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We cherish our furry companions dearly, regardless of whether they're a bit on the plump side or not. However, when it comes to a dog carrying excess weight, it can pose significant health issues, and a hefty pup may not be a happy pup. Having a conversation with your four-legged friend to encourage them to shed a few pounds is sadly impossible. The bestest boys and girls are mostly after an extra treat instead of a workout.
Yet, if a dog owner is determined and committed, they hold the key to transforming their pup's life for the better. Check out these incredible before-and-after pics of dogs getting healthier through weight loss. Let's be happy for both their dedicated owners and the dogs themselves.
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#1
Two Years And Tons Of Walks Later, Shiloh Has Reached Her Target Weight
Mint Sauce 2 years ago
So why is it OK to refer to obese dogs as "chonkers" when we're basically the one's controlling how much they eat but it's not OK to refer to an obese person as "over-weight" when they, too are the one's controlling how much they eat. Obesity should not be normalised. Great to see these wonderful dogs losing some weight. Just like obese people losing weight, they look so much better for it.
Chubby puppies might be adorable, but when it comes to a dog's well-being, a lean physique is preferable.
Unfortunately, similar to the issue faced by humans, there's an alarming number of overweight dogs, as reported by the Association For Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP). In their eighth annual survey, released in March 2015, APOP revealed that 53 percent of American dogs are carrying excess weight.
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#2
Still The Happiest Guy Around, I'm Just Less Round
Carla Phillips 2 years ago
What's on her back legs? They look like braces but I can't quite tell
ThatHuskyStorm 2 years ago
Definitely different doggos. Left one is a shiba and right one is a golden retriever
Load More Replies... #3
I Can't Believe I've Lost Over 12 Lbs. I Used To Have Trouble Getting Up Off The Floor But Now I Can Run Down The Stairs And Jump Off The Couch Without Even Thinking About It
Almost sunny 2 years ago
Is it the same dog? Looks like the after pic is from when the dog was younger?
International studies also indicate that this problem extends globally, with surveys from various regions showing canine obesity rates at around 40 percent or higher. Furthermore, most researchers believe that this health concern is worsening year by year. According to another part of the APOP survey, in 2014, 17.6 percent of dogs were classified as clinically obese, meaning they were 30 percent or more overweight. This marked a full percentage point increase from just one year prior.
#4
Look What I Did. 11 Pounds Down Is A Lot For A Chihuahua
Ashley Schriber 2 years ago
Possibly two or three. The breed standard is 2 to 6 pounds!
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Fxnglhl 2 years ago
isnt a healthy chihuahua like 3-6 pounds? 11 pounds is like dangerously overweight (pls correct me, i'm not a vet i'm a high school student who likes dogs)
Awesome At Being Autistic 2 years ago (edited)
Chihuahuas can actually weigh up to 10 lbs. and still be healthy. It just depends on their build. Lots of deer head Chihuahuas have a bigger frame than the tiny apple head Chihuahuas do. I have Chihuahuas, they're great dogs. Edit: posted too soon
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Leigh James 2 years ago
My beloved Chihuahua Coco Puff was diagnosed with IMHA at 10 years old and had to take high doses of steroids and a compounded cancer medication for over a year. She went from 5.5 lbs to her tummy grazing the ground but we beat the oft fatal IMHA. She dropped most of the weight but still had Prendisone puffiness for the remainder of her happy and healthy years; she lived to be 18. I always had to explain the aforementioned to those who judged. So, you never know....
KrazyChiMama 2 years ago
Oh no! That's terrible to let that poor baby get that big! Bad human!
#5
Did Her A Good Dechonk. Down From 74 Lbs To 48 Lbs. A Few More To Go
#6
2 Years Later - Looking 2 Years Younger
What's even more concerning is that a staggering 95 percent of pet owners are unaware that their pudgy dogs need to shed some weight. APOP dubs this phenomenon the "fat pet gap," where an overweight dog is mistakenly perceived as having a normal weight.
#7
Did Someone Say Glow Up
#8
Mom's Dementia Caused Her To Overfeed For Months. After A Normal Diet And Lots Of Exercise, Beezie Has Shed Nearly 20 Lbs And She Has A New Lease On Life. 45,6 Lbs To 26,8 Lbs
Rebecca Ferguson 2 years ago
Beagles are beautiful but like Labs will eat everything not nailed down.
