[BeckyBeagal]

I am worried and frustrated. Becky who got spayed about 3~4 weeks ago seems to be gainining weight steadily about 0.5 lbs/wk. She is on Purina Indoor complete(first one I bought when I didn't know better) She doesn't seem to have thyroid problem.

I was going to switch to Chicken soup for dog lovers or Diamond natural chicken and rice (highly recommended by a member and I like the ingredient)
but now I am considering low fat/weight management formula, even though they contains a lot more carb than protein.
I am even considering Hills Science Diet (even though I don't care for what is in it at all) Please advise me. Thank you.

[Captbob]

Originally Posted by BeckyBeagal

I am worried and frustrated. Becky who got spayed about 3~4 weeks ago seems to be gainining weight steadily about 0.5 lbs/wk. She is on Purina Indoor complete(first one I bought when I didn't know better) She doesn't seem to have thyroid problem.

I was going to switch to Chicken soup for dog lovers or Diamond natural chicken and rice (highly recommended by a member and I like the ingredient)
but now I am considering low fat/weight management formula, even though they contains a lot more carb than protein.
I am even considering Hills Science Diet (even though I don't care for what is in it at all) Please advise me. Thank you.

How about smaller portions of a good food ( not Science Diet or a High carb "weight loss food") and more exercise. If you are going by the recommended amount of food on the package, you will probably wind up with a fat dog. My dog eats a little over half of the recommended serving on the label, and she walks 3.5 miles every day and plays in the dog park over an hour each day.

[cjac&mac]

The higher the quality of the food the less the dog will eat. Like CaptBob said stay away from high carbs. Some good foods to try would be: Natural Balance, Innova, Orijen, Solid Gold Barking at the moon, Wellness Duck or Venison.

And more exercise. Even if you can't take her for long walks try playing with her for half an hour, tire her out.

[BeckyBeagal]

Cap-

The recommended portion on the package for her weight is between 1 and 1/2 cup and 2 and 1/3. I feed her 2 times a day either 1/3 or 1/2 cup a time.
So maximum she gets a day 1 cup + some treat (very conservative as well) and veggies. ( I am generous about it. I will give her half of handful usually)

As far as exercise, my body injury prevents me from walking that long - I used to exercise fanatic, spending 2 hours at the gym) I tried to take her for a walk 15~30min every day, even though I can't walk fast. And we have petty huge backyard, where she spend most of day chasing squirrel. And I do play fetch with her - I throw something from upstairs to downstairs and so it's natural stair climber . I wouldn't say she gets max amount exercise but she get pretty good amount of exercise. If my back was Ok, I would run with her 3~4 miles everyday. I used to run 2miles for 14min 30 sec. well so much about that. I feel like bragging.

This is why I am frustrated.... I think I am doing everything I can.. what am I missing????

[Lorina]

Ouch. I'm sorry about your back.

Would you be able to walk her 15-30 minutes twice a day instead of once a day?

Do you use a retractable leash? I find that my dog probably goes twice as far as I do when we go on walks using a retractable because he's running back and forth the full length of the leash. Sometimes I even get him to run circles around me, like a horse on a lunge line.

[Wimble Woof]

how about some fetch or something like that? Laser pointers are great too if your dog has any chasing tendancies.
I would stay away from low fat or diet foods, reduce the amounts fed and try to get her moving in anyway you can. The best recepie for weight loss.

[Captbob]

My dog weights 45 pounds and eats 1 1/3 cups a day of Natural Balance Kibble.

[briteday]

Our dogs are 10-12 pounds and each get 1/2 cup per day of Natural Balance kibble. That is for maintenance.
I would look for a denser nutrient food and feed less. And I would cut out the treats other than veggies until the weight comes down. If you want to use up the food you have, just feed less.
Did the vet check her thyroid with a blood test?
Honestly, I've rarely seen a beagle that wasn't overweight. We recently got one at the shelter that was the size of 3 beagles! We had a neighbor whose beagle got into the food bag while they were gone and had to have her stomach pumped. Beagles are very food oriented.

[Lorina]

Honestly, I've rarely seen a beagle that wasn't overweight.

I know of one that's 75 pounds.

[BeckyBeagal]

Originally Posted by Captbob

My dog weights 45 pounds and eats 1 1/3 cups a day of Natural Balance Kibble.

Bob-

I don't know anything about other breeds but beagle specially my girl will do anything for food. She eats almost of everything, even candy wrapper.
After seeing your post, I reduce her portion even more, 1/3 cup X twice a day w/ green beans and some pumpkin when she looks starved.

Doesn't your dog want to eat more or give you sign she/he is not satisfied?
You can tell your dog wants to eat more cuz she/he still feel hunger from crave more food out of boredom. What do you recommend?

[cjac&mac]

Originally Posted by Captbob

My dog weights 45 pounds and eats 1 1/3 cups a day of Natural Balance Kibble.

1&1/3 cups a day is not enough food for a 45lb dog. I know that the suggested feeding is usually on the high side,and you should feed 1/4 cup less in most cases, but you are definitely under feeding. I hope your dog is supplemented with wet food or home cooked food.

All formulas of Natural Balance are different, but the lowest recommended feeding for a 45lb dog is min. 2 cups. Therefor at the very least your dog should consume 1&3/4 cups, and that's only if your feeding the original formula.
[b]
BeckyBeagle, from what we've talked about, I think you're being overly cautious (don't get me wrong it's not a bad thing). Your dog just got spayed, she's bound to gain a little weight. Please don't feed her less. 2/3 cup is not enough food. You'll end up doing the opposite of what you're looking for, she'll probably keep her weight on because she's not getting enough nutrition from the small amounts you're feeding her.

