Vet tells me Coco is obese!!!

[jmdt]

I guess i would have to separate them to eat. They really just aren't interested in eating. Little Pebbles just grabs a mouthful and runs off to eat it in her bed. The other two just go in now and then and eat. It's okay you can say fat...lol... I asked for it. I will feed them seperatly in the morning and then again in the evening. I just hate to see them be hungry and there is nothing down for them. I guess that's the mama in me.

[QuickSilver]

Just put their food bowls down for 15 minutes, twice per day. They'll get used to it. And yes, if possible, feed them separately so the fluffies don't grab more than their fair share.

It's good they get a lot of exercise. I think maybe just adding 10 minutes per day of fetch will make a difference. Did your vet give you any guidance about how to help them lose weight?

Also, maybe keep Trixie on the Royal Canin since she has special dietary restrictions. The others might do better on a higher protein food.

[Woogie Man]

Coco does look a little 'fluffy' to me, too. She reminds me of my Heidi. Heidi was right at 3 pounds when I had her spayed at 1 year old but now she's a little over 4 pounds . I feed her so little that I just won't feed her any less.

Coco is also like my Heidi in that she looks to be cobby-bodied. I think any extra weight shows more on the short- bodied dogs than one with a little more loin.

[nneessaa]

I suggest a little exercise. Even if they run around they will still enjoy a short 20 minute walk (if that's all you have time for, the more the better!).

[jmdt]

thanks everyone for your suggestions. I will try anything. You see they got us this morning and I put the food down and they are not interested. They just nibble. Coco still hasn't touched it. He is just laying down now. Pebbles just took her few mouthfulls and ran off, and Trixie is in there eating now I hear her crunching. I guess I will pick it up in about an hour then give it to them at around 5o'clock. If the didn't eat that much now for breakfast then they will be hungry at dinner. I guess???

Woogie man--- I think your right My Coco is just so short he can hardly jump up on the bed and my Pebbles just has springs for legs. But I do think he is overweight a bit, but obese no way.

[luvfla]

Clarence used to looks just like Coco. We put him on a diet! After he lost 1 pound he was much happier. I like to treat my kidz so they get less at their 2 meals so I can give them treats guilt free.

[Dame]

Originally Posted by jmdt

thanks everyone for your suggestions. I will try anything. You see they got us this morning and I put the food down and they are not interested. They just nibble. Coco still hasn't touched it. He is just laying down now. Pebbles just took her few mouthfulls and ran off, and Trixie is in there eating now I hear her crunching. I guess I will pick it up in about an hour then give it to them at around 5o'clock. If the didn't eat that much now for breakfast then they will be hungry at dinner. I guess???

Woogie man--- I think your right My Coco is just so short he can hardly jump up on the bed and my Pebbles just has springs for legs. But I do think he is overweight a bit, but obese no way.

I would really try to not get stuck in the connotation of what we generally take obese to mean. What we as layman's consider obese and what the medical community considers obese tends to be pretty different. Being obese is simply tied to the fact of being 20% bigger than what would be considered normal weight - as a starting point. For someone who's normal weight should be 7 lbs (just for example) weighting 8.4 lbs would put them in the obese category (although at the lowest end). Its not really about the literal weight, its about the percentages. This is most likely why you and your vet disagree on how large your Coco is.

Vets always aim to keep your pets as trim as possible.. because it can add up to an extra 5-7 years on their life (or shorten their lives.)

If you're moving down from free feeding your dogs aren't going to ate all their food in one sitting right away - they aren't that hungry yet! Give them 24-48 hours, they get hungry and start eating regularly at their scheduled times. Free feeding can be tough on a lot of dogs since they can eat when they aren't really hungry or don't need to eat - some dogs can balance it really well and some just can't. If you're really worried about them not eating enough you can really break down the feedings as much as you want. Twice a day tends to become the "golden standard" since its easiest for most - but if you want to feed 3-4+ times a day there isn't anything wrong with that! (Just split the decided daily servings by X feedings.)

