Cutting back food for diet

[AmyDonnelly]

So we recently took Charlie to the vet and he weighs 83 pounds! He put on 7 pounds in 6 months. We were feeding Solid Gold Barking at the Moon for a few months and have recently switched to TimberWolf and they really enjoy it. And, the protein level is way less, as is the fat and calorie content. We were feeding 2 cups total per day, and have since cut it back to 1 3/4 total a day. Is this not enough? He doesnt seem to be hungry throughout the day, and its good that Joe and Venus (our rescue pit bull we adopted last week) are not being overfed either. Joe is about 65 pounds and he too put on about 7 pounds. He always looks his best when he's about 60 pounds. Venus weighs about 45 pounds and she looks fantastic and I want to keep it that way. Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[gmacleod]

If the protein and fat content are way lower, then the carbohydrate content must be way higher And it's carbs that generally cause dogs to become fat. Thing is, dogs have no evolved need of carbohydrates in their diet at all. They have systems perfectly evolved to run on protein and fat. Put another way, their bodies aren't designed to use carbs as they're digested - those that they do digest are turned into complex sugars and stored as fat. It's one reason so many so-called diet foods for dogs are counterproductive...

Anyway, if your dogs are gaining weight on the food they're being fed, the simple answer is that they're getting too much food compared to their energy needs. So, you either need to feed less or exercise more (the latter is generally preferable).

Last possibility I can think of that could be worth checking out is thyroid problems (though it would be pretty unlucky for both dogs to be affected simultaneously). Oh - and what about treats? Any changes there? Sometimes it's incredible just how many calories are consumed in treats.

 

[ELubas]

My boy came up hypothyroid and went on meds but I also cut his food in half (I feed TW too). The meds increased his activity level so between that and the reduction in food he has dropped seven pounds and clearly feels better. I think it is more the amount you feed and the amount of exercise they get as opposed to the type of kibble (unless it is crappy food of course) Good luck

 

[AmyDonnelly]

Hmm, very good advice here. I think all three of them get a decent amount of exercise a day. I'd say close to 2 hours a day (not at one time, just throughout the day) they are running around, chasing eachother, playing, etc. They all come back in the house completely wiped out after a good play session in the yard. I know that I should walk them more often, but I don't due to having a 3 year old, a 1 year old and a husband who works crazy hours. I told my husband last night that when my boxers go back to the vet in April for their shots and check up, my goal is for Charlie to have lost 5 pounds and Joe to have lost 4 pounds. That would bring Charlie down to 78 and Joe to 62 pounds. I recall Charlie looking his best at about 70-73 pounds, but nothing less than that as he is just a heftier bulkier guy that Joe is. Joe actually looks pretty good at 55 pounds, but 60-62 is ok too. Venus is about 45 pounds and she looks absolutely fantastic, so I will be keeping a close watch on her to monitor any weight gain or weight loss. I think feeding her about 2 cups a day is good, or should I give her a bit more? Shes about 1, give or take.

Thanks!