[zimandtakandgrrandmimi]

i was walking home from the coffee shop today when i saw something that flat out made me just want to SCREAM!! OMG!

it was a male black lab. his belly was literally THREE INCHES from the ground!!! How in heck do people not see that that is tantamount to killing your dog with kindness kind of abuse!?!?!?!?!?!?! i wanted to cry he was obviously in major distress trying to heave his heavy body along in the hot hot heat.

to that man

how can you have let it get soooo bad? i dont understand! Just because he is a dog doesnt mean his health doesnt deserve the same respect and consideration that yours does!

 

[Pai]

Labs are supposed to be fat, didn't you know? =P

Heck, 90% of the ones you see at dog shows are tubtastic too. I think that just makes people assume that's their normal shape.

 

[PitBully]

It is very sad when owners overfeed their animals and think they are perfectly fine. A typical lab should be near 70-100 pounds. Your description burns a vivid image into my head. I imagine a person who should be (this around particular weight based on height) and they are hundreds of pounds overweight.

PB

 

[Spicy1_VV]

Girl I know what you mean. It makes me so upset to see. I had a similar experience, I couldn't believe my eyes. Because the dog in question looked like a Lab/Greyhound mix. Black with the greyhound head and kind of thin legs but sorta labish looking body, you can imagine how sad that looked jumbo size with a tiny head and legs, lots of weight on a small frame. The owner was eating junk food and overweight. I know some people have medical issues with weight or other reasons, so this isn't meant to offend anyone. I just don't understand why make your dog the same way? Giving them junk food and letting them be obese? It doesn't make sense. I've told people before their dogs were overweight but I was kind of in shock this time (because of the proportions) I wasn't even sure what to say in a nice way.

 

[MissMutt]

If you didn't live so far away I would've thought you were talking about a black lab I saw here in NY a few weeks ago.. This dog was at least 3x wider than it should have been..

 

[Xie]

Ugh, fat dogs drive me up a wall!

The only dog in my care that was ever even approaching overweight had undiagnosed hypothyroidism. I did a happy dance over that actually cause the vet I work for was giving me a hard time about letting one of the dogs get fat. Except I knew she (who at a good weight is about 45lbs) was only eating the same amount as my 15lb JRT. I did a hypo panel and was vindicated, despite her only being a year and a half (very young to be hypo).

I always always warn people with dogs about weight gain, especially if they have a breed that is prone to it. What really makes me sad is when a HUGE dog comes in, the owner swears it doesn't eat much, and then it tests negative for hypothyroidism. You just know in a case like that that the owner isn't fessing up to all the treats and other stuff the dog is getting outside of it's normal meals.

The worst is overweight dog and a touchy overweight owner. Frankly, I don't care what the owner does about their weight, but me saying your dog is fat and needs a diet is NOT a reflection on you. I am only looking out for the dog's health. More than once I've had an owner get upset at me when I dare to mention it's diet time for their pup.

 

[3212]

I hear yah! Working at a vet clinic I see all kinds of crazy size dogs! It makes me sick! And we even see people with obese animals that say..."oh I know it's bad, but he just loves his food". There is NO excuse! We have dogs on meds that add to weight gain and they are able to manage their dog's weights so why can't people with healthy dogs?

The most awful thing I have ever seen was this bloodhound who weighed in at 250 pounds!!! That's way more than I weigh!!!

 

[All about Eva]

I was just having this conversation. All my dogs are very fit. I had a lady tell me that my dog was to thin and needed to be beefed up. What!! Do people not even know what a dog is suppose to look like any more. Goldens are not suppose to be big and fat, but if that is all you see, than yes my dog will look thin. I have a new English bull who is severly obese. I can not beleive she can walk. (only have had her a few days) I do not understand why people do this to dogs. Her meds should only cost 120dollars instead they cost 250 dollars. If she would have kept her fit she would have saved money and possibly been able to keep her. i do not mean to rant. I understand that people go through finacial hard times but they gave her away because they could not afford her and were having a baby. Food is medicine!!!! If you eat healthy you feel better and live longer!! What makes that different for animals?

 

[rosemaryninja]

It is horrible, I know. My boyfriend just rescued a 2 y/o Lab who is dreadfully overweight... we are starting her on a weight loss regime but already you can practically hear her bones creaking when she tries to get up. Let me reiterate, she is TWO years old... and just to fuel the fire, let me also add that her previous owner DELIBERATELY fattened her up. His words exactly: "Hey, it took a lot of work to get her this rolypoly. I like fat animals. They're so cute and fun to rest your feet on." Kyle and I were aghast.