Odin Schmidt 2 years ago (edited)
Yes. (Although the OP was saying her mom has dementia) https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-information/senior-dog-dementia
Load More Replies... #9
From Big Bear To Little Bear
Dr. Ernie Ward, a veterinarian and the founder of APOP, emphasizes, "Pet owners often believe that their obese dog or cat is at a healthy weight, which makes addressing obesity a challenging task. Nobody wants to acknowledge that their pet is carrying extra pounds, and our initial hurdle is overcoming this denial."
#10
Veterinarian Said He Needed To Lose Weight. I Present To You, Dechonkified Chester. He Didn't Like The Journey But Never Takes Food For Granted After The Diet
Jayne Gilbert 2 years ago
His fur looks so much better in the second picture - beautiful definition!
mooshoflove 2 years ago
OMG Chester is a German shepherd?! What a good boy! That journey must've been so difficult!!;
#11
Weight Loss Since Being Adopted
Rebecca Ferguson 2 years ago
Have 3 of these guys and they need discipline where food and treats are involved to make sure they keep their health. Beautiful and loyal dogs who are very brave.
#12
Looking Like A Completely Different Dog
PlatinumThe8-BitCat 2 years ago
I love chihuahuas! (That’s a chihuahua, right? I’m pretty sure they’re a chihuahua.)
junipurrrrr 2 years ago
Yes! On this instagram page, if you click the credit under the lower left side of the picture it’ll bring you there and the post is filled with all sorts of tags regarding chihuahuas.
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When it comes to pets, like dogs, recognizing if they are overweight or obese depends on both how they look and feel. You should be able to feel your dog's ribs when you gently touch their sides. Some dog food brands have charts that can help you figure out if your dog needs to lose weight.
#13
40 Lbs Down
Bonnie Buttons 2 years ago
Schnauzer or Bouvier des Flandres? Look at his ears. I might be wrong though...
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Bonnie Buttons 2 years ago
Bouvier !!! I have a bear like this called Tilly! She knows very well that she's allowed on all the furniture except my bed. And yet, sometimes I come home and find leaves and twigs in it... Hmmm....
Mara Is… A Surgeon 2 years ago
Love schnauzers! (Think that’s what it is, had to copy and paste to spell it right lmao)
#14
Chimichanga's Weight Loss
#15
Will You Look At My Girl's Weight Loss? I Am So Proud Of Chloe And How Far She Has Come In A Year
Sometimes, a pet's breed and age can affect their weight. Older pets, for example, may be less active due to conditions like arthritis. But it's our job to give them the right amount of food and make sure they get regular exercise.
#16
Beulah’s Journey: 125 Lbs To 75 Lbs
wowbagger 2 years ago
At first I thought the top picture was a bear getting ready for hibernation. Good job, Beulah!
#17
Jazzy Reached Her Goal Weight
George D 2 years ago
Gotta be real here, how does a dog owner allow their pet to get that far out of shape?
Susan Green 2 years ago
That’s what I’m wondering. I realize some of these dogs are rescues and were that way when they were adopted, but I’m guessing not all of them are.
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Pancake_Pansexual_Panda 2 years ago
Wow used to be so chonky and jiggly, but I'm glad the dog is healthy now!
#18
Before And After From Cow's Weight Loss Journey
Brian Droste 2 years ago
In the first picture he looks happy. In the second picture he looks sad.
When pets are overweight, they are more likely to:
⦁Have a less active and shorter life
⦁Struggle with heat and humidity
⦁Need more medication due to their weight
⦁Experience joint and mobility problems
⦁Develop skin issues and a weaker immune system
⦁Face higher risks during surgery
⦁Show less interest in exercise and play
⦁Often have high blood pressure
⦁Be at a greater risk of developing diabetes
#19
Murphy's Transformation. Before vs. After
#20
How It Started vs. How It's Going. I Went To My Forever Home And Since Then I've Lost Nearly 5 Kg
️ ️lefty libra️ (she/her) 2 years ago
hi im american and we dont have metric systems can somebody tell me what 5 kg is please
Goose of the Ahonkalypse 2 years ago
It stands for 5 killer gators or 11ish pounds.
