His name is Moshi. He's one cutie. It breaks my heart to hear him wheezing. I actually didn't put him on a diet because I don't want the owner to get mad at me. I just started to feed him like my yorkies. She free feed him 1.5 cups of kibble and gives 8-9 Iams biscuit per day. I think that's too much for him. I only give him 1-2 biscuit and feed him around the amount mine eat. He's been fine so far. She has advised me to give him pepcid when his stomach growls, which I have never heard of. She also gives him human food because he would always stare at you when you eat...He's definitely a foodie. He also tries to eat Carmel and Emma's food several times. lol We give cut and peeled sweet apples. He didn't like it. I had to throw it away. His bottom row teeth is loose too...*sigh* I will call the vet tomorrow to see what they say. ;)

Thanks for your suggestion!!

Kaji is a porkie too. Try different things that are low fat and are mostly water, like lettuce if Moshi is still hungry. Kaji loves the lettuce whites. He's so picky if there is anything green on his lettuce. I think it's the crunch he enjoys.

Just a suggestion, but run it by the vet before you alter his diet or give him treats hes not use to. You mention his teeth being bad, maybe that's a reason why he didn't enjoy the apple? He can't chew due to his bad teeth?

I thought that too, but he eats hard kibble and doggie biscuits fine...unfortunately, there's not much I can do as he's not my dog. I guess my only help would be to inform the owner when she returns. I was afraid to even do that in the beginning because I don't want to offend her. I'm not putting Moshi on a diet, but if he lose weight staying with me, it's actually good for him. It will only be because I'm feeding him the right amount and getting him enough exercise. His wheezing is constant so I would think that she had that checked out and the vet should have record of that. I will call and see what the vet says then. If not, I will tell her when she returns. I sure hope my babies won't be in his condition when they're 6! :( I would be soo sad!

I expect the pet professionals I employ to keep an eye on my dogs condition- this includes their sitter, their groomer, and their vet. Their sitter has called me with health issues that come up when I am away and has commented on behavioral issues she noticed while I am gone. However, I guess that is part of my personality- I prefer that people tell me the truth about things- I would hate for her to tell me my babies were perfect little angels the entire time, when I know that is simply not the case.

I think you should transition to scheduled feedings and give the amount you think is appropriate for the dogs weight and then increase his exercise. Hopefully he will lose weight. When she returns you can tell her you just transitioned him to your dogs feeding schedule as you already discussed and that you took him on walks with you because you felt bad leaving him at home. You can see you see those few small changes helped him to lose a little weight- maybe she will continue the changes, maybe not- but at least you did the best you could in the time you had him.

I would never walk up to a stranger and tell them their dog is overweight- but I think when someone employs you to care for their dog that is a different situation.

I hope she's like you because I'm doing exactly what you've just mentioned. Hopefully it will help him lose weight. He runs/walk VERY SLOW. If he loses weight and increases his speed maybe she'll see that losing weight is a good thing for him! Thanks!

First of all, you are to be commended for caring so much about this dear little Maltese's suspected health problems. I hope I don't sound harsh, if I do, please forgive, but here's my take.


1) If you are being paid to keep the dog, then you ARE a paid professional pet sitter. This may not be your primary source of income, but being paid takes you from the realm of being a friend taking care of little fido, to a pro.

2) It is not your responsibility to cause the dog to lose weight unless you and the owner have agreed upon a diet/exercise plan. In fact if it was me and I picked up my dog from a sitter and it was noticably thinner, I would be really pissed (unless, like I said, we had discussed a diet/exercise plan). I would assume that you had not taken proper care of my little chubby darling. If you were baby sitting a friend's child for six weeks would you arbitrarily put the kid on a diet without the parent's knowledge or permission?

3) It is your fiduciary duty to inform the owner of any suspected health problems the dog may have.

4) If you suspect that the little one has serious life threatening conditions, then a trip to his vet would be prudent.

5) The owner should have provided you with a care sheet including a feeding schedule, any meds, etc. that should be folled as closely as possible.

This is exactly what I worry. Well, I didn't realize he was chubby until she left. If I had known sooner, you bet I would tell her.

She gave me a list of emergency contact and vet info. He doesn't have life threatening condition. She told me that I can free feed or feed him on fixed schedule like mine. He also has no medication, just pepcid for when his stomach growls and him not eating.