We are in dire need of tips to help her loose the weight!
http://www.dogforums.com/13-dog-health-questions/47729-severe-weight-loss-programme.html

Can I just also ask, how much do Labs usually eat? And I mean ones of a healthy weight... what is an average "ideal" portion for a Lab?

 

[PitBully]

People have control over what they consume. There is really no excuse to have an overweight animal under any circumstance.

What is worse than meeting touchy owners of obese animals are the ignorant ones who assume my dogs are emaciated because their ribs are somewhat visible. My pitbulls are in excellent condition. Their coats are shiny, teeth white and their forelimbs and hind limbs are rippling with impressive muscle tone. I prefer my dogs to have very little body fat with tummies that are literally tucked.

Now if only someone would help me lose weight.

PB

 

[Spicy1_VV]

Ugh, fat dogs drive me up a wall!

The only dog in my care that was ever even approaching overweight had undiagnosed hypothyroidism. I did a happy dance over that actually cause the vet I work for was giving me a hard time about letting one of the dogs get fat. Except I knew she (who at a good weight is about 45lbs) was only eating the same amount as my 15lb JRT. I did a hypo panel and was vindicated, despite her only being a year and a half (very young to be hypo).

I always always warn people with dogs about weight gain, especially if they have a breed that is prone to it. What really makes me sad is when a HUGE dog comes in, the owner swears it doesn't eat much, and then it tests negative for hypothyroidism. You just know in a case like that that the owner isn't fessing up to all the treats and other stuff the dog is getting outside of it's normal meals.

The worst is overweight dog and a touchy overweight owner. Frankly, I don't care what the owner does about their weight, but me saying your dog is fat and needs a diet is NOT a reflection on you. I am only looking out for the dog's health. More than once I've had an owner get upset at me when I dare to mention it's diet time for their pup.

You put it good, that is exactly what I mean. I don't care if the person has an issue or can't loose weight or if they choose not to even try, that is there choice. The dog doesn't have a choice. You can feed yourself horrible junk foods, but to your dog making them obese? Come on. I never want to insult the owner if they are overweight, that isn't my intention but they need to do something for the pet. Another in town is overweight cat owner with a huge cat. This cat is one of the fattest I've ever seen and it always has food. The cat was actually eating one time, after waking from a nap and the owner said "that's the life isn't it" not really, killing him like that. We've said the cat needs to loose weight, be on a diet, ect. He of course doesn't care what others say about his cat though.

People have control over what they consume. There is really no excuse to have an overweight animal under any circumstance.

What is worse than meeting touchy owners of obese animals are the ignorant ones who assume my dogs are emaciated because their ribs are somewhat visible. My pitbulls are in excellent condition. Their coats are shiny, teeth white and their forelimbs and hind limbs are rippling with impressive muscle tone. I prefer my dogs to have very little body fat with tummies that are literally tucked.

Now if only someone would help me lose weight.

I'd have to agree. Some of the most annoying. Your dogs are starving, skinny, under weight. Ok whatever, my dogs are in better shape then they're dogs could ever hope to be. (unfortunately) But keep slipping your dogs the donuts lady your right dogs should have fat jiggling.

 

[zimandtakandgrrandmimi]

and then...you show an average joe/jane a fit dog at good weight and you know what they say 90% of the time?

TOO SKINNY! they then snobbishly proceed to ask why so and so is STARVING their dog!

Girl I know what you mean. It makes me so upset to see. I had a similar experience, I couldn't believe my eyes. Because the dog in question looked like a Lab/Greyhound mix. Black with the greyhound head and kind of thin legs but sorta labish looking body, you can imagine how sad that looked jumbo size with a tiny head and legs, lots of weight on a small frame. The owner was eating junk food and overweight. I know some people have medical issues with weight or other reasons, so this isn't meant to offend anyone. I just don't understand why make your dog the same way? Giving them junk food and letting them be obese? It doesn't make sense. I've told people before their dogs were overweight but I was kind of in shock this time (because of the proportions) I wasn't even sure what to say in a nice way.

like Spicy one time I was at a friend's house on their comp looking at one of your pic threads and my friend's boyfriend goes..."they look like skeletons."

Don't worry I gave him a serious earful on just how ignoramus sounding that stupid comment was...

 

[MissMutt]

I have zillions of people tell me Marge is too skinny.