[bebeyorkie]

Originally Posted by luvfla

Clarence used to looks just like Coco. We put him on a diet! After he lost 1 pound he was much happier. I like to treat my kidz so they get less at their 2 meals so I can give them treats guilt free.

Just wondering what kind of diet did you use I have a furbaby that needs to lose 2 lbs vets orders

Thanks

[reeses]

Aww I think she looks fine..however if your vet really wants you to watch her weight Life's Abundance also makes a good Weight-Loss formula dog food!

[FlDebra]

Originally Posted by reeses

Aww I think she looks fine..however if your vet really wants you to watch her weight Life's Abundance also makes a good Weight-Loss formula dog food!

Good idea to use one of the Weight loss formulas because then they can eat more what they are used to but with less calories.

I know it is hard to hear that term -- obese. But it is just like any other medical problem. You just have to "treat" them so they can get down to their prime weight and live longer. I'll bet it won't be as hard as uyou think. Using the recommendations here, splitting their new food allowance into two feedings a day and adding at least 10-15 minutes of fetch or other exercise a day will have them trim in no time.

I worry mine seem skinny, but the vet says they are very healthy in the lean category and I free feed too. BTW, did the vet do blood work to make sure no one has a hypothyroid condition? Since you have said they are active and already eating a low fat diet I wonder if that could be an issue. Weight gain is one of the first symptoms. It is not unusual if one pet has a thyroid problem for another to also have it. I am not sure why that is but have seen it before, same for people too. Always makes me wonder if environmental causes could be a concern.

Your babies are adorable no matter what size. The only reason to be concerned is for better health.

[smithJ09]

DO NOT be sad, your dogs are not over weight coco is 2yrs and 4mos and 7.5lbs is not too much for a yorkie thats 2yrs old. and Pebbles is 5 lbs at a year and a half, thats not fat!!

If you want to talk about fat, my little guy Smith just turned 4months on august 25 and I took him to the vet this pass weekend (Labor Day) and he weights 6.2lbs!!!!!! thats fat.At his first vet visit he was 1lb that was at 8weeks. But I Love him all the same, whether is is 1 lb or 12lbs.And his ears are floppy but he is the cutes thing and he is very smart and he loves to cuddle.
Her are pictures of him, i hope they open up.



http://thumbp1.mail.mud.yahoo.com/tn...f=397&fid=Sent



http://thumbp1.mail.mud.yahoo.com/tn...f=397&fid=Sent

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Dame

I would really try to not get stuck in the connotation of what we generally take obese to mean. What we as layman's consider obese and what the medical community considers obese tends to be pretty different. Being obese is simply tied to the fact of being 20% bigger than what would be considered normal weight - as a starting point. For someone who's normal weight should be 7 lbs (just for example) weighting 8.4 lbs would put them in the obese category (although at the lowest end). Its not really about the literal weight, its about the percentages. This is most likely why you and your vet disagree on how large your Coco is.

Vets always aim to keep your pets as trim as possible.. because it can add up to an extra 5-7 years on their life (or shorten their lives.)

If you're moving down from free feeding your dogs aren't going to ate all their food in one sitting right away - they aren't that hungry yet! Give them 24-48 hours, they get hungry and start eating regularly at their scheduled times. Free feeding can be tough on a lot of dogs since they can eat when they aren't really hungry or don't need to eat - some dogs can balance it really well and some just can't. If you're really worried about them not eating enough you can really break down the feedings as much as you want. Twice a day tends to become the "golden standard" since its easiest for most - but if you want to feed 3-4+ times a day there isn't anything wrong with that! (Just split the decided daily servings by X feedings.)

Glad you pointed this out. If a Yorkie should weigh 5 pounds and it weighs 7, this would be "obese".

