Now what do we do????

[Sandysbabies]

I just didn't realize. I have a wonderful vet but I just thought she is bound to have missed it on this. She was probably right all along. Yes, I do free feed. We split a can of Welliness or Evo in the morning 4 ways, which is not alot. Split another can at night again 4 ways and leave Innovia small bites out all the time. Does that sound like too much. I have a 2yr. old schnauzer from show lines, that makes me sick how much weight she has gained. She weighs 30lbs and is suppose to weigh 13 or 14lbs. She doesn't get enough exercise and neither does Kayla because like I said right now I can't do anything with them. What we feed just doesn't sound like that much though, do you think?

[lillymae]

Originally Posted by Sandysbabies

I just didn't realize. I have a wonderful vet but I just thought she is bound to have missed it on this. She was probably right all along. Yes, I do free feed. We split a can of Welliness or Evo in the morning 4 ways, which is not alot. Split another can at night again 4 ways and leave Innovia small bites out all the time. Does that sound like too much. I have a 2yr. old schnauzer from show lines, that makes me sick how much weight she has gained. She weighs 30lbs and is suppose to weigh 13 or 14lbs. She doesn't get enough exercise and neither does Kayla because like I said right now I can't do anything with them. What we feed just doesn't sound like that much though, do you think?

Lol, Yep that's way too much food. But don't feel bad as you are not alone in the over feeding of your babies. I know it doesn't seem like too much but you have to remember that these are yorkies not labs. Let me say this, I have a wolfhound mix who weighs between 68 & 70 lbs & he gets approx 1 & 3/4 cups total a day food + about 5 small milk bones a day & he is at his perfect weight so does that give you a better pic of how much to much your yorkies are getting a day ?

[Sandysbabies]

My gosh, sounds like I'm killing them with food. But, the 2 schnauzers are going to have to eat more than the 2 yorkies. Spliting that can of food 4 ways is really about alittle more than 1tbs. It just doesn't look like very much. lol!!!! Oh, and I forgot they also have snacks. Usually carrots, which they love. I guess I could put Lexi and Kayla on the treadmill and she would hyperventalate. Ohhhhhh, the joy. Thanks so much for your help. I'm going to try.

[lillymae]

I know that free feeding seems like a good & easy thing to do but unfortunately it doesn't work for most dogs & is one of the biggest causes of weight problems in pets. So I would start by picking up that food so you can keep track of their food intake. Second when you feed make sure to measure out how much each one gets per meal so you can adjust it if they are not loosing enough or if they are loosing too much.

[lillymae]

Originally Posted by Sandysbabies

My gosh, sounds like I'm killing them with food. But, the 2 schnauzers are going to have to eat more than the 2 yorkies. Spliting that can of food 4 ways is really about alittle more than 1tbs. It just doesn't look like very much. lol!!!! Oh, and I forgot they also have snacks. Usually carrots, which they love. I guess I could put Lexi and Kayla on the treadmill and she would hyperventalate. Ohhhhhh, the joy. Thanks so much for your help. I'm going to try.

Well, I wouldn't say killing them just Over Loving them Lol. Actually the 2 yorkies should only be getting a bit over a tablespoon of canned per meal & the others a bit more then that. You can give 20 or 30 peaces of the dry with the canned each meal & 30 to 40 to the others. You'll just have to play around with it till you see it working but be careful not to make them loose too much too fast or you can cause organ damage. Seeing as I can't actually see your babies & their condition , it would be best to speak with your vet about how much to feed each dog. I have 5 dogs & they each take a diff amt , I do feed 3 X a day as I have 2 with acid stomach so I have to keep on top of it or they over produce acid & then vomit.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Sandysbabies

But could 2 or 3lbs. make that much of a difference? I could see if it were about 10lbs. or so but she looks more stocky than fat. She feels as solid as a brick wall.

2-3 pounds on a 9 pound dog can make a world of difference. The extra weight is, without question, adding to her breathing problems. Google collapsed trachea and you will find that being overweight is one of the contributing factors.

Three pounds is 33.3% of a dog weighing 9 pounds. That is significant. You should be able to feel ribs easily. If not, your girl is overweight.

The foods you are feeding, EVO and Innova and Wellness canned are all very rich, and very high in fat and calories. Do the cans say "complete and balanced diet"? Will your dogs eat kibble? I would recommend a kibble lower in fat and calories. Wellness Core makes a reduced calorie food.

Originally Posted by Sandysbabies

Yes, the vet has heard her because like I said all you have to do is go out the front door and she starts. The vet said she needed to lose some weight. She is 9lbs. and she said about 2 or 3lbs. But, I don't think that is the answer. Thanks for all your good advice. I do try to baby her and then we have tried to just ignore hard. (hard to do) She has the run of the house of course with Lexi, Tina and Dudley. She is the only one that acts like that. When we got home from the vets the other day most of the time they want to tee tee in the front yard before they go in. Not Kayla. No ma'mn. She headed for that door and wanted in the house as fast as she could get there. I have never seen one act like that. Most of them love to go bye bye in the car. I would try to get her out alittle each day but I had some bad things happen after a double knee replacement and I still can't drive. Can't walk without a walker as far as that goes. Sooooo, I'm kinda limited as to what I can do with her.

With your knee, you do have a challenge exercising the dogs. Do the dogs have an outdoor area to run? You could try running them and playing fetch at least a couple of times a day. Anyone else in the house that could help?

Originally Posted by Sandysbabies

Yes, she does have a car seat but she is not about to use it. She does well just to sit in my lap. I have been afraid of it being CT. I may just have to take her back to the vet and tell her, look this is more than just her needing to lose weight. Pray for her because she is our baby and if anything would happen to her it would kill us both. My dh is so attached to her. She is his little muchkin, and my baby girl.

You know that sitting in your lap in the car is very dangerous. Airbags and accidents killed at least 2 Yorkies here over the holidays.