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We inherited or Golden Retriever from my parents, she's a pure blood, not mixed so I know she's prone to weight gain just because of her breed. But she was free fed when my parents had her and fed her beneful and she was overweight when we got her.
We have had her about a year and a half and she's always been a BIG dog. Well yesterday she had her regular grooming appointment and instead of her usual trim we decided to get her shaved for the summer. So she will be more comfortable. Well..... WOW, her long hair sure hid a lot of her fluff.....
This recall came at a good time (if I'm allowed to say that) because otherwise I don't think I would have been doing the research on dog food that I have been lately.
We are currently using TOTW High Prairie and Wetlands along with Blue Buffalo Life Protection Chicken and Brown Rice for the kibble in her rotation. I read where rotation of proteins is important. She also gets some TOTW or BB homestyle canned. Her food is measured/weighed I was giving her 520 calories per meal. Before her grooming appointment I did reduced that a tad to an even 500 calories per meal. Using the dog food calculator on Dog Food Advisor for an 80 lb overweight dog. She should drop a good 20+ pounds! I think she has packed on a few pounds since we switched her from Beneful to TOTW a few months ago. She doesn't normally get treats during the day, maybe an odd one here and there but it's not a daily thing.
Last night I started reading up on this page.
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/weight-loss-dog-foods/#fnref-3046-2
Are reduced fat or light food options a good idea for a dog?
I was thinking of switching her to this kibble.....
Wellness Core Grain Free Reduced Fat Kibble
33% Protein
10% Fat Min ~ 12% Fat Max
Then using the canned Merrick and Wellness options on that link as well since they have a lower fat than other options. Most are 3% fat while a few are 4% fat. Just because she prefers to have a mixture of wet and dry with water added. I'll be using 1/3 of the can of canned with the difference in the calories in kibble. All foods weighed out since I use a scale for my home business and my own dieting needs it's always out.
I was thinking of switching to Earthborn Holistic Grain Free, until I realized how chubby she was and realized that has 15/18% Fat and the two TOTW kibbles were currently using has 18% fat. So since she gained weight after we switched, maybe she would be better off with a lower fat, high protein, grain free kibble instead.
I do have enough kibble for maybe 3-4 weeks left yet. Should I switch her over to a lower fat kibble sooner than getting to the end of the bag? I wouldn't waste the kibble I have but instead would give it to my brother for his two dogs. They feed iams but I have mentioned 4health and TOTW to my SIL and I think (hope) she has switched to the one or the other because she was questioning me after that first conversation.
Just before the second Diamond plant recall I had purchased more TOTW and I bought a bag of the 4Health Large breed to rotate. But I have taken them back and replaced it with a bag of the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe. That has 15% fat.
So when trying to slim a dog down, what's the best way to do it. We do a mile and a half walk daily. (working up to increasing as my health allows) But how should we alter her food? Is 500 calories per meal too much or not enough? Does the fat of the dog food make a difference? Grain Free or non-grain free options? That's another reason why I was thinking of going with the Wellness Core because it's a grain free version.
Does anyone have any experience with slimming an overweight dog?
We have had her about a year and a half and she's always been a BIG dog. Well yesterday she had her regular grooming appointment and instead of her usual trim we decided to get her shaved for the summer. So she will be more comfortable. Well..... WOW, her long hair sure hid a lot of her fluff.....
This recall came at a good time (if I'm allowed to say that) because otherwise I don't think I would have been doing the research on dog food that I have been lately.
We are currently using TOTW High Prairie and Wetlands along with Blue Buffalo Life Protection Chicken and Brown Rice for the kibble in her rotation. I read where rotation of proteins is important. She also gets some TOTW or BB homestyle canned. Her food is measured/weighed I was giving her 520 calories per meal. Before her grooming appointment I did reduced that a tad to an even 500 calories per meal. Using the dog food calculator on Dog Food Advisor for an 80 lb overweight dog. She should drop a good 20+ pounds! I think she has packed on a few pounds since we switched her from Beneful to TOTW a few months ago. She doesn't normally get treats during the day, maybe an odd one here and there but it's not a daily thing.
Last night I started reading up on this page.
http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/best-dog-foods/weight-loss-dog-foods/#fnref-3046-2
Are reduced fat or light food options a good idea for a dog?
I was thinking of switching her to this kibble.....
Wellness Core Grain Free Reduced Fat Kibble
33% Protein
10% Fat Min ~ 12% Fat Max
Then using the canned Merrick and Wellness options on that link as well since they have a lower fat than other options. Most are 3% fat while a few are 4% fat. Just because she prefers to have a mixture of wet and dry with water added. I'll be using 1/3 of the can of canned with the difference in the calories in kibble. All foods weighed out since I use a scale for my home business and my own dieting needs it's always out.
I was thinking of switching to Earthborn Holistic Grain Free, until I realized how chubby she was and realized that has 15/18% Fat and the two TOTW kibbles were currently using has 18% fat. So since she gained weight after we switched, maybe she would be better off with a lower fat, high protein, grain free kibble instead.
I do have enough kibble for maybe 3-4 weeks left yet. Should I switch her over to a lower fat kibble sooner than getting to the end of the bag? I wouldn't waste the kibble I have but instead would give it to my brother for his two dogs. They feed iams but I have mentioned 4health and TOTW to my SIL and I think (hope) she has switched to the one or the other because she was questioning me after that first conversation.
Just before the second Diamond plant recall I had purchased more TOTW and I bought a bag of the 4Health Large breed to rotate. But I have taken them back and replaced it with a bag of the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe. That has 15% fat.
So when trying to slim a dog down, what's the best way to do it. We do a mile and a half walk daily. (working up to increasing as my health allows) But how should we alter her food? Is 500 calories per meal too much or not enough? Does the fat of the dog food make a difference? Grain Free or non-grain free options? That's another reason why I was thinking of going with the Wellness Core because it's a grain free version.
Does anyone have any experience with slimming an overweight dog?