Joey gained an extra pound during a trick training class, and vet recommended we reduce his food by 1/3 and add a few green beans to help fill him up. He lost the weight slowly, but it's stayed off, and I agree with the others who suggest feeding the dogs out of separate bowls. Free feeding is an excellent choice for many dogs, but there are some dogs that will overeat, and free feeding doesn't work for them. Once a day feeding works for many breeds, but I think smaller breeds do better on at least twice a day feeding. Remember, extra weight is very hard on the joints.

[FlDebra]

I just took a look at your Album, and unless someone has grown a lot since the last pictures, I do not get it. I can't figure why a vet would say it if it were not true unless he was on a "kick." I have even seen human doctors get overly focused on one thing and try to over-diagnose it. I had it happen to me. AFter getting a questionable dx, I read a column he wrote for the local newspaper on just the problem he told me I had. I changed docs and found I did not have the problem he dx'd. So, if you believe their weights are appropriate to their body structure, I might seek advice from another vet.

But, if they might be a little overweight, remember "obese" is just a word associated with a certain percentage over the recommended body weight. So, if they might be overweight, please try to take the doctor's advice -- but maybe ease into it. Try starting them with twice a day feedings for a while to see if that would help (run it by the vet as a valid compromise). Also cut out treats and any between-meal extras. They might not eat much at a time to start, but they will eventually get hungry and eat more at a feeding. I do feel twice a day is as few feedings as I would want to go with for a Yorkie.

Like you, I like to free feed, especially with toy dogs. Mine are free-fed but are described as "lean" by our vet. I always worry they are too skinny, but he assures me this is the healthiest weight for them and will add years to their life. So, if yours do need to lose a little, keep in mind that it will keep them with you longer.

Good luck with those cuties!

I just realized I had already responded to this thread last month! I should really start reading all the way through before making a post!

[FlDebra]

[QUOTE=smithJ09;2800456]DO NOT be sad, your dogs are not over weight coco is 2yrs and 4mos and 7.5lbs is not too much for a yorkie thats 2yrs old. and Pebbles is 5 lbs at a year and a half, thats not fat!!

If you want to talk about fat, my little guy Smith just turned 4months on august 25 and I took him to the vet this pass weekend (Labor Day) and he weights 6.2lbs!!!!!! thats fat.
QUOTE]

Age and weight are not what you should be comparing. It is weight compared to their body structure that is important. There are plenty of 12 pound yorkies that are not overweight and there are some 5 pound yorkies that are overweight -- it depends on their bone structure and how much they should way based on their body type.

You cannot tell someone that their dog is not overweight just because it is 7.5 pounds at 2 years old! That does not make any sense at all.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by FlDebra

I just took a look at your Album, and unless someone has grown a lot since the last pictures, I do not get it. I can't figure why a vet would say it if it were not true unless he was on a "kick." I have even seen human doctors get overly focused on one thing and try to over-diagnose it. I had it happen to me. AFter getting a questionable dx, I read a column he wrote for the local newspaper on just the problem he told me I had. I changed docs and found I did not have the problem he dx'd. So, if you believe their weights are appropriate to their body structure, I might seek advice from another vet.

But, if they might be a little overweight, remember "obese" is just a word associated with a certain percentage over the recommended body weight. So, if they might be overweight, please try to take the doctor's advice -- but maybe ease into it. Try starting them with twice a day feedings for a while to see if that would help (run it by the vet as a valid compromise). Also cut out treats and any between-meal extras. They might not eat much at a time to start, but they will eventually get hungry and eat more at a feeding. I do feel twice a day is as few feedings as I would want to go with for a Yorkie.

Like you, I like to free feed, especially with toy dogs. Mine are free-fed but are described as "lean" by our vet. I always worry they are too skinny, but he assures me this is the healthiest weight for them and will add years to their life. So, if yours do need to lose a little, keep in mind that it will keep them with you longer.

Good luck with those cuties!

I just realized I had already responded to this thread last month! I should really start reading all the way through before making a post!

Did you see post 8? She posted a picture of all three dogs, this is the picture of Coco. I agree with the vet on this. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/att...icture-125.jpg