At our wits' end...sorry it's long!

[mhendo]

If you are positive Layla is a boxer, may I suggest feeding her to her target weight, NOT what she weighs now. Karlyn is right, a 153 pound boxer is incredible and her neck does seem quite large. Even if she isn't a boxer or is a mix, there are very few breeds that would be in the weight range. Because she sounds like she is overweight, feeding her to the weight she is now, she will NEVER lose the weight.

If she is on the larger side I would try feeding her what the bag says for a 70 to 75 lb dog and that I think is still pushing it.

In your original post you said that she just sniffs the food and walks away and in a later post you mentioned some people that live with you are most likely feeding her no-no foods. That right there might contributing to the problem of her just sniffing and walking away, because she knows that she can get the tasty yummy human food later on. I would have a serious chat with your house mates and urge them very strongly not to feed her anything.

I also agree with Debbie about getting her thyroid checked, could explain both the hair loss and the weight.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Cami]

All of the foods you listed that were tried in the past are very low quality foods which are full of fillers. You have to feed MORE of these types of foods to ensure that they are receiving enough nutrients. All the while they are getting too much of the bad stuff (allergy ingredients, cancer causing chemicals, etc...). In the end you are spending MORE on food since you have to feed so much. If that makes sense? Not to mention all of the potential health effects that will possibly be a direct result of the lower quality foods (you are dealing with allergies and possibly mange which are both directly related to a poorly functioning immune system and or an under developed immune system). A higher quality food can help in both departments AND can help to avoid trips to the vets office to treat those issues thus saving you money in the long run.
Not to be offensive but there is just no way that your girl can weigh 153 pounds at 2 years of age, be 100% Boxer and still MOVE without great difficulty (you said she was still active). That could easily be 100 pounds overweight. If her age is correct she isn't even finished growing!
The feeding guidelines on food bags are just that....guidelines....some dogs need more, some less. A dog that needs to lose weight needs to be fed the amount that is closest to what you want them to weigh....not what their weight is now.

 

[LaylasHumans]

If she hasn't been tested, I would absolutely do that. My youngest was diagnosed just before his second birthday. He was putting on a lot of weight, but not eating much more than our other boxer. Skin conditions are also an indicator of a thyroid imbalance.

The test may be more than you can comfortably afford (based on your comments), but the medication runs about $10/month if she ends up needing it.

Other symptoms of hypo-thyroid include:
Lethargic behavior such as a lack of interest in play, frequent napping, tiring out on long walks
Weight gain, sometimes without an apparent gain in appetite
Bacterial infections of the skin
Dry skin
Hair loss, especially on the trunk or tail (“rat’s tail”)
Discoloration or thickening of the skin where hair loss has occurred
Cold intolerance/seeking out warm places to lie down
Slow heart rate
Chronic ear infections
Severe behavioral changes such as unprovoked aggression, head tilt, seizures, anxiety and/or compulsivity
Depression

She has recently started getting very tired and panting a lot after walks, but Daddy introduced her to a tire swing that's in the backyard and she LOVES it!

She's not acting depressed or slowing activity level. She's always been an active dog, and loves playing. Then again, she loves to nap on her ottoman, which is where she's at right now.

If Daddy doesn't take her to a vet, I'm going to kick his rear end and MAKE him take her!

 

[LaylasHumans]

If you are positive Layla is a boxer, may I suggest feeding her to her target weight, NOT what she weighs now. Karlyn is right, a 153 pound boxer is incredible and her neck does seem quite large. Even if she isn't a boxer or is a mix, there are very few breeds that would be in the weight range. Because she sounds like she is overweight, feeding her to the weight she is now, she will NEVER lose the weight.

If she is on the larger side I would try feeding her what the bag says for a 70 to 75 lb dog and that I think is still pushing it.

In your original post you said that she just sniffs the food and walks away and in a later post you mentioned some people that live with you are most likely feeding her no-no foods. That right there might contributing to the problem of her just sniffing and walking away, because she knows that she can get the tasty yummy human food later on. I would have a serious chat with your house mates and urge them very strongly not to feed her anything.

I also agree with Debbie about getting her thyroid checked, could explain both the hair loss and the weight.

Good luck and keep us posted.

We have asked, then told the housemates not to feed her ANYTHING. We even took her bone away from her. We use a 16oz cup to get her food from the bag, and we give her a whole one or a whole one and a half. Everybody who sees Layla says she's a big Boxer (yes, we get the occasional few who swear she's a Pit or Bulldog!). I think for now we will cut back on the amount of food we give her, supplementing with wet food, and keep her active...then off to a new vet the beginning of the month!