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#21
From “Help! Pull Me Up” To “You Need Help? I’ll Pull You Home”
If you want to help your dog lose weight without making them feel deprived, here are some tips to make it easier:
⦁Cut Down on Treats: Swap fatty treats with healthy ones like carrots or low-calorie dog treats to give your pup nutritious rewards.
⦁Mix Veggies with Kibble: If your dog still seems hungry, add high-fiber veggies like frozen green beans to their meals to help them feel full without extra calories.
⦁No Sneaky Treats: Ensure everyone in your household avoids giving your dog extra food or treats. Small treats can add up, so let them know it's for the dog's health and happiness.
⦁Track Progress Monthly: Keep an eye on your dog's weight by assessing their body condition and doing monthly weigh-ins at the vet's clinic. Vets often offer free weight checks and encouragement to help you along the way.
#22
Claude Was Dumped At A Boarding Kennel Weighing 59 Kg. His New Family Rescued Him And Started His Weight Loss Journey For A Healthier Life And He Has Dropped 33 Kg
Oskar vanZandt 2 years ago
Luckily Claude's musculature helped him survive his stint with obesity...
FaceTime Audio 2 years ago
Wow. His starting weight was bigger than me! He’s such a good boy, I bet he feels a lot better.
#23
Even As Senior Dogs We Were Successful At Weight Loss With Regular Exercise And Food Portion Control. We’re Both 100 Pounds Down (Or Pretty Close To It) And Healthier Than Ever
#24
One Of My Earliest Weigh-Ins (March 2018) vs. A Healthy Weight Weigh-In (April 2019)
CertifiedCatServant (he/him) 2 years ago
Absolutely not missing the point. Bleps are equally as important
Load More Replies... Embrace the love and barks of your four-legged pals and lend a hand when they require it, for we are also their most loved human. Together, let's make a paw-sitive impact. Explore our earlier posts about dogs and celebrate happy, healthy hounds!
#25
Slow And Steady Wins The Race
Oskar vanZandt 2 years ago
Most of the Labradors I encounter in The UK are obese... like the majority of all dogs who aren't puppies, really.
#26
Squishy’s Eyes Have Lit Up Over The Years
#27
Lost A Little Bit Of Weight
Oskar vanZandt 2 years ago
From golden walrus to golden retriever... S/he looked so miserable and those legs too weak to lift that mass.
Cade Groon 2 years ago (edited)
Yeah it’s sad how bad overweight people/animals can get 🙁
Load More Replies... ThatHuskyStorm 2 years ago
This seems to be another one where it’s two different doggos. Look at the ears and nose
||~Strawbxrry~|| 2 years ago
what, there are two dog pics? i only see a golden walrus in the first one! (but seriously how is he that chonky? DOG ABUSE)
#28
Chloe Went From A Chonky 35 Lbs To A Fit 24 Lbs And Is Now An Agility Athlete
Oskar vanZandt 2 years ago
A lot of border collies do not get the mental and physical stimulation their breed thrives on...
junipurrrrr 2 years ago
It says she’s a miniature Austrian Shepherd but still really good point.
Load More Replies... junipurrrrr 2 years ago
“ Chloe is a 6 year old mini Aussie who has an appetite for life! I will share our story in case it helps anyone else. My husband and I were so ashamed that we let her get up to such a high weight. She was our first small dog (our first two were males over 100lbs with very small appetites/zero food motivation) and female so I think we went overboard with spoiling her. Our other three dogs have always been lean and at the perfect weight. We made some mistakes early on such as feeding her the same amount of treats as her much larger brothers (couldn’t resist her adorable begging) and not containing her during meal time so she would frequently steal her brothers’ food. She ballooned up to 35 lbs even though we walked her for 1.5-2 hours every day. We even had her thyroid and other blood work checked as we were concerned there may be an underlying health issue. Fortunately there was not. About 2 years ago we began to gradually reduced her meal portions and she lost-“ to be continued
junipurrrrr 2 years ago
“About 2 years ago we began to gradually reduced her meal portions and she lost around 3 pounds over the course of 1 year and a few months. However, we began to get very serious about her diet after moving to Florida last July. Under the care of our vet, beginning in August 2022 we further reduced her meal portions, cut way back on the treats, and kept her contained until all of the other dogs ate their food so she couldn’t steal! At first we kept the activity level the same, still walking around 2 hours per day but we now have a fenced in yard so she was getting a little more exercise chasing her brothers and sisters. By October she had lost a little more weight and we started training for agility! After that the weight just fell off and she lost 8 lbs over the course of 8 months. She is an absolute agility monster now and is so much happier and energetic! I can’t get over how much she loves to play and how fast she can run chasing-“ to be continued (again)
Load More Replies... #29
This Was Winston A Few Years Ago And Makes Me Cringe Everytime. So Glad We Are At A Much Healthier Weight Now
Duvet Woman 2 years ago
So pleased to see thinner corgis. Overweight corgis really suffer because of their body shape.
