Why are my puppies obese is it the sweet potatos - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Nikis2 · 01-30-2010, 06:24 PM

True story I had a litter of puppies and when they reached 4 weeks and started to walk I noticed a few were really having a hard time getting up on their legs. They look like fat ticks! As time went on they started to slid there butts around on the floor not using their back legs at all. I started getting so worried I made a track to keep their back legs in so they could not slid out to strenghten their legs. Puppy therapy! By six weeks off to the vet we went. My vet took one look at the puppies and bust out laughing. He told me to take them back home and attempt to put them on a diet. Sooooo I have noticed that since I started feeding my dogs sweet potoats every day in their dinner the babies are totally obese. My customers come over and look at them and say "they are awefully big aren't they" I have to explain to them that they are just fat and will not be huge adults lol! Once they go to their forever homes and they start feeding them they grow taller but really aren't gaining a lot more weight for the most part.

red98vett · 01-31-2010, 06:37 AM

Are those the little fat ticks in your avatar ?

that made me laugh but in all honesty - It does sound like a puppy diet is in order... I'd love to see photos of the little chubbos....

I know people think chubby puppies are so cute but hopefully you can get that weight under control - not using their legs can't be good...I've not heard of that. Is the vet sure it's due to the extra weight ? (I hope so !)

all the best !

JeanieK · 01-31-2010, 06:45 AM

I'vem never heard of feeding them sweet potatoes.

Hopefully you can get them slimmed down with plenty of exercise and the proper food.

JeanieK · 01-31-2010, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red98vett

Are those the little fat ticks in your avatar ?

that made me laugh but in all honesty - It does sound like a puppy diet is in order... I'd love to see photos of the little chubbos....

I know people think chubby puppies are so cute but hopefully you can get that weight under control - not using their legs can't be good...I've not heard of that. Is the vet sure it's due to the extra weight ? (I hope so !)

all the best !

Yes hopefully it is not "swimmer puppy syndrome"

red98vett · 01-31-2010, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeanieK

Yes hopefully it is not "swimmer puppy syndrome"

That's what I was thinking of when I posted - thank you !!!

I couldn't remember the term (and am not a breeder) ....but used to read everything I could when I entertained the thought of breeding... it was years ago but certain things stand out in your mind - that was one of them because I was a diver/swimmer for years

dwerten · 01-31-2010, 07:39 AM

i had to google that and found this wow never heard of this

http://www.bulldoginformation.com/Swimming_puppy.html

red98vett · 01-31-2010, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwerten

i had to google that and found this wow never heard of this

The Swimming Puppy Syndrome

ya....from what I recall - it's uncommon but does happen .... So hopefully these little guys are just fat. I didn't want to scare her but the vet needs to take it seriously if they don't start standing on their own.....especially since they're 4 weeks old

dwerten · 01-31-2010, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red98vett

ya....from what I recall - it's uncommon but does happen .... So hopefully these little guys are just fat. I didn't want to scare her but the vet needs to take it seriously if they don't start standing on their own.....especially since they're 4 weeks old

i agree

wow i learn something new every day

YorkieRose · 01-31-2010, 09:03 AM

You have nothing to worry about..puppies need to be fat...once they are running non-stop and playing the weigh drops off. Fed them a good diet..no need for sweet potatoes IMO...let them play and by 12 weeks they will be what they should be...I hate to see thin pups..I used to know a breeders who restrict food so the pups would weigh less and they can advertize they have 8 or 10 oz pups...

red98vett · 01-31-2010, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

You have nothing to worry about..puppies need to be fat...once they are running non-stop and playing the weigh drops off. Fed them a good diet..no need for sweet potatoes IMO...let them play and by 12 weeks they will be what they should be...I hate to see thin pups..I used to know a breeders who restrict food so the pups would weigh less and they can advertize they have 8 or 10 oz pups...

It's pretty sickening for a breeder to do that . I think Pet Stores have been accused of doing that with small breeds (at least I read that somewhere) and (another reason to not like them) .....but for a breeder - that's just plain wrong.

We all love chubby little puppies and you're right - no puppy should be thin

I do have a question though - You're a long time breeder....how does one tell if a puppy is obese vs just a normal chubby puppy ? - have you ever seen puppies that couldn't stand at 4 weeks because they're too fat ? I'm curious.

and ps - Hi Pat !!!

Woogie Man · 01-31-2010, 09:33 AM

One way I tell if they're too fat is if they have trouble rolling back over when they lie on their back.

red98vett · 01-31-2010, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woogie Man

One way I tell if they're too fat is if they have trouble rolling back over when they lie on their back.

that makes sense

Nikis2 - how old are your puppies now ? I noticed you said you have customers seeing them

so maybe they're ok and walking ?

Mardelin · 01-31-2010, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YorkieRose

You have nothing to worry about..puppies need to be fat...once they are running non-stop and playing the weigh drops off. Fed them a good diet..no need for sweet potatoes IMO...let them play and by 12 weeks they will be what they should be...I hate to see thin pups..I used to know a breeders who restrict food so the pups would weigh less and they can advertize they have 8 or 10 oz pups...

Totally agree Pat.

All my babies are fat, I love seeing wrinkles where they shouldn't be. I get worried when they aren't, I never restrict their food through the puppy stages.

