Weight Loss Advice?

[Gilbert]

Achilles is begining to look like a starving stray.
Achilles and I moved into an apartment about 2-3 weeks ago, and in those 20 some days i have accidently missed about 4-5 of his feedings. And he has also begun to not finish his meals since the move. If anything distracts him he is off to check it out, then forgets about the kibble. To top it off i have up his out door play because i feel bad for him to just be inside a small apartment with me when he use to be able to run an play in my dads yard.

What should i do to get him back to a decent looking size?
As of now you can see his ribs and some of his spine. Also with the extra play and my late nights and early mornings he mostly just sleeps until he hears me leaving or hears someone.

Here is our basic schedule
6:00 Wake up
7:30-4:30 work (he goes to work with me)
5:00-12:00 hanging out (we play/walks/dogparks)

Any little chance he gets he will lie down and take a nap.

 

[Gilbert]

For his feeding times they are:
Meal #1- between 7:30-8:30, 2cups
Meal #2-between 5:00-10:00, 2 cups.

This #2 meal really depends on what time we get home and if its to late sometimes he just chooses to sleep.

 

[Gatorblu]

Lots of changes going on. My best suggestion is to try your best to get him on a regular schedule. I know my pups do best if I can keep them on schedule. I know that is sometimes hard, but for my pups it really helps. I see sometimes you get home at 5:00, try feeding at 7:00 on the earlier days then the late days aren't so late. You can give him a treat when you get home on the earlier days to hold him over.

Is it possible to feed him at least 1/2 meal while you are at work? And can he have a quiet place there to get a nap in?

 

[Gilbert]

Well, being finish with school, the holidays, and the move has messed up our schedule, but im trying to get that back on track.

I do have a bed for him here at my office and besides making his occasional rounds around the office (very quite day) he has been snoring while he sleeps. But why is it that you want me to cut his first meal in half?

 

[Gatorblu]

But why is it that you want me to cut his first meal in half?

I don't. I thought you could add a small meal until he gains the weight back or until he starts eating his meals without being distracted.

 

[prittiegirl]

I agree with trying to add in an additional meal at "lunchtime". For sure not cutting down his other meals, just increasing what he's eating in the day.

I have done this at times when Kinnon has looked smaller, and it tends to help. You could also make it seem like a treat and give him bits of kibble throughout your work day or put kibble in a kong or in a kong with a bit of peanut butter, which he might be more likely to eat if he thinks they are just treats.

 

[Gilbert]

Ill try feeding another cup of food during lunch time, but i doubt he will touch it. As of now he has only eaten half his breakfast and i served him at 7:00am.

Besides peanut butter is there anything i can add to his food to make it more like a treat?
I know i have seen yogurt mention a couple times here on BW, or what about egg?

I do try giving him his kibble when he does his commands but after he realizes that its just a handfull of kibble he will let the kribble drop from his mouth.

 

[Jan]

How old is Achilles? I have found that most boxers seem to go through the walking skeleton stage, between 1-2 years of age. No matter what you do, they don't gain weight. It's really nothing to worry about. Moto certainly went through that stage. As long as your vet says that he is healthy, I wouldn't worry about it. He will put on weight when he is ready.

 

[prittiegirl]

I do try giving him his kibble when he does his commands but after he realizes that its just a handfull of kibble he will let the kribble drop from his mouth.

I wonder if he doesn't like his food anymore?

 

[Tuff Love]

We recently moved as well and Thora also went through a stage where she wasn't eating properly and not finishing meals (this from a dog who usually devours her meals). I'm sure it's just an adjustment for Achilles and he'll get his appetite back as soon as he gets used to his new surroundings. When Thora wasn't eating her meals on time I added little pieces of cheese to her kibble to help keep her on schedule and make sure she ate her breakfast before I left for work. You can also try adding a little low sodium chicken broth to entice him to eat. I'm sure he'll come around soon