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Would you tell someone you thought their dog was overweight? A couple came in with their dog. The couple were young and in shape. I thought the dog was overweight, if not obese by the first look at her. Then they mentioned "she used to be really overweight" but lost about 3 lbs after she got sick. I asked how much she weighed now, they said about 9 lbs, but really I think she was more like 12. She was a small dog, mixed breed, should have been around 7 lbs tops, she was actually shorter than Uni (length wise, not tall wise, everyone is shorter than Uni tall wise LOL) I didn't say anything, but I just wondered if any of you have said anything. Keeping in mind the health of this baby. She really was pretty overweight. No waist at all, in fact she had a beer belly, bulging out. But I don't want to be a know it all, unless they asked my opinion, like Oh her hair is so soft, what do you do/feed/etc? then that gives me the ok to start telling them all I know. :p |
I would probably say "wow...where does she fall on the charts?" or something to make them think without saying they have a fat a$$ dog :D:D:D |
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Hmm... I think it would depend. I've seen some FAT dogs and never said anything to the owners yet. But sometimes I think I should. Or sometimes owners will laugh about it "oh she never stops eating...." and I wonder how they let a dog get THAT fat. Argh, I don't know. It's frustrating. |
I see it all the time but I don't say anything about it. I bet their vet has already told them and they just don't do anything. I really don't understand why people let their pets get fat. Dogs and cats don't usually whine for extra food, they just eat what they're given, so it's easy to put them on a diet. My older dog is slightly overweight and I've been trying to make her lose a little weight, but it's difficult to judge how much to feed her when losing a few ounces is a big deal for such a small dog. I almost have to count kibbles to reduce her food by the right amount. I think it would be easier for a larger dog, though. |
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Priscilla, just tell them what you told me. "He has no waist!" |
Since they mentioned the dog being overweight it's obvious they already know to say something to them would serve what purpose? |
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some dogs do over eat and then look for more. I have a dog that I think is overweight. I have talked to the vet and he said he was fine, just a big boy. Poor Bailey.. he just loves to eat.. was that way from day one. We kid around and call him tank and such, but I would be upset if someone made the statement he was fat. It would be really bad if it was a stranger. It would be the same if you had fat children, unless you have some medical connection it would cause problem telling someone their child is fat. Thin ice... |
I don't think I'd tell a stranger, but family or a friend, probably so. My mom had a dalmation that was massive....I felt so sorry for him but guess I wasn't old enough to chime in. He lived to be about 12, but seriously he was like an ottoman. I would want someone to tell me though, if it was done respectfully, if Princess was overweight. A little chunky I don't mind, but when she loses her girlish physique I'd say that's a little excessive. |
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but the thing that bothered me was they said "she used to be really overweight" but in my opinion she still IS really overweight. She was like a meatloaf or a roast, really rotund. She really couldn't keep up with Uni running around, and after a few minutes was already panting hard and drinking lots of water. I thought she was a senior at first, she's only 5. :( (Uni's no puppy, she's 4 already, far from senior I know, but only about a year younger.) |
No, I would not tell someone their dog is fat, or their kid is fat, or that they are fat. I just don't think it's right to say that to someone, especially a stranger. Believe me they DO already know, and telling them won't help the situation. Fat is just a very touch, personal thing to talk about. |
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I personally wouldn't say anything, unless the person was asking and needing advice and mentioned it to me. Someone I knew, maybe...but unsolicited advice never turns out well in my opinion. Weight issues are a very touchy subject and some people will get very upset, and take comments the wrong way, no matter how well meaning the person making the comments is trying to be. Saying something like, "yeah my pup had that issue, or my parents dog had that issue, and we tried this..." would be something that you might be able to get away with without offending, but otherwise I would leave it be. |
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Ok, if I sound defensive, it's cause Meika has put on a few pounds, and I see it, but I sure hope nobody else feels a need to tell me. I already feel bad enough, and have to help her take it off.:( She must be eating the food Tiki turns up her nose at, cause Tiki is too thin, and well Meika is *not*:) |
Nope- I see overweight dogs all the time and I will not say anything- it is the vets job, not mine. I try to stay out of other people's business- I don't give unsolicited advice on food, vet care, etc. It is frustrating to bite my tongue but I do it. The only person I will tell is my parents- I know it is difficult sometimes when you see a dog every day to notice if they gained a small amount, so if I think one of their dogs is gaining weight, I will tell them- they will also tell me if they think mine are gaining or losing weight. |
IMO you have to be very careful with this. To me its like telling someone they have a fat kid..I guess if you go about it in the proper way, like telling them health risks,etc. it would be ok..Heck, I dont know..lol... |
My friend has a St Bernard and her brother is going to kill this dog by the things he feeds her. He gives her pancakes with butter and syrup, white castle hamburgers, and not a couple but he will give her like nine or twelve at a time. When they go to Kentucky Fried Chicken he gives her about 10 biscuits. Everybody has told them they are killing this dog, but they only laugh. Now the dog is 6 years old and having problems with her legs already. Now they have a shih tzu and they're doing the same thing with the little dog. The dogs wont eat dog food and it's not like they are giving them healty people food, they're giving them junk. She is my friend but I think she is a real jerk. I hate to go over there because every time I do, I get into an argument with her. I have to admit though I have given our dogs table scraps but very seldom and it's mostly chicken turkey or chopped meat. This is why when we have dinner the dogs are locked in their pens because I can't stand looking at their sad faces and I know I'll give into them. Why are people so stupid???????????? |
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This just happened to me yesterday. My friend was dog sitting and the dog was obviously overweight. It was a large dog, but I rubbed and played with her, I could not feel that slight indentation that you're supposed to feel near the ribs and pelvis. I told my friend "Lady" was pudgy and needed a diet. It was in a jokingly fashinton but I said I'm serious. Being that this wasn't my friends dog, he said the dogs mom feeds it table food, plus kibble, plus canned food. All in one bowl, multiple times a day. So if her bowl is empty it gets filled up no matter if she ate a full meal that day. |
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If it's someone I know well enough, I think I'd mention that their dog was overweight. I'd never tell a stranger their dog was fat though...even though I might REALLY want to tell them. :rolleyes: |
I worry that a fat dog is almost as much trouble medically as a skinny dog. What do you all think? I'm no vet but to me it is just another form of animal abuse when you feed a dog to the point that its heart can no longer pump adequate blood to the body, becomes enlarged, has to beat that much harder and can't keep fluid out of the lungs and shortens the dog's life. Not to mention that the little animal can no longer play without air hunger and the damage it has got to do to the joints. I just wonder if health wise, it is as cruel to overfeed as it is to starve? Has anyone ever spoken to their vet about it and gotten any input? If it is really bad for their health, maybe we should start saying something - not in a mean way but informative. |
Well if by skinny bordering on abuse you mean, nothing but skin and bones, hair falling out and all then yes. Like totally emaciated. But just on the skinny side then no. I was told to keep Uni on the skinny side bc of her LP, less weight=less stress on her joints. But yea, intentionally starving would be equally as bad, however, I don't think people that are cruel enough to intentionally starve their pet would be out and about with them in public for people to say anything about it. I'm sure they would be locked up in a cage in the backyard or something. I do think in a way that people with fat dogs love them a lot, so they spoil them, but don't really understand the ramifications of a poor diet. |
I agree that they overfeed out of love but if that is making them sick like starving a dog does, seems the same result for the dog doesn't it? I'm not talking about pudgy dogs but those grossly fat ones that can't breathe well and can't play or get around well, just pant. I so hate to see a sweet dog suffer! |
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