Author Topic: Weight dramas!  (Read 10882 times)

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Offline Leo0106

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Weight dramas!
« on: September 30, 2017, 09:38:18 AM »
Hi all,
What's the ideal weight for a working cocker?
the vets have told us twice that Leo is overweight but no matter how much we cut down his food, he just dosnt lose any Weight!
Just wondered whether we are doing something wrong?

He is 11 months old so I'm assuming basically fully grown now, he weighs 15kgs.

To give you an idea of feeding/exercise ratios he has:
Half a cup of salmon and potatoes wainwrights kibble in the morning,
Half a cup of the same in the evening (he's on adult kibble as vet told us the puppy kibble may be keeping his weight up)

He has 3 30 minute walks a day, walks are off lead, chasing a ball  or doing scentwork/basic training recall etc and he swims about twice a week too.

The only other thing he has is training treats but not many as we use his kibble left over from breakfast.
The treats are salmon and potatoes wainwrights again.

Other than that he might have a carrot or a chew to chill with and that's all!



Offline Mudmagnets

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Re: Weight dramas!
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2017, 10:02:04 AM »
Just a thought How big is the cup (mug or cup as there may be difference), have you measured the food from half a cup on scales?

Remembering Smudge 23/11/2006 - 3/8/2013, and Branston 30/8/14 - 28/10/22 both now at the Bridge.

Offline ips

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Re: Weight dramas!
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2017, 10:30:04 AM »
Hi all,
What's the ideal weight for a working cocker?
the vets have told us twice that Leo is overweight but no matter how much we cut down his food, he just dosnt lose any Weight!
Just wondered whether we are doing something wrong?

He is 11 months old so I'm assuming basically fully grown now, he weighs 15kgs.

To give you an idea of feeding/exercise ratios he has:
Half a cup of salmon and potatoes wainwrights kibble in the morning,
Half a cup of the same in the evening (he's on adult kibble as vet told us the puppy kibble may be keeping his weight up)

He has 3 30 minute walks a day, walks are off lead, chasing a ball  or doing scentwork/basic training recall etc and he swims about twice a week too.

The only other thing he has is training treats but not many as we use his kibble left over from breakfast.
The treats are salmon and potatoes wainwrights again.

Other than that he might have a carrot or a chew to chill with and that's all!

Sounds heavy. My bitch is 3years 3months and 12kg ish.
You should be able to see the ribs, looking down at the dog from above there should be an obvious waistline. Amount of food is relevant to activity level. Eze has 190grams of Arden grange performance dry with about half a cup full of minced turkey etc split between two meals.
Muddling along in the hope that one day it all makes sense.

Offline Leo0106

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Re: Weight dramas!
« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2017, 10:32:38 AM »
Hi mudmagnets sorry I should have weighed it. Just weighed it now and it's 50g which dosnt sound a lot atall.. means he only has 100g for meals and then maybe 25g more during the day for training purposes.. he's not a hungry dog though either.. he'll happily leave his meal and not eat it
In terms of the way he looks, I can feel his ribs and if I pinch the fur around his ribs it feels nothing more than skin. He has a waist when looking from above

Offline ips

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Re: Weight dramas!
« Reply #4 on: September 30, 2017, 10:49:48 AM »
Certainly doesn't sound like a lot of food !!
Muddling along in the hope that one day it all makes sense.

Offline Leo0106

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Re: Weight dramas!
« Reply #5 on: September 30, 2017, 11:00:26 AM »
That's exactly what I thought Ips and then I worry that I'm under feeding but he's really not fussed about his food either and still isn't losing weight.
I'll put down his meals and he just ignores it unless I offer it to him as a reward for training and commands etc

Offline ips

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Re: Weight dramas!
« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2017, 11:09:27 AM »
We had same problem when eze was young, she would refuse food in the hope of something better coming along. Its certainly odd why the weight isn't coming off on what is  very low amount of food. Its not possible he is getting fed elsewhere is it ??
Muddling along in the hope that one day it all makes sense.

