Diet food for dogs?

does EP sell a lite food? I would try with that first, stick with the same brand she is used to eating....

I know Science Diet Lite is good for loosing weight, but it's def. not a good food... but it gets the weight off our chunky dogs at the shelter.... I would imagine any lite food would do the same...

The vet was actually less concerned with her losing weight than making sure she didn't gain anymore. She could stand to lose 3 pound. She weighs 43 and vet would like to see her at 40. But we definately don't want to to gain more. We can't cut treats or people food because she doesn't get those. Ecxept a once a week treat plus some random carrot sticks a couple of times a week.

Beckagirl

... Also...our vet sells it...and I don;t trust when they try to sell me stuff. I do agree that she needs a lighter food though. Any suggestions?

You seem to me like a bright girl Becka!  Your darn rootin tootin right on the money being skeptical of these feeds.  They are dangerous IMO because the pump out even more fiber than the industry standard (as if 60-70% carb is not enough already).  They are designed to induce the feeling of fullness, at the same time sacrificing the quality animal source proteins which is needed.  This can be a pending disaster setting the dog up for far more trouble down the road.  Dogs eat less product when the cals are pumped up in the ration.  One cup of a high quality feed can provide just as much energy if not more that what would equal 3 cups of another feed.  What do you think is best for weight loss, getting the same in cals by eating much less, or eating three times as much to get the same in cals?  Deliver the same with less, and the weight will come off.  Wishing you the best of luck with your choices. Charlie.

PS:  I feed only product from the Robert Abady Dog Food Co.  Poughkeepsie NY.

My 3 year old terrier has a luxating patella and needed to lose weight also. He was just over 28 lbs and strained a ligament chasing a squirrel. I was feeding Holistic Blend because it was low calorie (and low fat and low protein). I didn't know at the time that it was very high in carbs. He lost a pound or two but I could still feel a layer of fat on his neck, back, and ribs. I tried EVO because it was low carb and grain free. He's lost about 7 or 8 lbs and feels so much more solid. We walk 5 miles a day and with the higher protein he's built his leg muscles up to where he rarely shows symptoms of the lux patella, just the occasional skip in his step. I would strongly recommend one of the grain free foods if you're going to feed dry food. The Wellness Core foods, Timberwolf Wild & Natural or Ocean Blue and Orijen look good, and I'm sure there are others. I would suggest, however, that you feed less than the recommended amount on the bag. I typically mix a spoonful or two of canned EVO with green beans as the first course, followed by the EVO kibble(1/4 cup), with water added. I do that twice a day, and give him a snack of Tripett lamb tripe before bed. Good for you for being proactive, and, seriously, avoid the diet or lite foods. As posted earlier, they just increase the carbs to a ridiculous level at the expense of protein and fat, which she needs.

Wellness Core has a low fat, grainless food with 33% protein and 9% fat. I have not used it (my dogs are on Orijen) but it looks like a great food for weight loss that isn't loaded down with carbs! Amy

 

I am not going to give suggestions for food, but my golden retriever had to have both knees operated on for luxating patellas.  I started her on joint sups after her first knee was operated on at 16 momnths--the other was 14 months later--and today at 8 you would never know she had knees so bad she coudln't even get on the sofa or bed.  I do say it is important to get any extra weight off--I had to take 18 pounds of KayC ee that she put on during bad knees, surgeries and recoveries and have kept it off all these years.  But it is almost very important to do the Gluco, Chondro/MSM joint sups.

I know life's Abundance sells weight-loss formula for Adult dogs.  They also sell treats that are low fat.  The website is www.SmartDiet1.net.  Fortunely, my pug hasn't needed that yet.  She eats the regular formula food and eats less than other premium dog food.  I think the Life's Abundance is dense and it sticks to her ribs longer. 

I would avoid most of the "lite" foods, they are really bad for doggy health- your dog will lose weight, sure, but will lose body muscle which is essential for stabilizing and supporting joints. Look for a low-carb, low-fat food. EVO reduced fat. Wellness core. Pet valu sells a nice salmon-based high protein low-fat diet food Performatrim if you have any Pet valus near you. Royal Canin lite food pretends to be high protein, but it's all corn gluten and isn't really.

   If you're referring to the Royal Canin calorie control cc high protein, I think your dog would definitely lose weight on it. It's 32% protein and 7.5% fat; that's the biggest difference between amounts of protein and fat that I've seen in a dog food, and that's the secret to losing the weight. Royal Canin is well known for being highly palatable, so your dog should like it. When you feed less of a regular food, you are also feeding less nutrients. I feed Jessie less than the recommended feeding amount because she would gain weight, but I try to stay with foods where I don't have to feed more than 25% less than recommended. The nice thing about this food is that it has "higher levels of all essential nutrients relative to energy so that when calories are restricted, nutrient delivery is not", which means your dog will not be short changed on nutrients.

abbiedox

Wellness Core has a low fat, grainless food with 33% protein and 9% fat. I have not used it (my dogs are on Orijen) but it looks like a great food for weight loss that isn't loaded down with carbs! Amy

 

 

 An ideal diet food for dogs contains 8-10% fat, GREATER than 25% protein, and a minimum of 12% fiber (not only to fill them up, but also to slow glucose absorption from the gut). Whats the fiber percentage on the wellness core? If its even double the normal then I will totally agree that this would be a good choice.

 Calculating the daily caloric needs isn't a bad idea either... see where you are and if you're ok, then cut by 10%, if you're giving her excess of the daily calories, then you can cut even more... Send me a pm with the kcals per cup of your pets diet and I'll calculate it out for you if you don't know how.

 

 

guys my doctor advised me to give food 2 times a day to my German Shepperd, but my dog is demanding 3 times. what should i do?

 Hi zungli; Welcome to the forum. 

   If your vet is recommending that you feed less calories, you can feed your dog the amount of calories your vet recommends, but divide that into 3 feedings. For example; Jessie has chronic pancreatitis so I feed her four meals a day, half a cup of food at each meal. If I were feeding her twice a day, she would get one cup at each meal. Hope that helps.