Rebecca Ferguson 2 years ago
Seen a few corgis like this and always feel sorry for them. He looks great now.
#30
My Weight Loss Journey. Started At 61.2 Pounds. The Highest I’ve Ever Been. I Think I’m Off To A Great Start
Oskar vanZandt 2 years ago
I can imagine being obese as a brachycephalic dog is even worse... struggling to breathe.
#31
Meet Lemmy Kilmister. We Welcomed This Chonker As A Foster. He Was Tipping The Scale At 47 Lbs. One Year After, He Got To A Much Healthier 30 Lbs… And A Foster Fail
#32
My Hooman Says I’m Not At My Goal Yet But I Made A Ton Of Progress In Less Than A Year! A Couple More Pounds To Go
#33
Look How Much Of A Good Boy I've Been Eating My Vegetables And Being More Active. Got A 'Lil Chubby And Now I'm Bouncing Around Like A Puppy Again. 6 Kg Lost
#34
Her Starting Weight Was 44.7 Lbs. She Is Currently Standing At 33 Lbs
FaceTime Audio 2 years ago
She looks like my dog! He might be bigger though, he is 37lbs (healthy weight for him).
#35
My Sister’s Corgi. From 40 Lbs To 22 Lbs
#36
Really Proud Of Our Dechonked Rescue Pupper Corina. 22 Weeks Later, 22 Lbs Lighter
sturmwesen 2 years ago
We have a cocker spaniel in the neighbourhood that has the same weight as the before picture. He is getting fatter and fatter and his humans seem todo nothing. but hey, I am sure their new puppy will be much better /s
#37
Maggie Has Lost 6 Lbs And Is Now At A Healthy And Happy Weight. We Think She Looks Amazing
Kel_how 2 years ago (edited)
Just a few lbs on these small dogs makes a huge difference! My sister's cats are a little chunky, but we've been able to transition their food and add in more active play. Even with arthritis, our fluffy boy is looking slimmer and is more active! The other two are really chill afterwards, as well.
#38
Then And Now. Glow Up One Year Later
#39
When We Got Buddy He Was 53 Lbs. Today He Is Just Around 32 Lbs
When you see your dog every day, things like weight loss are so much less noticeable until you look back at pictures of their starting point.
Sandra Gleeson 2 years ago
Our Aussie shepherds were both overweight, one has lost weight and is now at his healthy weight whilst the other has put on more weight. I walk and run the dogs every day, I always feel that the pets I love the most are the most overweight, Im overweight myself even though I exercise every single day and dont eat junk food, just talking about food and Ive put on at least a kilo, same as my remaining chonker, sigh
#41
10 Months Post-Adoption, And 55 Lbs Lighter
#42
Look At My Baby. Jasmine Has Been On A Long Journey Since 2020
Her weight was making it harder to get around comfortably. So I changed her food and gave her fewer treats etc. (Which I think was harder for me than her.) She’s been going on more little outings and roams a little further. And slowly but surely she got her spunk back.
Katrin Baumgart 2 years ago
why the f**k did you cripple her ears, idiot. go do that to yourself, thanks
#43
New Year, New Me
Macky here. In August the vet told my pawents that I was fat. They were embarrassed, but at least I was fat and happy (pic 1). That made my pawents put me on this miserable diet and exercise routine. I have lost 8 pounds so far (2 more to go) and I look/feel so much better (pic 2). I'm still miserable on my diet but I continue to love the extra playtime and walkies.
Tiny Dancer 2 years ago
Read the caption underneath the pic, Cade. She's not being noble, she's miserable, lol!