If your on Natural Balance--it's a good food, with good research behind it. It's designed to be dense so you don't have to feed as much, but you still have to feed the appropriate amount.

[BeckyBeagal]

Hey cjac&mac

Good to hear from you How's everything going?
Well thank you very much for your advice. Sometimes it got me worried since she looks starved - you can tell she wants food just to eat or she is really hungry.

I read somewhere-it could have been you - if your goal is 21 LBS for your dog, feed that amount recommended on package. What do you think of this idea?

[cjac&mac]

Originally Posted by BeckyBeagal

Hey cjac&mac

Good to hear from you How's everything going?

Everything's good on this end!!!

Originally Posted by BeckyBeagal

Well thank you very much for your advice. Sometimes it got me worried since she looks starved - you can tell she wants food just to eat or she is really hungry.

I doubt she is really hungry. What it could be is that she is very food orientated. There's a test you can do with your dogs to see if they are 'food' dogs or 'play' dogs. My boxer is a play dog. It's a simple test--take whatever toy or rope (or anything besides food) that your dog likes to play with. Play with her for a bit (5 min) then put a bowl of food down (have it already ready as to not disturb the play) and try to continue playing with her. A 'food' dog will eat the food, a 'play' dog will continue playing. (They still might look over their shoulder once in a while to make sure it's still there ).

Originally Posted by BeckyBeagal

I read somewhere-it could have been you - if your goal is 21 LBS for your dog, feed that amount recommended on package. What do you think of this idea?

Personally I think it really depends on the situation. If I had a 45lb dog that was supposed to max at 30lbs, I wouldn't feed the amount for a 30lb. If I had a 45lb dog that was supposed to max at 43lbs.....maybe.

In your case Becky, I think you should feed no less than 1 cup of Natural Balance "original" formula. If you are feeding the Duck, Venison, or Salmon than I think you should feed no less than 1&1/4 cup. I know you can't walk for long periods of time, but does your dog like playing fetch? If I can't go for my normal run every morning I bring out the Lazer pointer, Mac goes crazy, and he burns a lot of energy.

Your dog is not fat! She is still in her weight catagory. I understand that you are concerned, and you should be.....it's harder to lose weight than it is to gain!! However give her time to lose. If you stay with the Natural Balance you will start to see weight loss within 4 weeks! (remember .5lb to a dog is like 10 to a human.) And personally I wouldn't feed the pumpkin or green beans. It's not a necessity, the Natural Balance is a high quality food that is complete... she doesn't need that stuff.

[BeckyBeagal]

C&M,

I am not feeding her natural balance. I just bought Diamond Natural since amazingly it contains such a good ingredients for small price. Lots of people recommended it to me.

[cjac&mac]

I've never used Diamond Naturals myself but from what I've read it does seem to be a good food. I was looking at the feeding guidelines and I do think you should feed 1 cup a day for awhile and see how it goes. Remember it does take some time so be patient I hope that helps.

Good luck Becky!

[Captbob]

Originally Posted by cjac&mac

1&1/3 cups a day is not enough food for a 45lb dog. I know that the suggested feeding is usually on the high side,and you should feed 1/4 cup less in most cases, but you are definitely under feeding. I hope your dog is supplemented with wet food or home cooked food.

All formulas of Natural Balance are different, but the lowest recommended feeding for a 45lb dog is min. 2 cups. Therefor at the very least your dog should consume 1&3/4 cups, and that's only if your feeding the original formula.
[b]
BeckyBeagle, from what we've talked about, I think you're being overly cautious (don't get me wrong it's not a bad thing). Your dog just got spayed, she's bound to gain a little weight. Please don't feed her less. 2/3 cup is not enough food. You'll end up doing the opposite of what you're looking for, she'll probably keep her weight on because she's not getting enough nutrition from the small amounts you're feeding her.

If your on Natural Balance--it's a good food, with good research behind it. It's designed to be dense so you don't have to feed as much, but you still have to feed the appropriate amount.

If I fed the recommended amount on the bag, my dog would be obese. I am now working on getting her weight down to 41 pounds, which is where the vet says it should be. When I adoptted her last May, she weighed 38 pounds. I had been feeding her a little less than 2 cups a day, and during that time, she gained almost 10 pounds in 6 months. Way too much food.....Since I have cut back to 1 1/3 cups a day, she is gradually losing weight and looks much better. I do give her some protein every day, a small amound of meat or fish or an egg.

[cjac&mac]

Originally Posted by Captbob

If I fed the recommended amount on the bag, my dog would be obese. I am now working on getting her weight down to 41 pounds, which is where the vet says it should be. When I adoptted her last May, she weighed 38 pounds. I had been feeding her a little less than 2 cups a day, and during that time, she gained almost 10 pounds in 6 months. Way too much food.....Since I have cut back to 1 1/3 cups a day, she is gradually losing weight and looks much better. I do give her some protein every day, a small amound of meat or fish or an egg.

Thanks for clearing that up Bob. I feed Natural Balance myself, Venison and Brown Rice, and when I read your post I double checked the bag for feeding rations and got a little worried. I'm glad to here she gets the extra protein each day