Over he last week or so I had thought Juno was looking leaner than normal. I could feel,her ribs as normal, a nice visible waist but her tummy tuck-up has seemed more "tucked -up" than normal if that makes any sense. So finally today I popped into the vets with her to pop her on the scales. Now feeling very guilty as my poor girl tipped the scales (just!!) at 23.9kg. Last weigh check in France prior to travel was 24.8kg so she's managed to lose nearly a kilo since the 27th November but she's been having the same quantity of kibble, some treats as per normal and our exercise regime hasn't changed that much apart from less off lead opportunities unless we go out in the car. At least she will be happy with dinner tonight when she gets a little more kibble . So current plan is to increase daily kibble ration a little and see what her weight is doing in 2 weeks time. A little worrying though, weight gain I could understand after all the turkey at Christmas and little nibbles of cheese, but weight loss I can't explain...........
Don't feel guilty Rosemary, could it be the move? maybe Juno has been a little anxious which could result in a little weight loss. I felt exactly the same last year when Hattie was having surgery to remove a lump, she is always a steady 25 kg but when I dropped her off at the vets she was just over 23 kg but the vet said she looked and felt good, nevertheless I still felt awful Maybe put some tinned sardines in olive oil on her kibble a couple of times a week. Try not to worry but you will understandably, so just see how she is in a few weeks. xx
Oh dear, I agree with Charlie it could be the move. Good plan increasing the kibble a little. Sardines also seem like a good plan. We all know you love Juno so much, please don't feel guilty. Sending you big hugs and Mabel would send Juno Labrador licks but she's now snoozing. Xx
Shadow lost a lot of weight and condition when we were in England in early November and then they had two nights in kennels a few days after we got back. The coat condition I put down to the stress of kennels, because that was fine when he went in, and his weight just because of the stress/excitement of the trip. It's been a slow road to get the weight back on, because he gets the squits if he eats too much more than normal, but he's just getting to a shape I'm happy with, two months on. I slowly (slooooooowly) increased the amount of kibble he has at his morning and evening meals and left treats and lunch unchanged. Juno might not be as sensitive in the tummy department as Shadow, but don't try to rush it back on. Also, take into account that scales are notoriously different to one another, so the fact you used two different sets means you shouldn't take the actual number as gospel. As long as you get her to a point where you're happy with her condition, then take the number the new scale reports at that time as her "perfect" weight, regardless of whether it's the same as on the old scale.
Thanks . These pups worry us so much. snowbunny I had considered the possibility of the difference in the scales and wouldn't have worried at the difference if she hadn't been looking lean, even OH commented on taking her to the vet to be weighed this morning as she was looking thin; have to admit OH is not exactly renowned for his observation skills . Think I may add a sardine to her dinner rather than extra kibble and add a bit of extra kibble for breakfast. Think 2 weeks will seem a long time before weighing her again - I wonder if I can get her on the bathroom scales?
The scales at the vet's weigh 1.5kg heavier than the scales at the pet hospital. Charlie says the ones at the hospital are clearly correct....and it's an abuse of his Labrador rights to have to go on a diet everytime he is weighed at the vet's!
Totally agree with Charlie, NO way does he need to go on a diet. He's always in great shape regardless of what any scales say Juno says what's this about Charlie and a diet? She says he looks perfect to her - but she does have a soft spot for choccie boys
HaHa! So kind of you, says Charlie.... Charlie is slim, and even if he puts on a kg, is still slim. And he's staying that way, like Juno, the most important thing I can do for my dog is to keep him slim. Charlie puts on weight at the drop of a single extra kibble though, so I have to really watch it....
Ah, but there lies the difference, we are aware of how easy it is for our dogs to put on weight so monitor their daily food rations carefully. Staying slim helps their joints and we probably have more incentive than most to try and maintain a healthy balance.
