Are we killing our dogs with kindness?? - Page 2 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

roseylovestosho · 04-16-2011, 10:05 AM

Thank you for reminding me. Teddy is reaching 10lbs and is 7 months old...he's a "bigger" one for sure, but every vet has always told me that he is a healthy weight. One said as long as you can touch him and almost count every single rib he is fine. Do you guys feel that holds true? I haven't had to take him to the vet since January, but since I take Teddy to daycare 3 times a week my vet always gets to see him (the daycare is annexed to the vet clinic) maybe I should do a checkup just to be sure?

Mer · 04-16-2011, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

Very good reminder for everyone. Also, I think part of the problem is that many dogs are not getting proper exercise anymore, either.

Proper diet and exercise are both necessary for a healthy dog.

I totally agree!!

ArmaniMan · 04-16-2011, 10:29 AM

I agree- far too many dogs are overweight. I am very careful with my kiddos, recently Chloe gained a half a pound and I put her on a diet and everyone said I was so mean. But a half a pound is a lot on a 4.5 pound dog and she has liver disease and LP, so any extra weight is very serious. I also agree with whoever said dogs don't get enough exercise, its very important for dogs to get exercise, not just for weight reasons but to keep them healthy.

Sweet Apple · 04-16-2011, 03:37 PM

Believe me, as a pet sitter, I see tooooo many pups (and cats) that are being loved to death, by over feeding...I don't know how to get the message out, as clients are, totally, offended if I mention their babies are a tad pudgy...What amazes me, is some of my clients are very careful to keep themselves thin and in good shape, but they feed their pups 'till they're obese...This is one down side to being a pet sitter

AlicetheYorkie · 04-16-2011, 04:02 PM

Yep, this is a huge problem. The vet I worked for was a great dr., but terrible bed side manner

- he used to flat out say during an exam, Well, your dog looks great expect he's really fat.

I would cring so bad and just look at the ground lol especially if the owner was overweight also, so embarasing, but he didn't care because it got the point across. As I would be checking some of them out at reception, they'd ask me all quiet, is my dog really that fat? Oh boy lol. He always referenced a chart like the one posted above and told the owners their dog's BCS (body condition score) and yes, many were surprized to see the way their dog should look, they thought it was too skinny.
The worst I ever saw was a client we had with a 60 lb. Corgi. It was their second one and they were very UTD on their vet care (check up every 6 months etc.) He was constantly harping on them that they were killing their dog (first one they was was HUGE, I mean could barely walk

and died of heart failure at 6 yrs. old

) but they still didn't learn and by a year old their second one was very obese. I just thought, how could they not have learned from their last dog?? Same vet and he told them over and over.
My beagle is 12 and has started gaining weight and I was freaking out lol but we recently diagnosed her with bloodwork as hypothyroid so hopefully after a few months on the rx she'll loose a bit.
LOL now I'm on a soapbox here LOL It's a pet peeve of mine though - Obesity is a human problem, not a canine one (or feline for that matter - don't even get me started there lol)

xoxodoglover89 · 04-16-2011, 09:12 PM

I work at a pet store and it's depressing seeing all these people bringing their dogs in that are SO overweight. Over half the dogs I see during my shifts are overweight. Ironically to, most of the dogs that are overweight, that's also the owner that's buying 10 bags worth of treats! I think to myself "what are you doing?!?!".

yorkietalkjilly · 04-16-2011, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxodoglover89

I work at a pet store and it's depressing seeing all these people bringing their dogs in that are SO overweight. Over half the dogs I see during my shifts are overweight. Ironically to, most of the dogs that are overweight, that's also the owner that's buying 10 bags worth of treats! I think to myself "what are you doing?!?!".

