Need help finding a healthy, weight control food

ORIGINAL: whtsthfrequency

I agree with ottoluv...they aren't needed but people tend to freak out and think everything causes cancer...

And Sandra makes a good point....I bet that 90% of dog owners worldwide feed what many would consider here to be "trash" food. So...why aren't all of these dogs dying at 3, 4, 5 years old? Why doesn't the vast majority of owned dogs in the world look badly, pathetically malnourished?

But I'm sorry all...that is my last point, I'm off this threa....so many of these conversations go awry and I'm just contributing to it...eh.

No one is saying that a dog fed a low quality food is going to drop dead at the age of 3.  And it can certainly be argued that the vast majority of dogs are unhealthy - at least most of them are overweight, which is not healthy. Therefore, most dog owners are not providing a healthy diet and/or lifestyle for their dogs.  That is a fact.  Also, as far as lifespan is concerned, I find it funny when I see people say how they know lots of dogs who have lived to age 15 or 16 on supermarket brands.  The average lifespan of  a dog is around 13 years of age.  The vast majority of those dogs are being fed supermarket foods.  So of course, half will live longer and half will die earlier than age 13.  So naturally you will see plenty of dogs living to 15 and 16 on these foods. The average lifespan as we know it is based on dogs fed these foods, so you can't use those ages as evidence that the dogs are living long lives with no point of comparison.

All you have to do is go the various rainbow bridge sections of different sites to see how young alot of dogs are dying these days [&:]

As for the carbs issue,a friend of mine of mine lost an inordinate amount of excess weight,simply by cutting carbs from her diet.

Wow - lots of opinions on this subject!  Thanks to everyone that offered their advice - I really appreciate it.  There is a lot of differing information here, but since I have 2 other dogs that are at a perfectly healthy weight, it would be easiest if I didn't have to put Tucker on a completely different food, so I think the first thing I'm going to try is to very accurately measure out a portion of the food they're already eating (Blue)based on the caloric content and amount of weight needed to lose (thanks MissKiwi for that info!).  We've also upped the exercise and I'm sure that will help.  Treats haven't been an issue as they get very few of them and they are never fed table food...ever. 
 
One idea I liked that was mentioned was giving cooked green beans as a "filler" - I would assume that I prob want to get the no added sodium variety for him, but how much should I give him of that?  Any other healthy fillers that folks' dogs like and wouldn't impede his weight loss?  I know someone else said carrots, but he's extremely picky and won't eat carrots (I'm hoping he'll eat the green beans - I assume if he's hungry enough he will!)

ORIGINAL: whtsthfrequency

I agree with ottoluv...they aren't needed but people tend to freak out and think everything causes cancer...

And Sandra makes a good point....I bet that 90% of dog owners worldwide feed what many would consider here to be "trash" food. So...why aren't all of these dogs dying at 3, 4, 5 years old? Why doesn't the vast majority of owned dogs in the world look badly, pathetically malnourished?

But I'm sorry all...that is my last point, I'm off this threa....so many of these conversations go awry and I'm just contributing to it...eh.

50 % of them die from cancer and they are getting that starting at around 5 years old.  If you think that is OK, than I guess you thing feeding all dogs junk food is OK.....

ORIGINAL: Edie

All you have to do is go the various rainbow bridge sections of different sites to see how young alot of dogs are dying these days [&:]

As for the carbs issue,a friend of mine of mine lost an inordinate amount of excess weight,simply by cutting carbs from her diet.

The same thing is happening with humans,  People are feeding their kids a diet of high fat, high  refined carbs, high sugar,  junk food and kids are starting to get type 2 diabetes and hardening of the arteries during their late teens. If people want to srick their heads in the sand and pretend that none of this is due to diet, go ahead.

About 5 years ago the number of Autistic Children born , was about 1 in 5,000.  The latest statistics show the number at 1 in 150.......   The parents of these kids are living on junk food, full of all kinds of toxins and additives. This problem will get worse and worse. I wouldn't count on the government to do anything about it, because it would affect the nations pocketbook.  

OK, enough.
 
I've given you guys a lot of rope and some of you are starting to hang yourselves.  Referring to foods that you are well aware that forum members feed as JUNK is not acceptable.  Nor is the condescending tone.
 
I feed my dogs Blue, Innova, Canidae and homecooked.  I can't promise that none of them will develop cancer and neither can anyone else.
 
Post your opinions without dumping on the choices of other folks or keep them to yourself.
 
I am not a fan of weight loss/control diets, as I stated earlier because they tend to be chock full of a ton of fillers and stuff that does nothing to enhance their health.  My best advice would be to feed less and exercise more.  Like people, if they burn more calories than they eat, they WILL loose weight.

Well at least we've been able to unlock the mysteries of cancer, maybe we can apply for the Noble prize.