Thanks for your input! You covered my exact concerns (#2). This is why I haven't put him on a diet, but to feed him like how I would feed mine, which I have permission for. I also don't give him as many of the IAMS treats like she said I can. I will for sure tell her when she returns of the problems I see he has and it will be up to her as to what she want to do. Thanks =)

First of all, I am so glad that I didn't offend you. I was concerned. Thank you for taking what I typed the way I meant :D

So, if she said you could do a fixed feeding schedule, then I'd go for it. Document how much and when you were feeding him and I commend you for cutting down on the treats. Just be sure that little chubby-wubby doesn't lose too much weight -- hummm if you exercise the little booger enough he'll replace body fat with muscle and although he will appear thinner the scale won't lie.

Is it possible to contact her by phone or email and mention that you have been using the same feeding and treat schedule on Moshi and walking him with yours and wanted her to know that he may be a little thinner when she returns and wanted to let her know. See how she responds. I think I would be upset if a pet sitter contacted my vet in a non emergency situation without contacting me first. I have 2 that are a little overweight and personally would not be offended if I was Moshi's owner but one never can tell. JMO

Did the owner leave you with signed consent that you could get medical care for this dog? Or can you get ahold of her 24/7? If no, a vet is pretty much obligated to refuse treatment unless it's in extremely critical condition.

If pup is wheezing, nobody can say if there is or isn't a life threatening disease present. There could be. Also, a dog that wheezes should only be exercised with veterinary consent. If my dog was wheezing and I left them with a sitter, I'd be very upset if the dog was exercised.

I really don't know how I'd feel if my dog lost weight. My first thought would be that he/she was neglected. I'd except if the dog was healthy and sitter said it went on lots of walks. If I said my dog gets 1.5 cups of food per day and I returned to find out less was given, I'd be pretty mad. I'd be mad if a different food was given too (this happened with Ellie - she bloated up and it was disgusting).

I would not present a list of things that are wrong with the dog. I'd go with, your pup is wheezing a lot. Do you know what could be wrong, etc.

I will try to email her and see what she says.


She left the vet's info in case of emergency. She also left her parents' number so I can call in case of emergency and they will cover the cost. No, of course I wouldn't bring him unless it's a critical emergency, like life and death. Well, the sound he makes sounds like he has collapse trachea (sounds like snoring). As for exercise, she told me she walks him 3X a day and so I don't think she would be mad with the exercise we give him. I told her I'd treat him like our dogs, which is what I am doing. Well, as for the food, she told me what she feeds and told me to schedule feed him if I want so it's up to me.

It's my first time pet sitting him because he has a regular sitter who was out of town. I didn't really know his weight situation until she left. I felt a bump on him right when she left and I called her, which she told me he's had for awhile and it's fine.

I would think that if you feed him the recommended amount of food per day and exercise him he will lose weight. If the owner questions you can truthfully say that you did feed as the two of you agreed and that you did cut out some of his treats because you were concerned about his breathing. I would contact her if I could but if you cannot I don't see way an owner would be upset to see a happier and healthier dog upon return. Explaining your concern for his breathing is necessary in order for her to help her little dog which I am sure she must care a great deal about. The manner in which you approach her is really important. You seem to be concerned about her feelings so I assume you can speak to her in a heartfelt way that she can perceive your concern for her fur baby and that is what is really is important.

Isn't 1 1/2 c of kibble way too much for a maltese? Doesn't Jackson get like 1/2 c a day and he's 13 lbs?

Poor little chunk (sorry I called him a chunk but I don't know his name and he sounds chubby!). I'm happy you're taking steps to try to make him better. Sadly, like what catp noonie said, good information does fall on deaf ears with regards to you brining it up to the owners attention.

I would tell her, especially if you contacted the vet and they agreed. She'll probably get her knickers in a twist, but oh well. Sometimes the truth hurts and maybe it'll be enough for her to get her act together.

Well, I didn't contact the vet yet. I thought it's best to email her first. I am waiting for her response. I didn't mention about his weight though. I just mentioned about his loose teeth and snoring/wheezing. I also told her about how much I am feeding him.

Here's a picture of him today when we went to the park :) He says thank you for your concern! :D