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#44
Piper Met Her Goal! From 100 Lbs To 50 Lbs In A Year
#45
127 Lbs To 108 Lbs. Progress Photo. I’m A Happy Mother! So Proud Of My Rescued Baby
#46
Adopted This Chubby Little Beagle Bulldog 2 Years Ago Today. Look At How His Weight Loss Has Improved
#47
Six Months Ago Today, Momma Brought Me Home
#48
He Has Lost 5 Kg In Four Months
#49
Almost To Goal Weight: 32 Kg (70.5 Lbs) To 25.5k G (56.2 Lbs) In 6 Months. That’s 6.5 Kg (14.3 Lbs) Total (Around 25% Of Her Current Body Weight)
#50
From 82 Pounds Down To 74! Still Got A Way To Go But Off To A Good Start
#51
My Little Man Is Down To Half A Chonk
#52
Ready To Show Off My Summer Body. Down 78 Lbs
I heart Boo-BI-es 2 years ago
I'm not sure if the dog now weighs 78lbs or it lost 78lbs but either way the doggos made incredible progress!
#53
We Overindulged Him So Much That He Got To 46 Pounds. Now, He Is 25 Pounds. Emmett Truly Is My Weight Loss Buddy
#54
This Is Grace, My Friend's Rescue. 43 Lbs To 31.4 Lbs
#55
Congratulate Sugar On Her Weight Loss Journey. She Is Ready For Hotdog Summer
#56
I Found This Photo Of Murphy From Last Year And Couldn’t Believe How Much Thinner He Looks
#57
A Riddler Throwback, And To Show Just How Far He Has Come
For a huge portion of his life so far, he was overweight due to an improper diet that was, at that time, out of our control. In the left picture, he couldn't walk a quarter mile without laying down and panting. In the right picture, he walked 4 miles that day and could've gone even further. His diet was completely changed, and he was no longer getting all the extras he had been given before. Weight control is extremely important for all dogs, but especially corgis.
#58
Work In Progress
#59
Transformation
When my Pawrents first adopted me I weighed close to 70 pounds and my belly dragged on the ground, I couldn’t do little things I enjoyed like rolling over for a scritch (I would get stuck on my back) I couldn’t make it up the stairs or go for walks or move hardly at all (I would mainly scoot around in circles to see what was going on around me) but thanks to a strict diet and what little exercise I will actually do, I weighed in at 31.4 pounds at the vet over the weekend, and my pawrents are so proud of me.
#60
April 2020 To April 2021. Large Marge's Weight Loss Journey To Help Ease Her Joint Pain And Heart Disease
#61
Before And After Weight Loss Transformation
#62
Pete Has Transformed Too. 50 Lbs In 2017 To 35 Lbs In 2019
#64
1 Year Progress Of Dechonking
#65
Same Wonton, Just Lots Of Exercise, An Improved Diet, And 12 Months Later
#66
6-Month Transformation And Now I'm Thriving
#67
Hi Everyone, Eva Here. I Just Wanted To Let You Know That I've Lost So Much Weight Since I First Came To My New Home And I Feel So Much Healthier
#68
Target Weight Achieved
Brian Droste 2 years ago
is it the lighting or does her coat looks a whole lot better in the 2nd picture. I think her coat does look a lot better in the 2nd picture.
Zoe Vokes 2 years ago
She’s been swimming in the first photo. Her chest looks wet and scruffy. In the second photo she is clean and dry and is looking windswept. Plus the lighting is better. Her coat might be better now but I think it’s too hard to tell.
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#69
10 Lbs Down With The Green Bean Diet
#70
Bristol Is 30 Lbs Now. She Has Lost 11 Lbs
#71
Only Had Him For Two Weeks And Can Already See A Difference In Weight! Slow And Steady Wins The Race
#72
Posting This To Show Off My Boy's Weight Loss. This Took About 15 Months And He Still Has More To Lose
I heart Boo-BI-es 2 years ago (edited)
Cute pup lost all this weight but somehow gained a tail?? Haha
Jacky Newman 2 years ago
I think it's an optical illusion? He was probably moving his tail, when the picture was taken. Also the pattern on his legs looks the same.
Load More Replies... Brian Droste 2 years ago
First picture, why are you taking my picture? Second picture. That's better, I am better looking now.
