|
Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member! Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us. |
|
| LinkBack | Thread Tools |
07-20-2006, 11:36 AM | #1 |
I heart Hootie & Hobbs Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: USA
Posts: 7,149
| Hootie is FAT! We have had Hootie for a month now and she is 12 weeks old now and weighs about 2 lbs. We have been free feeding her and feeding her as much as she wants to eat this past month because we didn't want to risk her having a hypoglocemic episode. However, it is quite obvious that Hootie is fat. So, my question is, should I be worried about that right now or is it just puppy weight that will go away as she gets older? I don't mind that she is fat, I think it's quite cute, but I want whatever is best for her health. I could quit free feeding her and put her on a feeding schedule, but is she over the threat of hypoglocemia? AND the only problem with that is that her older brother Hobbs is SO skinny! We are trying to fatten him up So, any suggestions?! |
Welcome Guest! | |
07-20-2006, 11:53 AM | #2 |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
| Its probably just puppy fat but I would put her on a feeding schedule if you are concerned.
__________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427 |
07-20-2006, 12:07 PM | #3 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 1,275
| I would definitely put her on a feeding schedule - especially if she has such a voracious appetite. Excess weight puts undue stress on her little body and her joints, and just like for humans, it's not healthy. I would say at 2lbs, if you give her 3 meals a day she should be ok (plus the occasional treat) and make sure she has lots of water. Are you giving her a lot of treats in addition to her food? If so, you could always try using pieces of her kibble as a treat - it really does work - if you hold one piece, they think it's a treat, and really it's just their same old food. Or, check the food your feeding her for the recommended serving amounts for a 2lb dog - if it recommends say, 1/3 of a cup a day, you could split that up into several small feedings, so she always has something in her tummy but the amount she gets is controlled. As she gets bigger, you can gradually reduce the number of feedings until she's getting 2 a day. It was hard for me at first with Oscar to see those few little bits of kibble sitting in his bowl and think it looked so empty and that it couldn't possibly be enough for him - BUT, if you look at how small your puppy is and consider how tiny her little stomach must be, picture that when you're putting out food. You don't want to starve her obviously, but I've always heard that freefeeding was a no-no (just my opinion though)... 2lbs at 3mths by no means sounds heavy, but I dont know what her build is like. Can you still feel her ribs a little bit under her skin? If you can, then she's probably at a good, healthy weight. Sorry, this was ridiculously long.... my bf says I'm long winded, I wonder why?
__________________ Janice, Oscar and Baby Ruth "The more people I meet, the more I love my dog." |
07-20-2006, 12:13 PM | #4 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Cary, IL
Posts: 88
| 2 pounds for a 3 month old does not sound fat to me- sounds like she's doing just fine! My Schatzi gets a total of about 1/2 cup of food a day. I give her 1/6th of a cup 3x a day. I do not free feed. She isn't really into treats, although she loves the tiniest piece of turkey or chicken occasionaly. I wouldn't worry about her size, it sounds right on schedule to me!
__________________ ~APRIL~ Proud mommy of Foster and little Schatzi |
07-20-2006, 12:16 PM | #5 | |
I heart Hootie & Hobbs Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: USA
Posts: 7,149
| Quote:
What should I do since I have 2 dogs? They eat out of the same bowl and there is NO way that I can possibly keep them separated when they eat. And, how long do I leave the food out at each meal? What if they don't eat it when I put it out because they aren't hungry then, but they get hungry when I take it up? We visit my parents quite ofen and they free feed...what should I do when we go visit them? I can't ask my mom to take her up dog's food just for me. Won't they wolf down the food at my parents' house if they aren't used to being free fed? Sorry so many questions! | |
07-20-2006, 12:19 PM | #6 | ||
I heart Hootie & Hobbs Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: USA
Posts: 7,149
| Quote:
Oh, and she rarely gets treats. I might give her a little pinch of a treat once or twice a week. Other than that, all she gets is her food. Quote:
Last edited by RLC12345678; 07-20-2006 at 12:23 PM. | ||
Bookmarks |
|
|
| |
|
|
SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart