Hi There My choc lab is 10 years old now, it looks like arthritis is starting to get started and he is on metacam. He is 36KG and I cant seem to get him down at all. Looking for some advice on any tips. Weekly/Daily Feed & Exercise He is fed Arden Grange Light, the recommended amount split Between morning and evening and always a carrot after each feed. He also get salmon oil with his morning feed. On a Saturday he will get a treat with his evening feed either tin of mackerel, Pilchards or sardines in tom sauce. He gets no biscuits on his walks now and only a couple biscuits before lights out and we go to bed. If we have chicken on a Sunday he might get some chicken and veg that is left over but that is about it. He will sometimes get a dental stick or some fish skins as a treat but that's really about it. His walks are maybe 20 mins morning, 45-60 mins afternoon, and 5-10 mins evening. His afternoon walks vary and at the weekends can be longer, and his walks can be local paths, hills and sometimes some swimming. I've not been throwing a ball for him last while due him being lameness after this. Not sure what else I could do or if anyone else can recommend any other weight loss tips, I know as he gets older walks will get slower and shorter hence why I want to aim to get his weight down to around 32kg. Thanks
Hi bb3, welcome to the forum The recommended amount on the Arden packaging represents all the calories a dog needs for one day. So the carrot, salmon oil, tinned fish, bed time biscuits, leftover roast dinner and dental sticks are all additional calories on top of what he needs! To help him lose weight, you either need to cut down the extras, or reduce how much kibble he's getting to compensate. Your vet can help you come up with a bespoke diet plan for losing weight safely. Good luck, and keep us updated on your progress!
