YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post

tokipoki · 08-14-2012, 06:09 AM

I am in a similar situation as you are. Toki is 9.4 pounds at 11 months old and we are slowly helping her to lose weight (as recommended by our vet). She is not overweight but due to hip/knee issues, the vet wants her as lean as possible. Toki gets 1/2 cup of Fromm's grain-free kibble each day along with a joint supplement (Dasuquin)...we have also restricted her treats and take her on a couple of walks a day (nothing strenuous but a good 15-20 minutes a couple times a day, more if the weather is nice and Toki is feeling up to it).

I would recommend getting a higher quality food to start off and you're going to have to deal with your picky eater (there are several helpful threads on how to do this). It's so tempting to give in when your dog is not eating but some tough love is in order here. It is so important to have good nutrition and a regular feeding schedule in general but especially when you're dealing with a specific health issue.

I think it's a bad idea to put a pup on a "diet" food, especially one that is still growing and has joint issues. I would feed less of a high quality, grain-free food and feed the amount recommended for your goal weight. So if your pup is 9.5 pounds, I'd feed the amount recommended for a 8.5 or 9 pound pup, maybe even a little less since it sounds like your pup isn't getting a lot or a "typical" amount of exercise. Over time you can gradually decrease the food/increase the exercise until your pup reaches his ideal weight. This needs to be done safely and gradually and you'll probably want to consult with your vet in terms of a healthy weight loss plan for your pup.

08-14-2012, 06:09 AM	#5
tokipoki Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Garner, NC Posts: 1,485	I am in a similar situation as you are. Toki is 9.4 pounds at 11 months old and we are slowly helping her to lose weight (as recommended by our vet). She is not overweight but due to hip/knee issues, the vet wants her as lean as possible. Toki gets 1/2 cup of Fromm's grain-free kibble each day along with a joint supplement (Dasuquin)...we have also restricted her treats and take her on a couple of walks a day (nothing strenuous but a good 15-20 minutes a couple times a day, more if the weather is nice and Toki is feeling up to it). I would recommend getting a higher quality food to start off and you're going to have to deal with your picky eater (there are several helpful threads on how to do this). It's so tempting to give in when your dog is not eating but some tough love is in order here. It is so important to have good nutrition and a regular feeding schedule in general but especially when you're dealing with a specific health issue. I think it's a bad idea to put a pup on a "diet" food, especially one that is still growing and has joint issues. I would feed less of a high quality, grain-free food and feed the amount recommended for your goal weight. So if your pup is 9.5 pounds, I'd feed the amount recommended for a 8.5 or 9 pound pup, maybe even a little less since it sounds like your pup isn't getting a lot or a "typical" amount of exercise. Over time you can gradually decrease the food/increase the exercise until your pup reaches his ideal weight. This needs to be done safely and gradually and you'll probably want to consult with your vet in terms of a healthy weight loss plan for your pup.