Dog needs to lose weight but cannot exercise, any thoughts?

jenhug

burns do a high oats food for obese dogs. how much are you feeding her? cut it back a little again, add in fresh veg if you need to bulk it out.

heretolearn_2

can she do more exercise - a little and often? If she gets exhausted on a walk, then maybe just something very short, a lap round the garden then back indoors for a rest, even just moving from one room to another and back again, but as often as you can, several times a day, just to keep her mobile and get some exercise. Every little helps. Is she still playful until she gets tired? Even 20 seconds shuffling over to 'fetch' a ball from the other side of the room is exercise.

undaunted

Hydrotherapy - Swimming

Cooked potatoes, vegetables etc mixed with a low in fat meat rather than the dry food may help.

If arthritis is a problem something like a magnetic bed or collar may possibly also be helpful

rising_from_the_ashes

Hi, I have an elderly lab who has similar problems - I needed to try to get 5kg off him!:eek: to help with his joints.

He also gets very tired and we'd got to the stage where he didn't really want to go out at all.

He's on a new medication which has done wonders but still was struggling with the weight - he's an old boy and wasn't going to starve him (it's sooooo much easier when they're younger)!

He used to have dried meal with homemade chicken/veg mix (frozen in individual portions). All I've done is cut his dry meal down by about a tablespoonful, stop feeding chicken and increase the amount of veg he gets (mainly cabbage).

My vet said to avoid veg like potatoes, turnip (which he used to get a fair bit of) etc as they're very starchy and not great when you're trying to get the weight off them.

He doesn't get a lot of treats (never has done as he puts on weight very easily) but still gets a Bonio when I go to work & a biccie at bedtime.

So far, he's lost 2kg - it has taken around 3 months but we're moving in the right direction. He's enjoying his walks so much more and (touch wood) the joints seem much better so I'm hoping once we manage to get the rest of the weight off it'll make a huge difference.

Good luck