Weight Fluctuation

[Moo]

Is weight fluctuation of over TEN-PERCENT a bad sign at all?

On any given day, Kirby can weigh 15 lbs or 18.5 lbs. About 2 lbs off of his mormal weight in either direction. 2 lbs of 16.5 lbs is nearly 13%, which is just insane, and has me completely perplexed. Keep in mind, I've always assumed that 17 lbs is his ideal weight, since cotons don't get usually this tall/long, so I'm just multiplying the proportions. You can't see anything through the hair, but his ribs have always felt good. He is lean, and light for his size, but structurally very sound.

But the weight gain to begin with seems impossible to me.
He eats so little in a day, and runs so much, I have no idea where the weight is coming from.
Each meal consists of about 1/3 cup of kibble, and maybe a couple sprigs of broccoli, chopped & mixed up; a tbsp of rice; an inch of banana; a quarter of a boiled egg... He never finishes his meals. Ever.
Mid day, he might get half a carrot.

But he never stops moving, and never sleeps... so I would expect him to burn out... not gain weight.

[Ladida]

Maybe pee and poo? I weigh less before I use the bathroom!

[Moo]

Originally Posted by Ladida

Maybe pee and poo? I weigh less before I use the bathroom!

lol, my dog doesn't pee 2 lbs of liquid.

And as I've already discussed with Dignity, my scale is not broken.

I am positive that the weight is the weight of my dog. Not the weight of what he's eaten, not the weight of me, and not my scale. If I weigh Kirby every other day for a two weeks, at the same time every day, There is a weight range of 4.5 lbs that he may land in.

[SalemWitchChild]

It is probably just water retention. I wouldn't worry about it.

[Blaze]

I have no idea what it means but Lilly is the same. One week she's 10 pounds and the next she's 12 or 13. It's weird.

[Ladida]

Very strange, it was just a guess though!

[Nightrise]

Muscle or age. Every dog is different. Kiev is gaining weight but she's also finally gotten lazier. She's 4 so she figured she's desevrved some rest now I gguess. Kirby's not that old but it doesn't mean he can't gain weight. Kiev gained weight when she first turned one herself and was still very lean. I personally just think it's age. dogs hit points where they gain weight, like humans. I weighed 60 some odd pounds in sixth grade, made it to my eighties in eigth, got to 100 in tenth and 115-120 in twelfth. 107 now but I've gotten sick.

[sheplovr]

I find this to be very interesteing for our pets:

My research revealed that dog breeds developed and thrived by eating local prey and human “leftovers.” The prey varied somewhat, but the human “leftovers” varied considerably! Certain climates and environments support different meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and grains. Many dog breeds evolved to assist humans in producing food or living off the land. Herding dogs were bred to herd sheep, goats and cattle. Coastal breeds assisted fishermen. Other dogs helped hunt deer, elk, wild pigs, rabbits, birds and so on. All dogs ate whatever foods were available in their homeland, and as carnivores and carrion feeders, were great opportunists, eating whatever they could find – alive or dead!

The importance of “ancestral” foods

How is this relevant today? Do dogs bred as companions still require their “ancestral” foods? I believe they do, and that eating “ancestral” meats, vegetables, fruits and some grains can be a key element in supporting vibrant health. After all, a Chihuahua raised by the Aztecs in central Mexico ate very differently from a Saint Bernard living in the Alps! I have found that when we gear the “foundation” meats, fish and vegetables to the regions our dogs developed in, magical health changes occur.

Take the Samoyed who had brown tear stains, a dull coat and scratchy skin. One week on a fish and sweet potato based food and she was a new dog! Northern breeds such as Samoyeds, huskies, malamutes and American Eskimo dogs evolved in very cold climates and ate high-fat diets of fish, seal, whale and caribou. Grains were non-existent. Root vegetables and some berries were available during the very short growing season. These breeds consistently do poorly on poultry and grain based dry foods. Some individuals have done all right on lamb or beef, but typical commercial dry foods contain far too many grains for these dogs.

German breeds, meanwhile, evolved in a land that raises a lot of beef and pork. Boxers, great Danes and German shepherds evolved shorter colons and need the right meats and fibrous vegetables with a few specific grains in order to prevent gas and life-threatening bloat.

The dogs of the British Isles often ate a great deal of fish if they lived close to the coast. In fact, coastal breeds and swimming bird-retrieving dogs need fish oils for healthy joints, skin and coats. Staple grains of the British Isles were barley and oats.

Asian breeds were traditionally exposed to fish, poultry and rice. Even though they developed where fermented soy foods were available, research shows that dogs are incapable of breaking down protein from soybeans. Unfortunately, soy shows up in many processed dog foods as a viable protein source. No one, to my knowledge, has ever “tested” whether or not chows, Sharpeis, or Pekinese can utilize soy. Shih Tzus, Lhasa Apsos, Tibetan spaniels, terriers, and mastiffs evolved in the Himalayas on yak and millet, and there’s no soy there! And on it goes.

Personalizing your dog’s diet

How do you find out which ancestral foods your own dog’s breed ate? Start by reading some good books on your breed, then find out which foods the people local to your dog’s ancestral region hunted, grew or raised before the age of supermarkets. One book I’ve found helpful is William D. Cusick’s Canine Nutrition, Choosing the Best Foods for Your Breed. With a little research, you can put together a shopping list of ancestral ingredients best suited for your dog’s particular breed.

Happily, there are many raw frozen and premium canned and dry foods that incorporate different meat, vegetable and grain choices. We can purchase rabbit and venison for our sight hounds, fish and sweet potato for northern breeds, beef and buffalo for red meat lovers, duck for our retrievers, and chicken and fish for Asian breeds. Even ostrich is available, although I’m not sure which breed apart from the Rhodesian ridgeback ate ostrich with any frequency!

It’s also easy to make homemade cooked or raw meat meals using ingredients from your dog’s ancestral diet. For some of my breed-specific homemade recipes, see Animal Wellness Volume 5, Issues 4 and 5, and Volume 6, Issues 1 and 3.

Keep in mind that besides your dog’s breed, you must also take into consideration his individual lifestyle, age, and health needs. Done with care, breed specific nutrition can make a big difference to your canine companion’s health!

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

During yearly routine tests, have you ever had his kidney functions tested?

[RoughCollies]

Faith went from 55 to nearly 64. I was shocked!!!!!! But, she is back in the fifties again.

BTW- Salem, you siggy rocks and is Oh So True!!!