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06-18-2008, 09:43 AM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio
Posts: 153
| Need advice on how to approach this topic (heavy yorkie) Hi guys, I'm looking for advice. My sister and I got pups from the same litter about this time last year. My dog is Violet and is about 4 lbs. Her dog Francie, is roughly the same petite stature (she does have a slightly wider stance), but is really heavy. My guess is she is 8lbs at least. She'll eat all day long and they also have another free feed yorkie in the house. She lives out of town and when I saw her last week, I just could not believe how heavy Francie looked! I want to tell my sister that there are health dangers if Francie is carrying around too much weight, but I want to have REAL reasons to give her, not just because she is "fat". Like can't their knees go bad if they are putting too much weight on those tiny legs? Aren't there other health concerns also? She does take her to the vet (banfield) but she has not been there in quite a while. My guess is the vet would tell her to put her on a diet, but I don't know. For anyone who has had to regulate feedings, how should I tell her she should do this? Like feed her 1/2 cup twice a day, or something like that? I know she loves her dog SO much and takes excellent care of her, but I don't want to hurt her feelings or think I am being critical of her. ANY advice would be SO appeciated! Thank you! Cheryl
__________________ ~Cheryl : Mom to Violet ~and~ Theo |
Welcome Guest! | |
06-18-2008, 09:58 AM | #2 |
Luvs Lulu Donating Member | There are definitely health problems that can occur if the dog is over weight. Yorkies are notorious for knee problems and that is a big selling point you can give to her for losing some weight. Maybe also tell her once they are out of the puppy stage that scheduled feeding is better than free feeding.
__________________ Lulu will always be in my heart |
06-18-2008, 10:21 AM | #3 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: tourond
Posts: 1
| i would tell your sister to take her little one to the vet and yes for sure QUIT the free feeding. i know if i were to leave food standing out my little man would eat all day long. maybe even swiching the food to a less fatty one but still keep her on puppy food because it does have more nutrients. and a big thing is not only taking her for long walks but letting her run around the yard to get more excersise in. hope all works out Madeline |
06-18-2008, 10:39 AM | #4 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Myrtle Beach,SC
Posts: 697
| Not all Puppie's are the Same Size First of all just b/c you and your Sister got puppie's from the same Litter, does not mean all of the Puppies will be the same size. Yes, there are alot of Health Problems being over weight and she should not be "Free" feeding a puppy. A Dog will eat until there is no more food and will eat regardless if it's hungry or not. I have scheduled feedings for my 3 Yorkie's. You should control every aspect of your Dogs life, that also includes "Feeding" it's Food and controlling the amount of Treats and Table Food (A definete NO NO!) Exercise is very Important as well, even though Yorkie's are small they still have to be walked at least twice a day, it helps keep them balanced along with keeping them Healthy/weight management. My last Litter I had 3, 1 male and he is 7 lbs. 1 female was 5 lbs. and I kept the runt. Tiffany Aloha is 4 1/2 lbs. and they are almost 2 yrs, old Not all puppie's from the same Litter will grow at the same rate or have the exact genes. You pretty much can't say anything without her getting offended or taking it the wrong way? I have the same problem with my Sister that has 2 Yorkie's too! I could tell her anything but she can't handle any criticism about her Dogs w/c are like her Children. You should tell your Sister to join YorkieTalk and maybe she will learn on her own? Good Luck |
06-18-2008, 10:48 AM | #5 | |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ohio
Posts: 153
| Quote:
Thank you for your note (and everyone else's too!)..... It is also causing me to re-think the way I feed Violet, because I keep a bowl of food down for her at all times. I didn't know that I shouldn't be doing that. She never seems to care enough about food to make it matter (never empties the bowl even!) ~Cheryl
__________________ ~Cheryl : Mom to Violet ~and~ Theo | |
06-18-2008, 11:27 AM | #6 |
Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas
Posts: 21,173
| A very overweight pet will eventually develop congestive heart failure at a too young age. But other problems with the bones and joints, as well as the risk of diabetes, are problems that can lead to a premature death.
__________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel |
06-18-2008, 11:35 AM | #7 | |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 477
| Quote:
Last edited by Epsilon; 06-18-2008 at 11:36 AM. | |
06-18-2008, 11:40 AM | #8 | |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member | Quote:
__________________ Purchasing from backyard breeders, pet shops, and puppymills perpetuates the suffering of other dogs. | |
06-18-2008, 11:49 AM | #9 |
Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Florida
Posts: 496
| not all dogs are the same I strongly disagree with the poster that stated you can not free feed as a dog will eat till its all gone-- This is just not true of all dogs - i have raised dogs for just short of 50 years now and most do not overeat - yes once in a while you get a greedy one but i can count on one hand all that i had like that - Young dogs especially and puppies need to be able to access food when their bodies need it - I have at the present time a total of 12 Yorkies ( not counting puppies ) ranging in age from 9 mo to 13 years and i free feed all of them . None are overweight. Now to get on to other subject that started this thread - it may be what she is feeding - too many treats or people food will definitely make a dog fat. and i agree that all puppies from a litter will not weigh or even look identical as adults.
__________________ Helen & Furkids HAVE YOU HUGGED YOUR YORKIE (or any dog)TODAY |
06-18-2008, 12:05 PM | #10 | |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hanford, CA
Posts: 4,895
| Quote:
If you could suggest to your sister to take her dog to the vet because your worried about the dog's health. Generalise the talk and do not point the finger at her .Just talk to her likt a sister, and be understanding. The vet could put the dog on a healthier diet plan , and suggest to her to take the dog out for walks a few times a day. You could go over and ask your sister to go out for a walk with the dogs too . Dog's will suffer heart problems, joint and hip problems, diabiets, AND it will shorten a dogs life span being severely overweight.
__________________ "No matter how little money & how few possessions, you own, having a dog makes you rich." | |
06-18-2008, 02:12 PM | #11 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Earlysville
Posts: 976
| She might be giving the dog too many treats and human leftovers. We did that with our first yorkie and he was a too portly. I didn't know better, I thought it made him so happy to have a treat. He died at 13, which is too young for a yorkie. |
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