Max is on a diet

[judy]

I have been worrying about Max lately. He has gained about 2 pounds over the winter, he's sluggish, he is panting after doing things, and sounds all stuffed when he is breathing through his nose.

I took him for a checkup today, and the vet said he needs to go on a diet and get some exercise. He didn't hear anything wrong with his heart, etc. He took blood to get it tested, especially for his thyroid hormones.

I have to feed Annie separately because he eats her food too. The vet thinks that Max is trying to be dominant over the food, and that might be why he gained so much weight.

When he tried to get the blood, Max wouldn't stay still. He needed 3 people to hold him still, and he has a big bruise on his chest. Poor Max!

I think I'll get him Science Diet for weight loss. I'm very relieved that it's only his weight.

[Janet]

I sure hope you can get some of the weight off him. All of mine gained weight too. I need to get them out more and let them run it off, but it's way too hot. I'm going to stop free feeding for a whle too and see if that will help. I was in shock when I weighed them yesterday.

[DianaB]

When I first got Jazzi it looked like Reuger was trying to eat her food too but he's stopped doing that now. I think that he is a little heavier than he has been. I treated him for worms and he put on some weight after that. I know.....YUCK!!

I'm glad that it's not anything too serious with Max. It'll be hard to limit his food but switching to Science Diet will probably be a good choice. That's all that I feed Reuger and Jazzi. It costs more than other brands but I think that it's worth it.

[Marilyn]

Our Chase is 3 to 4 lbs over weight. He should be about 5.5 lbs, and he's 8 or 9. His weight fluctuates though, and I control his diet. I don't know why he's so heavy. I know that sounds silly, but I really don't. I think Hubby may be overfeeding him when I'm not around. Zoe is at a perfect weight of 3.6 lbs, and she eats about the same amount as Chase. Go figure!!

[gja1000]

When my mom lived with me we had a terrible time with feeding. My two boyz are very picky eaters and do not eat well. I feed them a little wet food in the mornings, because they just do not eat dry food very well and were losing weight. I don't feed enough wet food to sustain them because I want them to eat some dry as I've been told it's better for their teeth, if they eat some dry food everyday (is that true?).

In order to get them to eat dry food though, I have to free feed as you can never tell when they will eat. My mom's dog is a glutten and will eat till he throws up, if allowwed. So, I had to keep the boyz dry food way back in my office and keep an eye on rusty (mom's dog) that he didn't go back there. If we left the house and didn't shut the office door, he would always go back there and eat all the dry food. He has terrible back problems (he's a doxy) and even had back surgery a few years ago. So, he CAN'T be overweight. It was a battle for sure to keep him out of the boyz dry food!!!

[Janet]

How is Max doing on his diet Judy? Poor guy...diets are no fun.

[judy]

He's just fine! I bought Nutro diet wet food and some other brand to see if they would eat them. I couldn't find Science Diet.

Of course, they wanted nothing to do with it. I put a little low fat chopped meat and mixed it in. Max has to eat in the bathroom or he dominates Annie and eats her food. Annie has to be hand fed at this point because their whole eating dynamic has changed. Tonight, Max didn't want to eat his food, so he got hand fed also.

Do you think they are spoiled or what?

I have to get his blood test results back tomorrow or Monday.

[Blueyes]

Poor Max! No more junk food days, lol!!!

[Gina]

Judy how much does Max weigh? Gucci is 12 pds. she is limited being she is on the L/D diet. I am kind of pissed sorry for language. I took her to the nutritionist last year and she planned her menu she charged me $200. Yes big bucks, I took her back to get weighed during the year she may have lost a pd. but I can't get a hold of this vet. she never returns my calls and I am mad.. I am going to call the regular vet and see what she says.

Poor Max , not too many treats...

[judy]

Max is also 12 pounds. Is Gucci big boned? I don't think you can say a dog is overweight just by poundage. Isn't it the body mass thingie that can tell if they need too lose weight?

Is that LD maximum weight for yorkies in general, or did your vet tell you that?

Max is definitely overweight. He has short-legged and stocky. If he was human, he would probably be barrel chested! But, he is showing symptoms of overweight, like being listless, panting, etc.

What did the $200 person tell you to feed her?

[DianaB]

I'd think that for $200 she'd be supplying the food too!!!