The Gluten-Free, Casein-Free Diet In Autism: Results of A Preliminary Double Blind Clinical Trial
Authors: Elder, Jennifer[linkhttp://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/jadd/2006/00000036/00000003/00000079#aff_1]1[/link]; Shankar, Meena; Shuster, Jonathan; Theriaque, Douglas; Burns, Sylvia; Sherrill, Lindsay
Source: [linkhttp://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu/jadd;jsessionid=1j8owrsgt5a8v.victoria]Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders[/link], Volume 36, Number 3, April 2006, pp. 413-420(
Publisher: [linkhttp://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/klu;jsessionid=1j8owrsgt5a8v.victoria]Springer[/link] 



CM8ShowAd("Skyscraper");


Abstract:This study tested the efficacy of a gluten-free and casein-free (GFCF) diet in treating autism using a randomized, double blind repeated measures crossover design. The sample included 15 children aged 2–16 years with autism spectrum disorder. Data on autistic symptoms and urinary peptide levels were collected in the subjects' homes over the 12 weeks that they were on the diet. Group data indicated no statistically significant findings even though several parents reported improvement in their children. Although preliminary, this study demonstrates how a controlled clinical trial of the GFCF diet can be conducted, and suggests directions for future research.  You can't immediately attribute autism and its progression/manifestation to diet when there hasn't yet been any proof. Show me some proof, and I'll believe it.
 
This is OT I know, but that last comment about autism bothered me - as my younger adopted brother is autistic and I think all of this nutritional quackery is ridiculous, and hate it when people try to tell my family "Oh, you're doing such a cruddy job with him! Feed him X, Y and Z!"

Just a reminder that the topic of this thread is finding a healthy weight control food.  Lets TRY really hard to stay ON topic.

Glenmar, I apologize, I posted only second before you did. It was just a touchy subject to me. I'll refrain.

Thank you.  Had you not posted it before my post I would have removed it since it is off topic.  Interesting, but off topic. []

ORIGINAL: abbysdad

Well at least we've been able to unlock the mysteries of cancer, maybe we can apply for the Noble prize.

No joke!! Can we ditch the hysteria and stick to facts... I've had a stressful day of monitoring the ECG of a dog with a shattered spine... I'm not up for all this he says she says hullabaloo

Any other healthy fillers that folks' dogs like and wouldn't impede his weight loss? I know someone else said carrots, but he's extremely picky and won't eat carrots (I'm hoping he'll eat the green beans - I assume if he's hungry enough he will!)

Any kind of chunks of veggies will go through undigested. Mine eat all sorts of fruits and veggies, and enjoy them. Ground or cooked and mashed veggies may be digested for extra nutrients, and only add in a few calories. Try him out on some stuff. Apples, broccoli, peas, carrots, green beans, and zucchini are very popular, at my house[]

ORIGINAL: WestieGirl

Wow - lots of opinions on this subject!  Thanks to everyone that offered their advice - I really appreciate it.  There is a lot of differing information here, but since I have 2 other dogs that are at a perfectly healthy weight, it would be easiest if I didn't have to put Tucker on a completely different food, so I think the first thing I'm going to try is to very accurately measure out a portion of the food they're already eating (Blue)based on the caloric content and amount of weight needed to lose (thanks MissKiwi for that info!).  We've also upped the exercise and I'm sure that will help.  Treats haven't been an issue as they get very few of them and they are never fed table food...ever. 

One idea I liked that was mentioned was giving cooked green beans as a "filler" - I would assume that I prob want to get the no added sodium variety for him, but how much should I give him of that?  Any other healthy fillers that folks' dogs like and wouldn't impede his weight loss?  I know someone else said carrots, but he's extremely picky and won't eat carrots (I'm hoping he'll eat the green beans - I assume if he's hungry enough he will!)

 
Sounds like a good plan [].  I measure out my dogs feedings with a measuring cup.  I know the exact measurement that it takes to keep her at a good weight.  It might take some experimentation to find out what exactly the amount is.
 
My dog will eat anything, but I'll give her green beans, carrots, canned pumpkin, celery, bits of pear, apple, banana, green and red peppers.  Pretty much anything but grapes and onions.

Instead of using a cup, get a little kitchen scale if you don't have one and use that to measure the food. It's super easy to make a mistake even when you are using a cup measure, with kibble. Then you will also know how many kcals you are feeding, and will be able to use that information if you use another food.

I had to do this with Zhi for a while. She eats so little it was driving me nuts trying to eyeball that little bit. I'd have her porking up one week and looking like she needed someone to come rescue her, the next. Now I know about how much of all our food options, she eats, so it's not so bad and I don't need the scale.

My husband lost about ten pounds in just a few weeks by cutting some major carb sources - soda, extra bread, biscuits for breakfast. I lost some weight but have lost much more recently by increasing my exercise - my puppies started training in the big field, and it's a marathon race every day to keep up with them!