Slowly killing their dogs just like my neighbors are their poor Chihuahua. That little thing can barely walk now he's so big. What in the world has happend to people? You didn't used to see all these fat dogs?

chachi · 04-16-2011, 09:43 PM

My Husband is the bad one when it comes to the yorkies. He gives them a little bit of what he eats at dinner time. Ive tried to tell him but he doesnt listen. I have cats and I never give them table scraps and they dont beg or get on the countertops for food and thats the way I like it. So far Chachi and Jewels arent overweight by what my husband does but he only gives them a little bit but Im sure it will catch up in time

jadabug · 04-17-2011, 03:12 AM

I have a question. Jada tends to put on weight easily and I really watch her intake of food and treats. I give green beans as treats and occasionally one of the little Natural Balance LID dog treats.
My question is how many green beans is considered too much? When we first adopted Jada she wouldn't eat very good and being my first small breed dog I was trying everything to get her to eat. (scared to death of hypoglycemia) She went from 4.8lbs to over 6lbs in that first year. I still don't have all of the extra weight off of her. Vet wants her at no more than 5.5lbs because of her frame and LP. I cut down on her kibble (2tbs morning and 2tbs at evening, Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Venison) and add green beans. They also get green beans as a treat every night and it is the frozen green beans about 1" in length. Just wondering how many of those would be considered too many (currently give them about 6 pieces each for treat and about 6 or 7 pieces added to their evening meal).

Sweet Apple · 04-17-2011, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jadabug

I have a question. Jada tends to put on weight easily and I really watch her intake of food and treats. I give green beans as treats and occasionally one of the little Natural Balance LID dog treats.
My question is how many green beans is considered too much? When we first adopted Jada she wouldn't eat very good and being my first small breed dog I was trying everything to get her to eat. (scared to death of hypoglycemia) She went from 4.8lbs to over 6lbs in that first year. I still don't have all of the extra weight off of her. Vet wants her at no more than 5.5lbs because of her frame and LP. I cut down on her kibble (2tbs morning and 2tbs at evening, Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Venison) and add green beans. They also get green beans as a treat every night and it is the frozen green beans about 1" in length. Just wondering how many of those would be considered too many (currently give them about 6 pieces each for treat and about 6 or 7 pieces added to their evening meal).

I think as long as Jada doesn't get loose stools, you can feed green beans as much as she will tolerate...It's probably not the green beans, putting on weight, but the kibble...I had my pups on kibble, for a short time, and they all balooned...When I put them all back on raw, they all slimmed out to a nice weight...

Maximo · 04-17-2011, 07:05 AM

News article today: Calling All Dog Owners -- Fido Is Too Fat - FoxNews.com

"In 2008, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) found that 44% of dogs and 57% of cats were estimated to be overweight or obese. Now, in 2011, only three years later, the same group finds that 55% of dogs and 53% of cats are overweight or obese."

MaddiesMommie · 04-17-2011, 10:45 AM

Great Reminder thread.

It took me a while to get used to the idea that 1/3 2x a day was plenty for my girls. I was used to bigger dogs and crappy food.

Now that we have our furkids on better food and I have a better understanding about nutrition, we have much healthier dogs.

04-16-2011, 10:05 AM	#16
roseylovestosho Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: #4 PRIVET DRIVE Posts: 1,685	Thank you for reminding me. Teddy is reaching 10lbs and is 7 months old...he's a "bigger" one for sure, but every vet has always told me that he is a healthy weight. One said as long as you can touch him and almost count every single rib he is fine. Do you guys feel that holds true? I haven't had to take him to the vet since January, but since I take Teddy to daycare 3 times a week my vet always gets to see him (the daycare is annexed to the vet clinic) maybe I should do a checkup just to be sure? __________________

04-16-2011, 10:29 AM	#18
ArmaniMan I ♥ Armani & Chloe Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 3,895	I agree- far too many dogs are overweight. I am very careful with my kiddos, recently Chloe gained a half a pound and I put her on a diet and everyone said I was so mean. But a half a pound is a lot on a 4.5 pound dog and she has liver disease and LP, so any extra weight is very serious. I also agree with whoever said dogs don't get enough exercise, its very important for dogs to get exercise, not just for weight reasons but to keep them healthy. __________________ Armani & Chloe