#73
Nacho Went From 10 Kg To 6.5 Kg! Not Fully Dechonked But Really Proud Of My Good Boy
#74
From Oh Lawd To Fine Boi In 12 Months! 36 Lbs To 24 Lbs
#76
It’s Been About 8 Months Since Juno Got Fat-Shamed At The Vet And She’s Finally In Great Shape
Before we realized she was overweight, she was sluggish, lying down on walks, and not very playful with other dogs. Now, she’s more playful, interactive, and has a bounce when she walks. She has improved stamina and enjoys walking again.
#77
Marshall (80-65 Lbs)
#78
Left: Before November 2019 (60 Lbs), Right: After December 2022 (40 Lbs)
Mozzarella has successfully kept off 20 lbs. Hard to believe that all this guy needed was portion control and a regular walking schedule. Just don't leave him unattended around food. Old habits die hard.
#79
Rescued Pitbull From Around 70 Lbs To 50 Lbs
We rescued this nine-year-old beauty from an elderly woman who couldn’t walk her and had allowed her to freely graze on a diet of cheese and fatty dog food.
She was suffering from arthritis, fatty tumors, and allergies, to the point where the vet was considering euthanasia.
After bringing her home, we put her on a strict diet. Exercise has been at her own pace, and her arthritis has been alleviated almost completely due to weight loss and joint supplements. She can even jump now.
#80
Chester Was On A Weight Loss Plan And With The Dedicated Help Of His Pet Parent Randy, He Was Able To Lose The Weight
Add New Image
What do you think ?
VioletHunter 2 years ago
Feeding your pet until it almost explodes should be illegal but the people responsible for this probably do the same to themselves.
Magazine 2 years ago (edited)
I can't seem to make my cat Schuldie to lose her weight. She ranks at the "Oh Lawd she coming" level of the chonk cat chart. Any advice?? Ps of course we manage her food and she doesn't go out of our garden so nobody else is feeding her
Dill 2 years ago
My dogs are definitely slimmer and healthier on a raw diet. The food isn't packed out with grain or fillers. I'm not experienced with current cat diets (had cats growing up) but that might be worth investigating if they're not on something like that already. It can be a tad easier with dogs as you can sometimes just up the length of walks or play more games... Though what about physical play? Some cats like it, some don't. My mother's cat loved playing chase with things.
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~MushroomFrog~ 2 years ago
I had to quit halfway through. It made me sad but happy too. More sad tho.
Parmeisan 2 years ago
My dog's journey was the other way around, but still worth sharing. She was found starving on the streets, literally starving, it was painful to see how thin she was even after a month at the shelter. The vet helped us know which foods and how much to give her to help her gain weight at a healthy rate. (Mostly, the secret was giving her puppy food!) It's so gratifying to see her now looking like the after photos in this thread and so happy.
Chris Jones 2 years ago
One of the most rewarding things I've done in my life is taking in rescue dogs and watching them grow - physically or mentally - into the dogs they should always have been. I sit here typing with both my dogs huddled up against me. One is scared of people, the other scared of dogs (both have been attacked by dogs with stupid owners). One has scars from his paws being wired together and yet is so loving even though that was done to him by some awful humans. Such trusting souls. I'm so glad you've been able to help your lovely dog. Oh, just in case it's of interest, I've found raw diets to be particularly good for them both. Stable weight and improved allergy issues. No idea where you are but in the UK we have this useful website: https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/ 😃
Load More Replies...
Bruce Horton 2 years ago
I had the fortunate experience of helping an abandoned golden retriever GAIN weight. She came in at a gaunt, sick 34lbs (16kg). I was thrilled to help her gain 10lbs (4.5kg) in about 8 weeks. She continued on the path to full recovery with her adopter.
Chris Jones 2 years ago
Lovely to read about this and Parmeisan's experience... rescue dogs are wonderfully rewarding.
Load More Replies... sturmwesen 2 years ago (edited)
Lou was getting a bit (really only a little bit) chunky. The vet recommended diet food and running hills + playing fetch. Well I am not atlethic and I don't want to encourage prey/hunting drive. The solution for us was laying targets in some distance and let him run from target to target to get his metabolism up since walking distances was not enough. Additional advice: don't starve with low portions but use balanced diet food. It seems to work so far as he gets complimented by his regular cuddlers. I am so happy we caught on before he was really overweight.
