I am not able to lift her. I can up the exercise time though. she like to walk on the tread mill and I
    always stay right with her. I could increase the time and increase it up to twice a day. I am going to find out about a lighter version of what I was giving her. I did decrease that amount and she started losing a little when I did so. I am trying to figure out how to post her picture here. I haven't been able to figure that out yet. thank you for all you advice. I really apricate this site and being able to talk with other lab owners.
    Pupymom
     
  13. Athena

    Athena Registered Users

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2018
    Messages:
    140
    Location:
    NE coast, USA
    Cities are tough for lab owners. We have a dog park within walking distance and I donated to a local club so I can take my 3 yo to their fenced in field for exercise - he can't manage the dog park but my 11 mo does well there, at least for now. Several times a week I drive to a 9 acre fenced in dog park. Why does it seem like I'm always walking or exercising my dogs ...

    Slow and steady wins the race in this situation I suspect. Before you add a second walk, perhaps gradually increase the 30 minutes, say by 5 minutes every few days. Or add two blocks. Then maybe add a second shorter walk and over time increase that one too.

    Can you find a dog walker? If not every day, maybe a few times a week?

    I might ask the vet about this metabolic diet food. My cat eats prescription metabolic diet food because he's diabetic & on insulin. Does the vet think there's something wrong with your dog or did he suggest this food because it's low(er) in calories? I don't know if it's similar but my cat's food is hugely expensive. Money might be better spent on a dog walker?

    Images: you can either become a forum supporter - look for the link to Account upgrade, or try a free image hosting site like Imgur: https://imgur.com/
    You create a free account, upload your photo and then copy and paste the link into your post here.

    Don't let yourself get nuts about this. While it's important to do all you can to avoid obesity in your dog, everyone has limits. Do your best and don't stress.
     
    Edp likes this.
  14. Ski-Patroller

    Ski-Patroller Cooper, Terminally Cute

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2016
    Messages:
    1,719
    Location:
    Portland, Oregon & Mt Hood Oregon
    You really can't tell whether a dog is proper weight from a scale, you need to look at the dogs overall shape. Cooper is close to 80 lbs but fairly slim.
     
  15. puppy mom

    puppy mom Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2017
    Messages:
    64
    Thank You for the reply. Sorry I didn't see it until now. On Saturday I was playing outside in the backyard with her. I went to kick the ball , which I shouldn't have and I hit her under her chin with the top of my foot. She is fine although I ended up with a hematomy on the top of my left foot. No fractures but the entire foot is black and blue and in a walking shoe until it heals. I just can't seem to win. So now back inside and working on the treadmill. She is such a sweet girl. I have decided to give this food until the next weight in December 7, and if nothing has changed I am putting her back on her regular food. She is doing well other than this. we just had more snow here, I haven't been able to find a person that would walk her . I will just continue with the treadmill. I thank you all for your replies. Have a wonderful and safe Thankgiving to you all.
    puppymom & Twosocks
     
  16. puppy mom

    puppy mom Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2017
    Messages:
    64
    sorry the picture is sideways . this is the first picture I could ever get to load. I will keep working on it.
     
  17. puppy mom

    puppy mom Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2017
    Messages:
    64
    Boy this was harder than I thought. this is twosocks, I finally got it fixed.
     
  18. J.D

    J.D Registered Users

    Joined:
    May 9, 2019
    Messages:
    920
    Location:
    Hampshire UK
    Hi Puppymom
    It’s hard to tell from the photo but she doesn’t look particularly big.
    However I am more concerned about the collar! Why the need for such an extreme choker? I have never seen them used on a lab before.
     
  19. puppy mom

    puppy mom Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2017
    Messages:
    64
    I took her to a class when she was about a year and half. she was so out of control and I struggled even handling her. She still has times when she just won't follow directions. I still have trouble with her jumping up on people and she just won't leave them alone. she has done much better with this collar, she knows that when I say no or stop ,she now knows I mean what I say. It may look like this collar isn't acceptable but when you can't control her and she won't follow directions, I need something which shows her she needs to follow directions. Believe me I tried several other collars and none worked. I know not many agree with using this collar, but I can control her behavior much better and she isn't being hurt.
     
  20. puppy mom

    puppy mom Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2017
    Messages:
    64
    I took her to a class when she was about a year and half. she was so out of control and I struggled even handling her. She still has times when she just won't follow directions. I still have trouble with her jumping up on people and she just won't leave them alone. she has done much better with this collar, she knows that when I say no or stop ,she now knows I mean what I say. It may look like this collar isn't acceptable but when you can't control her and she won't follow directions, I need something which shows her she needs to follow directions. Believe me I tried several other collars and none worked. I know not many agree with using this collar, but I can control her behavior much better and she isn't being hurt.
     
  21. puppy mom

    puppy mom Registered Users

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2017
    Messages:
    64
    I took her to a class when she was about a year and half. she was so out of control and I struggled even handling her. She still has times when she just won't follow directions. I still have trouble with her jumping up on people and she just won't leave them alone. she has done much better with this collar, she knows that when I say no or stop ,she now knows I mean what I say. It may look like this collar isn't acceptable but when you can't control her and she won't follow directions, I need something which shows her she needs to follow directions. Believe me I tried several other collars and none worked. I know not many agree with using this collar, but I can control her behavior much better and she isn't being hurt.
     

Share This Page