I wonder if any member could help me please. Now Annie has been spayed, I want to keep her weight down. I know that females put on weight easily when they have had this op. I thought I could give her a raw bone to chew and keep her busy, but not put on weight. Which would be best. I do weigh all her food out, but she is a greed dog anyway (but I love her anyway) . She does have a puzzle bowl and a ball which I also put her full in. Grateful for any ideas.
Regarding the bone, I would suggest using the big beef bones. They dont break that easy and they are a great occupation and good for cleaning the teeth. About her food, well maybe you should compromise with more activity.
We are out nearly all day. The vet said to watch her weight, because she has been spayed. I don't want to do too much more though, because she is still only 6 months old and I would not like to damage her joints. Thanks about the beef bone, I will get one off the butcher in the village.
Cath, there is information on the raw feeding section and I'm pretty sure it says to stay away from big bones like beef ones as dogs can damage their teeth on them as they are so hard. I only give Hattie & Charlie bones that they can totally consume like turkey necks, chicken carcas etc. I do give lamb ribs but I worry a little about those. x
@Cath Charlie puts on weight just by smelling kibble. I really struggle to keep him slim, and I can't take my eye off the ball at all or his weight starts creeping up. For me, it's about deciding the most important use for the food I feed might be, and 'getting over' the need to give it away in a bowl for free. By not feeding Charlie in a bowl, on days I need it, I have enough food for training or kongs if he is being left. I have no hesitation at all in not feeding him any meals if I need the food for kongs because I'm going to be out. If the routine around seeing his dinner bowl becomes too much, I'll often give him just 10g in his bowl along with his salmon oil and supplement tablets. Then he is content, because he thinks he has had dinner. He eats it so fast anyway, he can't tell whether there is 10g or 100g in his bowl. Regardless of the pros and cons of different bones, the only thing I would leave an unsupervised dog to eat is a kong. Save the bones for when you are supervising the dog, I say.
For what it's worth, Ella was spayed at 5.5 months and we haven't had any weight gain issues so far (she's now 13 months). We feed kibble plus raw chicken, beef, fish and kangaroo plus other veggie and meat bits and pieces when available
May be that will be the answer. I do feed Fred in another room already, because she would eat his meal too and he would let her. She is greed. I would only let her have a bone if I was in the same room as her, like when I am doing my paper work. Thanks tor the advice.
Kangaroo, I wonder if my butcher sells that Glad to hear that she may not put on weight like your girl. Keep fingers crossed and hide the food
Oban's kibble (Canadian Company) is based on Kangaroo and I buy ground kangaroo at a butcher near me to make jerky out of. I could buy roasts or steaks too. Check around, if I can get it in Canada there's a good chance you can get it. Oh, one reason for kangaroo in Oban's food is it is very lean and his Lymphangiectasia requires a low fat diet.
My Willow is nearly 22 months and doesn't have a weight issue in the slightest - she is very slim, despite being a complete greedy guts. She was spayed at 6.5 months. I just regulate how much food she has; when I give her extra training treats or kongs, then she gets less kibble at meal times. They do lead very active lives, but she doesn't have significantly less food than her brother, who is entire (and proudly showing off that fact as I type, sleeping on his back with his legs akimbo). A bit less, yes, but she still manages to have three meals a day, plus training treats. It definitely depends a lot on the dog, and, of course, its lifestyle
Thanks Fiona, Willow and Shadow sound just like my two. Fred is an entire male and very slim. It was just that when picking up Annie after her op, the vet said watch her weight as bitches who have been spayed can put on weight easily. We are a very active family. Annie is not over weight now only 19kg, but she is still growing.
I think it's a bit of a misnomer to say that bitches who have been spayed put on weight easily. The spaying reduces their metabolism, sure, so they need less food - but as far as I'm aware, they don't put on weight any more easily than any other Lab who is overfed. I'm sure that you'll work it out, just by keeping an eye on her as she grows up. You're a very conscientious owner, so I know you'll keep it in mind. Other than that, I don't think you have to worry too much - just regulate her food as you go if you notice her getting a bit porkier than she should I think it's harder to make out the ribs on black dogs than on yellow - at least with my two. When Shadow's are visible, they cast - er - shadows against his sides as the light hits them, but you don't get the same contrast with Willow's black coat. I think it's just a case of knowing your dog's shape and using the feel-test as you're petting them.
I would go with beef bones also ! Raw bones are better for them anyways in several ways ! They do keep them busy , there better for there digestive system and they help with keeping there teeth clean !
I agree ! I think giving to many treats are big factor in them putting on more weight spayed or not ! We all like to spoil our dogs and I'm guilty of that ! We can give them treats just smaller amount for example instead of a whole milk one give half or by the medium size ! Or a small amount of yoghurt is good for them as long as it's plain ! Dried sweet potatoes are also good and healthy treats !