GoodWolf 2 years ago
You can still play fetch and even use it to get better control with the hunting drive. Establish the command "stay", put doggie on a long leash, step on said leash, tell puppy to stay and throw the ball. Get the dog to look at you before you release it with an "okay". Puppy will learn to look at you before charging 😉
Load More Replies... KrazyChiMama 2 years ago
Just 1-2 extra pounds on a dog is like 10-20 pounds on a human. The smaller breeds like that poor chihuahua it's even worse. I've raised more healthy chihuahuas than most people (I also rescue and rehabilitate) and many will develop weight problems once they're sterilized (neutered/spayed) as the hormones fade. They only need about 30 good minutes of exercise to maintain a healthy body weight. It doesn't even have to be a walk either mine love to play in the fenced back yard.
VioletHunter 2 years ago
Feeding your pet until it almost explodes should be illegal but the people responsible for this probably do the same to themselves.
Magazine 2 years ago (edited)
I can't seem to make my cat Schuldie to lose her weight. She ranks at the "Oh Lawd she coming" level of the chonk cat chart. Any advice?? Ps of course we manage her food and she doesn't go out of our garden so nobody else is feeding her
Dill 2 years ago
My dogs are definitely slimmer and healthier on a raw diet. The food isn't packed out with grain or fillers. I'm not experienced with current cat diets (had cats growing up) but that might be worth investigating if they're not on something like that already. It can be a tad easier with dogs as you can sometimes just up the length of walks or play more games... Though what about physical play? Some cats like it, some don't. My mother's cat loved playing chase with things.
Load More Replies... ~MushroomFrog~ 2 years ago
I had to quit halfway through. It made me sad but happy too. More sad tho.
Parmeisan 2 years ago
My dog's journey was the other way around, but still worth sharing. She was found starving on the streets, literally starving, it was painful to see how thin she was even after a month at the shelter. The vet helped us know which foods and how much to give her to help her gain weight at a healthy rate. (Mostly, the secret was giving her puppy food!) It's so gratifying to see her now looking like the after photos in this thread and so happy.
Chris Jones 2 years ago
One of the most rewarding things I've done in my life is taking in rescue dogs and watching them grow - physically or mentally - into the dogs they should always have been. I sit here typing with both my dogs huddled up against me. One is scared of people, the other scared of dogs (both have been attacked by dogs with stupid owners). One has scars from his paws being wired together and yet is so loving even though that was done to him by some awful humans. Such trusting souls. I'm so glad you've been able to help your lovely dog. Oh, just in case it's of interest, I've found raw diets to be particularly good for them both. Stable weight and improved allergy issues. No idea where you are but in the UK we have this useful website: https://www.allaboutdogfood.co.uk/ 😃
Load More Replies... Bruce Horton 2 years ago
I had the fortunate experience of helping an abandoned golden retriever GAIN weight. She came in at a gaunt, sick 34lbs (16kg). I was thrilled to help her gain 10lbs (4.5kg) in about 8 weeks. She continued on the path to full recovery with her adopter.
Chris Jones 2 years ago
Lovely to read about this and Parmeisan's experience... rescue dogs are wonderfully rewarding.
Load More Replies... sturmwesen 2 years ago (edited)
Lou was getting a bit (really only a little bit) chunky. The vet recommended diet food and running hills + playing fetch. Well I am not atlethic and I don't want to encourage prey/hunting drive. The solution for us was laying targets in some distance and let him run from target to target to get his metabolism up since walking distances was not enough. Additional advice: don't starve with low portions but use balanced diet food. It seems to work so far as he gets complimented by his regular cuddlers. I am so happy we caught on before he was really overweight.
GoodWolf 2 years ago
You can still play fetch and even use it to get better control with the hunting drive. Establish the command "stay", put doggie on a long leash, step on said leash, tell puppy to stay and throw the ball. Get the dog to look at you before you release it with an "okay". Puppy will learn to look at you before charging 😉
Load More Replies... KrazyChiMama 2 years ago
Just 1-2 extra pounds on a dog is like 10-20 pounds on a human. The smaller breeds like that poor chihuahua it's even worse. I've raised more healthy chihuahuas than most people (I also rescue and rehabilitate) and many will develop weight problems once they're sterilized (neutered/spayed) as the hormones fade. They only need about 30 good minutes of exercise to maintain a healthy body weight. It doesn't even have to be a walk either mine love to play in the fenced back yard.
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