Offline Leo0106

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Re: Weight dramas!
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2017, 11:20:38 AM »
I know, I find it very odd.
Nope he'll never find food elsewhere as he is always with us, the only time he is cared for someone else is when his dog walker comes in which is about once a week, she always uses his kibble if she wants to treat him and occasionally if he is alone for a while longer after she's been in she'll leave him a kong with some treats in but again, because I work from home she only comes in about once a week.
He does try to eat stuff he finds on his walks but this is rarely food... more tissues or something haha

Offline Mudmagnets

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Re: Weight dramas!
« Reply #8 on: September 30, 2017, 02:30:04 PM »
Doesn't sound much at all to me. Less in fact than my cockapoo who has 50grms of dry and same of wet mixed together X 3 times a day and weighed 12.2kg a month ago

Does your vet sell prescription weight control food, by any chance?  ;)
Remembering Smudge 23/11/2006 - 3/8/2013, and Branston 30/8/14 - 28/10/22 both now at the Bridge.

Offline ian.peet.3

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Re: Weight dramas!
« Reply #9 on: September 30, 2017, 03:33:57 PM »
Our jet weighs 18 kg and is 7 months old but he seems to dwarf most other working cockers.. He's has 3 x 50g cups of wainwrights a day can feel his ribs ,but like with humans I think different dogs carry weight differently...

Offline Leo0106

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Re: Weight dramas!
« Reply #10 on: September 30, 2017, 04:36:41 PM »
Mudmagnets. Yes I believe they do sell diet food but they're having a laugh if they think I'm going to buy it haha. I am sceptical with the vets recommendations, to me he looks perfectly healthy, if he was lethargic and not able to exercise then I would assume he was unfit but the boy dosnt stop!
Totally agree with you Ian, every working cocker ive ever come across has looked different to one another. I sometimes think he looks a bit chubby when he's led down but when he stands up there's nothing of him!

Offline Mudmagnets

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Re: Weight dramas!
« Reply #11 on: September 30, 2017, 05:11:30 PM »
Mudmagnets. Yes I believe they do sell diet food but they're having a laugh if they think I'm going to buy it haha. I am sceptical with the vets recommendations, to me he looks perfectly healthy, if he was lethargic and not able to exercise then I would assume he was unfit but the boy dosnt stop!
Totally agree with you Ian, every working cocker ive ever come across has looked different to one another. I sometimes think he looks a bit chubby when he's led down but when he stands up there's nothing of him!

I would personally go with your gut feelings, if you and your dog are happy.
Remembering Smudge 23/11/2006 - 3/8/2013, and Branston 30/8/14 - 28/10/22 both now at the Bridge.

Offline Leo0106

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Re: Weight dramas!
« Reply #12 on: September 30, 2017, 06:38:58 PM »
Thankyou mudmagnets.
I certainly need a pre-christmas diet so maybe Leo will join in the weight loss!
I assume there's nothing much known about slow metabolism issues or anything?

Offline Mudmagnets

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Re: Weight dramas!
« Reply #13 on: September 30, 2017, 07:03:08 PM »
I believe, that the Thyroid gland (or rather what it produces in both humans and dogs can have an effect on metabolism, amongst other things, but if your dog is otherwise healthy apart from what the vet is saying about weight and you are happy with his condition, I would not worry too much about it. You could try googling Thyroid and see what comes up - but please don't frighten yourself by reading too much.

If the vet mentions it again say you are going to another vet practice to seek a second opinion, as is your right.

Meanwhile found this http://www.petloverscompanion.com/metabolism-in-pets-fat-dogs-skinny-cats/
Remembering Smudge 23/11/2006 - 3/8/2013, and Branston 30/8/14 - 28/10/22 both now at the Bridge.

Offline Leo0106

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Re: Weight dramas!
« Reply #14 on: September 30, 2017, 08:54:02 PM »
Many many thanks mudmagnets,
I will do a little but not too much reading into it!! Haha