HELP! 50% of my dogs are FAT!!!!!

[tem_sat]

Originally Posted by Britster

My dad was one of the worst. They have an overweight long haired Dachshund mix and my step-mom has been trying to get the weight off but my dad keeps giving them treats.

Overfeeding a Doxie can be close to a $3,500.00 lesson with IVDD. No one wants that kinda lesson! You may want to talk to your vet about giving Ester-C as a maintenance dose to promote healthy joints.

See: Vitamin and Ester-C Studies

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by tem_sat

Overfeeding a Doxie can be close to a $3,500.00 lesson with IVDD. No one wants that kinda lesson! You may want to talk to your vet about giving Ester-C as a maintenance dose to promote healthy joints.

See: Vitamin and Ester-C Studies

Now about just cutting back the food intake until the idea weight is reached

[tem_sat]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

Now about just cutting back the food intake until the idea weight is reached

That too of course! Slowly (depending upon the amount of weight loss required)

However, a few Doxies gain weight just by looking at food.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by tem_sat

That too of course! Slowly (depending upon the amount of weight loss required)

However, a few Doxies gain weight just by looking at food.

Yes, I too have had Doxies in our family my entire life. I'm just confused as to why you would need to supplement IV therapy of Vitamin C for weight loss. The article states

The use of Vitamin C intravenously (I recommend 1000mg. daily) works best when given as soon as possible after the injury has taken place. In older cases which have been going on for a few weeks, the response is not so dramatic. In these cases I usually use acupuncture in conjunction with the Vitamin C therapy.

The average pet owner would not have access to IV fluids let alone the use of intravenous Vitamin C to achieve the success of the study that you linked.

The article goes on to state that the use of intravenous Vitamin C is for

limping, lameness, limited movement ability and pain.

and is used in conjunction with corticosteroid after an injury.

I am not making the connection between weight loss and the use of Intravenous Vitamin C or for that fact the supplement that is mentioned further into the article. I'm wondering if there is any other information that is not almost 25 years old.

I still am not making the connection to weight loss in dogs and the need for IV therapy of Vitamin C

[MaddiesMommie]

I also have to feed my 3 an a.m. and a p.m. feeding. If not, I would find Cooper dead because I honestly believe she would eat herself to death while the other 2 would starve to death.

[MaddiesMommie]

Originally Posted by tem_sat

Overfeeding a Doxie can be close to a $3,500.00 lesson with IVDD. No one wants that kinda lesson! You may want to talk to your vet about giving Ester-C as a maintenance dose to promote healthy joints.

See: Vitamin and Ester-C Studies

I did not see where these help with weight loss or management, in the article, but used as treatment for arthritis or joint problems. Right?

[Lou]

I'm still taking all of this in and soooooo apreciate all your advice.
Skeeter may not be thankful now but he will be when he is a svelt little gentleman!


Hey! My spellchecker stopped working!!!!

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by Lou

I'm still taking all of this in and soooooo apreciate all your advice.
Skeeter may not be thankful now but he will be when he is a svelt little gentleman!


Hey! My spellchecker stopped working!!!!

dats not goood

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by MaddiesMommie

I also have to feed my 3 an a.m. and a p.m. feeding. If not, I would find Cooper dead because I honestly believe she would eat herself to death while the other 2 would starve to death.

[tem_sat]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

Yes, I too have had Doxies in our family my entire life. I'm just confused as to why you would need to supplement IV therapy of Vitamin C for weight loss. The article states The average pet owner would not have access to IV fluids let alone the use of intravenous Vitamin C to achieve the success of the study that you linked.

The article goes on to state that the use of intravenous Vitamin C is for and is used in conjunction with corticosteroid after an injury.

I am not making the connection between weight loss and the use of Intravenous Vitamin C or for that fact the supplement that is mentioned further into the article. I'm wondering if there is any other information that is not almost 25 years old.

I still am not making the connection to weight loss in dogs and the need for IV therapy of Vitamin C

Oops, my apologies for not being clear.

Overweight Doxies tend to be at a higher than normal risk for IVDD (weight putting extra pressure on the spine).

The Ester-C is used at a maintenance dose to promote joint health and hopefully avoid IVDD.

Example:

"The spacing between the disc's is much like a "skittle candy"... a hard outer shell that is flexible, with soft squishy disc material inside.
When the hard outer shell becomes too ridged (calcified) it will crack... which causes the soft material to ooze out (ruptured or herniated disc)...
ESTER-C helps to keep the outer shell "flexible"...and working...

Recommended dosage:
250 mg per day
500mg per day at the onset of a problem."

I use the Ester-C found at CVS pharmacy. No need for intravenous for maintenance.

The combo of a fit and trim dog + Ester-C seems to be a good plan, however, the key is keeping the weight down.

[107barney]

There is really no need to feed a dog vitamin-C. They synthesize it in the liver. Any extra vitamin C beyond what a dog needs is excreted out through the kidneys as vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin.

[Lou]

OK, here's the plan. I took yesterday off and purposely observed the dogs. The three yorkies eat first thing in the morning and then go back from time to time throughout the day. The shih tzu is getting used to being blind so I think her disinterest in food is critical at this time.

I am putting the food down at 6AM when I get up and DH is to pick it up ant 8AM. He is to put it back down and 4PM and I will pick it up when I get home at 5:30PM. I will then take the shih tzu to another room and give her a supplemental feeding. It will probably be a good quality canned food.

The will each get 1/2 of the smallest size dog biscuit 4 times a day.

Comments?

"Dat" spellchecker is working again Jodi!

[Wylie's Mom]

Spider woman agrees with 2 feedings + one for special cases. She said a heck of alot more but I didn't understand the rest or simply stopped listening....I'm in trouble as she is reading this over my shoulder - gotta go and good luck.

[Valenie]

Originally Posted by Britster

Yup, I'm pretty much the perfect example.

I was very "Oh, our family dogs have always eaten people food all their lives. No big deal." I didn't THINK he getting a lot of people food, but between myself and my family, he was getting more than his body could handle. Keep in mind, he's even a healthy, active, 16lb'er who was in great shape. I *think* from what I've read (but I still have a lot to learn) that obese, or overweight, not as active dogs can have a harder time fighting things like this.

I had to learn my lesson the hard way (and over $1200 later).... I now have. My family is all on board with this and my dad says he is even now going to stop feeding his dogs. My dad was one of the worst. They have an overweight long haired Dachshund mix and my step-mom has been trying to get the weight off but my dad keeps giving them treats.

I do think it's easy to forget how small their little stomachs truly are. So just ask your hubby if he wants to end up with a sick dog in the hospital and spend over $1000 (from what I understand, this can put dogs in the hospital for multiple days, even weeks, and that adds up)... then keep feeding them people food

I've really had to watch my 3 year old I cough him eating his food out of one hand and feeding Tibbs his food out of the other.... He just doesn't understand why Tibbs cant eat bite bites with him. I told him because it would make him sick but I still catch him trying to slip him stuff I just have to really watch him.

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Spider woman agrees with 2 feedings + one for special cases. She said a heck of alot more but I didn't understand the rest or simply stopped listening....I'm in trouble as she is reading this over my shoulder - gotta go and good luck.

Well there ya go, Lou. Tony has spoken!