45lb beagle...this dog needs help. How to take off the weight? How to improve health?

Your friends might want to have the dog tested for Cushings disease.  The scientific name is hyperadrenocorticism. 

Briefly, it's a disease that affects the adrenal glands.  It presents a lot like thyroid problems, & it's fairly common for dogs with this disease to be diagnosed & treated as hypothyroid dogs.  A blood panel on these dogs usually reveals elevated liver levels.  (ALT & ALKP)  The best test to rule in/out Cushing's is an ACTH stimulation test.  Some vets use low dose dexamethasone suppression tests as well.

I hope that your friend can find some answers.

If *you* can afford it, why not call and make arrangements with the vet to pay for the test.  Cushings is a darned good guess and it would be a lot better diagnosis than cancer.  But it's a test (and they have to fast the dog for overnight and bring the dog in -- the test is done before food and after food is given).

Real food is NOT a bad thing.  "scraps" are what OUGHT to be thrown away (dead french fries, grease, etc.) but things like veggies (mash them up and stir into the dog food) -- these can stretch the food in a low cal way and really help the overweight dog feel full with less food.

That's really the ticket -- LESS food.  People get this idea that hunger is the thing to be avoided at all costs.  and the dog's stomach just stretches and stretches -- the dog winds up OVER-full -- not just full.

But simply adding pureed veggies can be a marvelous way to help a dog lose.  There is nothing magic about dog food.

And honestly -- someone has to help them understand that bottom line foods like Pedigree are a recipe FOR cancer.  Help them understand that foods preserved with BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin are a steady diet of small amounts of carcinogen -- things not even allowed IN most human food (and certainly not things eaten every day as the sole source of nutrition).

I hope they can get some answers on the health problems.  Some mild, regular exercise will help with the weight loss, in addition to watching the diet.

 I'm LOVING Wellness Core Reduced Fat, buuuuuut with the dog having such serious health issues, I might not do a lot of flip flopping. Veggies are great, like Callie says, and that's what mine get, most times, for kibble toppers (I'll do crock potted veggies with a smidge of meat, or just plain, canned, no salt added green beans or pumpkin). They make the food extra tasty, and help them feel full.

Assuming they are not overfeeding the dog. . .the only thing that will help is to regulate the meds.  I've been reading about thyroid issues a lot lately because I'm wondering if Willow doesn't have something going on.  And, from what I've read the weight issues are part of the illness and not something that is due to overeating or lack of exercise like in dogs that don't have this problem. 

I'd have him speak to her vet about how well controlled this is on what she's on now.  And, between adjusting meds and getting a better diagnosis she might start doing much better. 

Okay I have an update.   The dog does have a tumor, but its benign so they aren't even going to bother with removing it.   The vet is going to up her does of the medicine she is on and see if that helps.  If she doesn't show improvement in a month they are going to try a new medicine.  And possible run some more tests.    Though the vet said for them to prepare themselves, she is old and being that overweight, her heart could give out on her.  She is having palpatations so the vet is worried about her heart now.     Its sad.  She is miserable.  

If they haven't asked have them ask if there is something she should be on for the heart issue.