 

[LaylasHumans]

All of the foods you listed that were tried in the past are very low quality foods which are full of fillers. You have to feed MORE of these types of foods to ensure that they are receiving enough nutrients. All the while they are getting too much of the bad stuff (allergy ingredients, cancer causing chemicals, etc...). In the end you are spending MORE on food since you have to feed so much. If that makes sense? Not to mention all of the potential health effects that will possibly be a direct result of the lower quality foods (you are dealing with allergies and possibly mange which are both directly related to a poorly functioning immune system and or an under developed immune system). A higher quality food can help in both departments AND can help to avoid trips to the vets office to treat those issues thus saving you money in the long run.
Not to be offensive but there is just no way that your girl can weigh 153 pounds at 2 years of age, be 100% Boxer and still MOVE without great difficulty (you said she was still active). That could easily be 100 pounds overweight. If her age is correct she isn't even finished growing!
The feeding guidelines on food bags are just that....guidelines....some dogs need more, some less. A dog that needs to lose weight needs to be fed the amount that is closest to what you want them to weigh....not what their weight is now.

I keep telling Layla's Daddy what you all are saying. I want to decrease the amount of food, increase exercise even though she's a very active dog, and see what happens. I AM curious to see exactly how much she weighs...I could almost guarantee she's overweight, and that she's got the non-contagious form of mange, possibly from her mother when she was born. Besides, if Layla had sarcoptic mange, the shelter shouldn't have adopted her out and should have had her in isolation.

Will keep you all posted to see what happens with the vet visit and with the food!

 

[Gatorblu]

I too think it sounds like your Layla may be Hypothyroid. I have one boxer who is dealing with that. As I stated before I feed my dogs Taste of the Wild (TOTW). A 26lb bag lasts me three weeks of feeding 2 boxers. It cost me less than the Eukanuba. I think I pay about $46 for it.

 

[Jan]

I had a look at your pictures! She is very pretty girl.

I hate to be blunt, but Layla is fat!!! She needs to go on a diet ASAP. If you feed her a decent food, you will be feeding her way less than she is used to. I would suggest that you try adding green beans to her food. It will help fill her up and dogs usually like them. A lot of people have had success with the green diet with their dogs.

I have to agree with the others that, her weight could be attributed to her thyroid. Please get it checked. The medication is not expensive.

Good luck!

 

[Cami]

We use a 16oz cup to get her food from the bag, and we give her a whole one or a whole one and a half.

By your measurements you are feeding between 1 and 1.5 POUNDS of food per meal. 16 oz. = 1 pound.

The risk of BLOAT has to be considered here. Consuming such a large quantity of food at one time is not safe. Assuming she isn't eating it all at one sitting that is very helpful but still WAY too much food for a Boxer. That is perhaps 2 to 3 pounds of food a day PLUS what she is being fed on the side.

With her current size she can't nearly be physically able to utilize that many calories in one day.

I know it seems as if we are beating up on you and please know that we are NOT. Just trying to help a fellow Boxer lover ensure that their furry family member is as healthy as possible. There are already more than enough health issues that a Boxer may have to deal with in their life time. Adding things like weight issues to the mix and all that they bring to the table (diabetes, heart, joint, etc) is just too risky.

 

[Althea]

I second Jan...she's a beautiful girl, but that's not fluff! Layla is a bit on the fuller figure side of boxers, and it is doing her no favors. 1. You are feeding her way too much. Scale her back slowly, and get her a good food. A lot of her issues may go away if you get her quality dog food. Somewhere I thought you said something about 7 cups of food?! 4, maybe 5 cups max would be a good goal, depending on her actual size (bone structure and genetic makeup) and energy needs. 2. And get her out for lots of walks and play. Once you have that element under control, hopefully it will bring to light any other issues that may be at work here.

And thank you so much for rescuing her! She looks like a very happy boxer girl, and I'm thrilled you are working so hard to make her healthy and happy. appicon

 

[johann]

Layla is a beautiful girl. :D Rather fat, but adorable. I hope you can figure out what's going on with her weight and hair loss so that you can enjoy a lot more time with her. You could look into care credit (no interest payment plan/credit card) to get the testing done and figure out what's causing her hair loss and treat it. Vet bills can be expensive, but a thryoid panel isn't usually too much money ($140 or so.)

My Johann is a huge boxer at 83 lbs (and not fat, just very tall and lean). He eats 1 cup of Orijen twice a day. We would have to feed him 5 cups of Iams/Eukanuba a day to get the same amount of calories into him.

Is there a Costco near you? I've heard that their house brand of food is relatively good quality and inexpensive....definitely better than Old Roy/Iams/Eukanuba/Royal Canin.

Good luck with your girl.