She'd be okay with another 5 lbs but they make it seem like she looks like those emaciated dogs on the donation cans for the SPCA..

 

[Darkmoon]

I know what you mean Zim.

I was out walking Nubs a few weeks ago and was approched by 2 very overweight Labs, one black and one yellow. Normally I'm scared to death of stray dogs, but these two I knew Nubs and I could run circles around and be out of range in a matter of seconds if needed. It was so sad.

Come to find out, the Yellow lab is Blind and the Black lab is death. They rely on each other too keep each other safe. They are NEVER in their own yard, they are always just let loose in their front yard, and people of the neighborhood know just to take it slow around their house because the Black lab is known to chase cars

Worst of all because they are 8 years old and so "old" their owners let them eat whatever they want because they only have "a few years left"... Last time I knew I thought labs could live up to 12 to 15 years or more! Poor dogs are in the prime of their lives and are sickly overweight. Sicking...

 

[PitBully]

Marge is in great condition. This photo is a good indication of her smaller frame.

PB

Come to find out, the Yellow lab is Blind and the Black lab is death. They rely on each other too keep each other safe.

This sounds terrifying.

PB

 

[MissMutt]

Yeah PitBully..she's just a petite girl. She eats every morsel of her food (2ish cups a day with wet as a topper) and my dad is VERY generous with treats. She's got plenty of energy, she's not lethargic... yet people insist that she's "too skinny" and tell me to "get some weight on that dog!"

I'd personally rather see the point of her hip a little bit than not be able to feel it at all..

 

[Locke]

My grandma's toy poodle is a fatso. She REFUSES to see it. I don't like being disrespectful, so I ask my dad to tell her that he SERIOUSLY needs to go on a diet. She listened for a while and he was looking sooooo good, and we made sure to comment on how good he was looking to try to get her to see the light...then all of a sudden, he's back to his old fatness. She constantly complains about him not eating...well NO SH*T! HE'S FULL! he can't possibly eat anymore!! But no, him not eating means he's starving so she feeds him whatever she's having for dinner...and not toy poodle sized meals, like...HUMAN sized meals. It's ridiculous!! and makes me FURIOUS. ESPECIALLY because he has a luxating patella, so his extra EXTRA weight puts more stress on it. I tell her this, she doesn't listen. We even called the vet ahead of an appointment to ask him to STRESSS the fact that he NEEEEDS to go on a diet. That worked for all of 10 days, and then he stopped eating the food...the dog will not starve himself grandma!!!

sorry for the rant....it is soo soooo frustrating.


Marge looks perfect to me. maybe a few pounds more, but better to be lighter than heavier I say.

 

[PitBully]

Yeah PitBully..she's just a petite girl. She eats every morsel of her food (2ish cups a day with wet as a topper) and my dad is VERY generous with treats. She's got plenty of energy, she's not lethargic... yet people insist that she's "too skinny" and tell me to "get some weight on that dog!"

I'd personally rather see the point of her hip a little bit than not be able to feel it at all..

My dogs will eat anything. ANYTHING! Fruit, veggies, (the other day one of my males snatched a cheese-it out my hand.)

Frozen chunks of meat are excellent healthy treats.

I feed my dogs one scoop of dry kibble and 3/4 of a cup of raw meat twice a day.

PB

Edit

 

[Pepper]

I went over to my mom's friend's house last week and was almost brought to tears..

They have three HUGE..HUGE basset hounds, at least 80 pounds overweight..their stomachs sag on the floor, etc..

The saddest part was one of them was 11 years old, was at least 100 pounds overweight, has arthritis in all of her legs, and is in so much pain she lashes out at anyone that comes near her, she would have puntured my skin if she wasn't so old and weak
I TRIED to tell them to do something, anything...

"She's just a baby" they say...

"Dogs need to be fat" they say...

It was disgusting and saddening.

 

[Spicy1_VV]

and then...you show an average joe/jane a fit dog at good weight and you know what they say 90% of the time?

TOO SKINNY! they then snobbishly proceed to ask why so and so is STARVING their dog!



like Spicy one time I was at a friend's house on their comp looking at one of your pic threads and my friend's boyfriend goes..."they look like skeletons."

Don't worry I gave him a serious earful on just how ignoramus sounding that stupid comment was...

GRRRR Exactly what they say.

Skeletons my ass. I get so annoyed with the ignorant after awhile. Especially when they try to educate me. Glad you gave them an ear full.