04-16-2011, 04:02 PM	#20
AlicetheYorkie YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 889	Yep, this is a huge problem. The vet I worked for was a great dr., but terrible bed side manner - he used to flat out say during an exam, Well, your dog looks great expect he's really fat. I would cring so bad and just look at the ground lol especially if the owner was overweight also, so embarasing, but he didn't care because it got the point across. As I would be checking some of them out at reception, they'd ask me all quiet, is my dog really that fat? Oh boy lol. He always referenced a chart like the one posted above and told the owners their dog's BCS (body condition score) and yes, many were surprized to see the way their dog should look, they thought it was too skinny. The worst I ever saw was a client we had with a 60 lb. Corgi. It was their second one and they were very UTD on their vet care (check up every 6 months etc.) He was constantly harping on them that they were killing their dog (first one they was was HUGE, I mean could barely walk and died of heart failure at 6 yrs. old) but they still didn't learn and by a year old their second one was very obese. I just thought, how could they not have learned from their last dog?? Same vet and he told them over and over. My beagle is 12 and has started gaining weight and I was freaking out lol but we recently diagnosed her with bloodwork as hypothyroid so hopefully after a few months on the rx she'll loose a bit. LOL now I'm on a soapbox here LOL It's a pet peeve of mine though - Obesity is a human problem, not a canine one (or feline for that matter - don't even get me started there lol) __________________ Jenn, mom to: Dayton , Alice ,Darla, Miya , Summer & Chooch

04-16-2011, 09:43 PM	#23
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	My Husband is the bad one when it comes to the yorkies. He gives them a little bit of what he eats at dinner time. Ive tried to tell him but he doesnt listen. I have cats and I never give them table scraps and they dont beg or get on the countertops for food and thats the way I like it. So far Chachi and Jewels arent overweight by what my husband does but he only gives them a little bit but Im sure it will catch up in time __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

04-17-2011, 03:12 AM	#24
jadabug Jada + Bogie = ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mayberry AKA smalltown usa Posts: 24,078	I have a question. Jada tends to put on weight easily and I really watch her intake of food and treats. I give green beans as treats and occasionally one of the little Natural Balance LID dog treats. My question is how many green beans is considered too much? When we first adopted Jada she wouldn't eat very good and being my first small breed dog I was trying everything to get her to eat. (scared to death of hypoglycemia) She went from 4.8lbs to over 6lbs in that first year. I still don't have all of the extra weight off of her. Vet wants her at no more than 5.5lbs because of her frame and LP. I cut down on her kibble (2tbs morning and 2tbs at evening, Natural Balance Sweet Potato and Venison) and add green beans. They also get green beans as a treat every night and it is the frozen green beans about 1" in length. Just wondering how many of those would be considered too many (currently give them about 6 pieces each for treat and about 6 or 7 pieces added to their evening meal). __________________ Michelle, Jada and Bogie Last edited by jadabug; 04-17-2011 at 03:15 AM.

04-16-2011, 03:37 PM	#19
Sweet Apple Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, Texas USA Posts: 2,473	Believe me, as a pet sitter, I see tooooo many pups (and cats) that are being loved to death, by over feeding...I don't know how to get the message out, as clients are, totally, offended if I mention their babies are a tad pudgy...What amazes me, is some of my clients are very careful to keep themselves thin and in good shape, but they feed their pups 'till they're obese...This is one down side to being a pet sitter

04-16-2011, 09:12 PM	#21
xoxodoglover89 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 747	I work at a pet store and it's depressing seeing all these people bringing their dogs in that are SO overweight. Over half the dogs I see during my shifts are overweight. Ironically to, most of the dogs that are overweight, that's also the owner that's buying 10 bags worth of treats! I think to myself "what are you doing?!?!".

04-17-2011, 07:05 AM	#26
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,047	News article today: Calling All Dog Owners -- Fido Is Too Fat - FoxNews.com "In 2008, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP) found that 44% of dogs and 57% of cats were estimated to be overweight or obese. Now, in 2011, only three years later, the same group finds that 55% of dogs and 53% of cats are overweight or obese." __________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy

04-17-2011, 10:45 AM	#27
MaddiesMommie LoveMy2 Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 4,060	Great Reminder thread. It took me a while to get used to the idea that 1/3 2x a day was plenty for my girls. I was used to bigger dogs and crappy food. Now that we have our furkids on better food and I have a better understanding about nutrition, we have much healthier dogs.