Stop Obesity!!!

[golden&hovawart]

Thought this would interest so of you!.
As we're always looking for our pet's perfect weight!.

Your dog’s weight is a serious matter. So is ignoring it.

The numbers are startling. Recent studies show that while veterinarians estimate 47% of their canine clients are overweight, only 17% of dog owners believe their dogs fit that description¹ ².
Canine obesity is a growing problem, and being overweight or obese has been associated with arthritis, heart disease and breathing problems in dogs. In addition, obesity can worsen the signs associated with pre-existing diseases such as high blood pressure, hormone imbalances and joint disease.
While most dog owners know that canine obesity is a serious – even life-threatening – condition, they sometimes have trouble recognizing it in their own pets. Is your dog at risk? Now there’s an easy way to find out.
This February, be your dog’s best friend.
Join us for the National Canine Weight Check.
In February 2008, veterinarians across the country are teaming up for the first-ever National Canine Weight Check, a free and simple way to help you determine if your dog is overweight. Just take your dog to a participating veterinary office, and in many cases, you won’t even need an appointment.
At the weight check:

• Your dog will receive a free weight assessment, including breed-specific information where applicable.
• You’ll receive a weight check card where you can keep a record of your dog’s weight, along with educational materials on canine obesity and its health implications.
• You’ll also receive a postcard that you can mail in for a free gift, just for participating in the weight check.

Locate a participating veterinary practice near you.

Coming soon, we’ll have a list here of veterinary practices participating in the National Canine Weight Check.
The National Canine Weight Check is a public service supported by the American Kennel Club Humane Fund and veterinarians across the country, through a sponsorship by Pfizer Animal Health.
here's the site:
http://www.stopobesity.com/barc.htm

[borzoimom]

Interesting information. We usually have the opposite problem with my breed of keeping weight on them. However- I am sure they are not the norm here..

[GreyhoundGirl]

Interesting. I am in the same boat as borzoimom. I wonder how they determine the correct weight on a mixed breed of unknown origen. I'd think in that case the owner would know their dog better then a vet would, but I'm sure not all owners are too responsable about it.

I think the weight check cards are a good idea, our vet does something similar; everytime you go to the vets office the dogs weight is recorded in your booklet. It's interesting to look back on. Jenny was a durrender so the SPCA have all her previous records. I can see how much my little sweetie weighed as she grew up. (Okay... going off topic... lol)

[fairlight]

Alright Uma...hand back the M&M's NOW!

[tracknut]

I've seen a fair number of overweight Borzoi at performance events. It always surprises me to see it, but I suppose if they're infrequent participants, they get few walks, and they get the leftovers off the table... anything can happen.

I hope this effort does some good, but I fear they'll need to have a few psychologists on board to re-train the owners...

Dave

[golden&hovawart]

Weight on the dogs depends on a lot of things!:
breed,mass,bones,age and exercise!.
Often enough by looking at the dog,you should be able to tell!.
If you wonder about yr dogs'weight,then,he's,probably,overweight!.
Follow the minimal amount of food,instead of the maximum,unless a high energy dog.Amount given are often over the top!.
Some breeds will put on weight,more easily than others!.
Never seen a fat sighthound but seen a lot of fat retrievers.
Also,when a dog is spay or neutered,their metabolism slows down and they need less food!.
I was told by a French vet that when you spay/neuter a dog,you should lower the food intake by 10 %.
These are general guidelines that you have to cater to each dog!.

[borzoimom]

( overweight Borzoi.. ).. But seriously- we cut Hottie back to get weight off his joints. If you feel like he feels thin but did so for his joints. Ironically the lighter he got, the more he would run and the faster it dropped. He is as low as he can go at 94 pounds. Almost no pressure you can feel his ribs, in a bath he looks like he majorly shrunk.. Zubin is 120, and I can easily feel his ribs, and hip bones. But he is also taller than hottie.

[AtomicSkies]

i am so happy now that we have faye back down to a normal weight she runs again and lays with frog legs neither of which she did when she more resembled a hippopotamus then a dog...harrison fights me constantly over gadget i think she is perfect weight hes convinced shes too skinny i told him he could increase one of her meals slightly but the second i couldent easily feel her ribs it was back to the original amount...i think i finally got him to understand that she has been in an extremely awkward growing stage and will fill out which she now is...his parents let her sister get fat though she was getting fed 6 cups a day as soon as i found out i went on a rant to harrison who ranted to his mom and she has been cut back...i think we even may have convinced them to switch to canidae now that they have seen how awesome faye is and how lovely gadgets coat is

[fairlight]

IMO I see more small dogs that are way out of shape than I do large breed dogs. If you put an extra 5 pounds on a weenine dog and and extra five pounds on a large breed dog the smaller dog will look like a rolly poley where a large breed dog can hid the weight better. The same in humans...you take a petite woman and a tall woman if they each gain fice pounds on which woman is it more noticeable.

[Dauxside]

Oh gawd I saw the title of this thread and thought it was about me ;^>

I agree...dogs need to be kept at the best *breed* (working) weight...not at what we, usually americans, think of - in the GSDs I wanted to see a tuck in the lin and the shadow of last rib; in the Dachs it's almost the same.