Swimmers legs are not that common, and there is various excercise methods to assist to help them develop their leg strength.....

Cares4Dogs · 01-31-2010, 10:21 AM

HAHAHAHA this is too funny! I hope its not pectus excavatum, but think it would be really unusual for a whole litter to have it.

Reminds me of my first born son. I was only 18 when i had him and lived very far from family and friends....fed him around the clock...I thought thats what i was supposed to be doing, but he didnt sit up like a normal baby until he was almost a year old because he was too fat...he always needed to use his arms to hold himself up. Not only that, but he couldnt get up on his knees to crawl either. LOL i laugh about it now, but it wasnt funny then. I had no idea that his weight would delay his mile stones. When I got him a walker and cut back on the food, he was finally able to catch up.

YorkieRose · 01-31-2010, 10:46 AM

Baby animals need to be fat..ever seen seal pups..they can barely move...but the weight drops off so fast once they weaned...they need extra fat to see them through weaning...

I have had singletons who could not roll over..time passes so fast, and you can roll them over and exercise their legs for a week or two...even if you do not, believe me it will not harm them. Laying on their backs with legs kicking is a strong exercise...
I had a single girl once who was a full 16 oz at 2 week...she grew up to be 3 pounds as an adult...at a week she filled both my hands..LOL We thought she was a Rottie...

01-30-2010, 06:24 PM	#1
Nikis2 Currently Suspended! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Berlin MD US Posts: 381	Why are my puppies obese is it the sweet potatos True story I had a litter of puppies and when they reached 4 weeks and started to walk I noticed a few were really having a hard time getting up on their legs. They look like fat ticks! As time went on they started to slid there butts around on the floor not using their back legs at all. I started getting so worried I made a track to keep their back legs in so they could not slid out to strenghten their legs. Puppy therapy! By six weeks off to the vet we went. My vet took one look at the puppies and bust out laughing. He told me to take them back home and attempt to put them on a diet. Sooooo I have noticed that since I started feeding my dogs sweet potoats every day in their dinner the babies are totally obese. My customers come over and look at them and say "they are awefully big aren't they" I have to explain to them that they are just fat and will not be huge adults lol! Once they go to their forever homes and they start feeding them they grow taller but really aren't gaining a lot more weight for the most part.

01-31-2010, 06:37 AM	#2
red98vett Yorkie Kisses are the Best! Donating Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Houston TX Posts: 33,590 Blog Entries: 1	Are those the little fat ticks in your avatar ? that made me laugh but in all honesty - It does sound like a puppy diet is in order... I'd love to see photos of the little chubbos.... I know people think chubby puppies are so cute but hopefully you can get that weight under control - not using their legs can't be good...I've not heard of that. Is the vet sure it's due to the extra weight ? (I hope so !) all the best ! __________________ Villette, Chanel & Cheri www.DesignsByVillette.net Custom Address Labels and Note Cards using YOUR Photos! Just Click HERE!

01-31-2010, 09:33 AM	#11
Woogie Man Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,564	One way I tell if they're too fat is if they have trouble rolling back over when they lie on their back. __________________ ORANGUTANS ARE DYING FOR THE SAKE OF CHEAP PALM OIL....AND YOU USE IT!!! http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/ani...m-oil-you.html

01-31-2010, 06:45 AM	#3
JeanieK Donating YT 12K Club Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Council Bluffs Iowa Posts: 12,552	I'vem never heard of feeding them sweet potatoes. Hopefully you can get them slimmed down with plenty of exercise and the proper food.

01-31-2010, 07:39 AM	#6
dwerten BANNED! Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA Posts: 11,073	i had to google that and found this wow never heard of this http://www.bulldoginformation.com/Swimming_puppy.html

01-31-2010, 09:03 AM	#9
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	You have nothing to worry about..puppies need to be fat...once they are running non-stop and playing the weigh drops off. Fed them a good diet..no need for sweet potatoes IMO...let them play and by 12 weeks they will be what they should be...I hate to see thin pups..I used to know a breeders who restrict food so the pups would weigh less and they can advertize they have 8 or 10 oz pups...

01-31-2010, 10:21 AM	#14
Cares4Dogs Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: USA Posts: 975	HAHAHAHA this is too funny! I hope its not pectus excavatum, but think it would be really unusual for a whole litter to have it. Reminds me of my first born son. I was only 18 when i had him and lived very far from family and friends....fed him around the clock...I thought thats what i was supposed to be doing, but he didnt sit up like a normal baby until he was almost a year old because he was too fat...he always needed to use his arms to hold himself up. Not only that, but he couldnt get up on his knees to crawl either. LOL i laugh about it now, but it wasnt funny then. I had no idea that his weight would delay his mile stones. When I got him a walker and cut back on the food, he was finally able to catch up.

01-31-2010, 10:46 AM	#15
YorkieRose No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 8,577	Baby animals need to be fat..ever seen seal pups..they can barely move...but the weight drops off so fast once they weaned...they need extra fat to see them through weaning... I have had singletons who could not roll over..time passes so fast, and you can roll them over and exercise their legs for a week or two...even if you do not, believe me it will not harm them. Laying on their backs with legs kicking is a strong exercise... I had a single girl once who was a full 16 oz at 2 week...she grew up to be 3 pounds as an adult...at a week she filled both my hands..LOL We thought she was a Rottie...