Is Charlie Overweight?

• Is Charlie Overweight? mrstjohnson Posted : 1/30/2007 12:50:28 PM Ok - we went to the vet last week and she made a comment that Charlie is getting a little heavy (he weighs 22 lbs.).  To be honest the weight # really surprised me, because he doesn't look overweight.  We walk him 3 -4 times a day for 30 - 40 minutes (we don't have a fenced in yard for him to run around in).   He is about 12 inches tall (floor to shoulders), which is a little small for a beagle and about 21 inches long.  He is 9 months old.   We feed him 1 cup of puppy Innova a day (1/3 morning, lunch, and night) plus a few treats here and there for training, etc.   Here are some pics I took of his waist at lunchtime today.  I just don't see where the vet thinks he is heavy (or getting heavy).         LIKE 19 REPLIES 261 VIEWS LAST POST KARA Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• lisa baker Posted : 1/30/2007 12:56:04 PM IMO  he is not overweight.  I would not probably let him get any heavier but if I were to see him on the street I would get the impression of good overall health.  Unlike my little Zoey who has lost her privileges of hanging out in the diningroom when the kids are eating.  She is quickly losing her girlish figure trying to make sure the floor stays clean [8|] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• rwbeagles Posted : 1/30/2007 1:30:08 PM 12" Is not small for a Beagle...there is a 13" variety which is any height under 13"....the smaller bitches are right around 11-12" high. Dogs, meaning males...generally if they stay 13" end up right at 12 1/2- 12 3/4" at 2 years old.   My heaviest 13" bitch, Susie...weighed around 18-20lbs at 5 years old. Ellie...my only 13" right now, who is about 12" if that...is 17lbs. She is 10 months old.   Pictures taken while eating are deceptive because the entire stomach area is retracted and the dog will look a lot thinner than it actually is. Same while drinking. IMO 22lbs if you have his height measured right...at 12" is a bit heavy. But I can't see your boy so it's hard to say!   ETA: Sorry I see it now...he's 9 months old. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• rwbeagles Posted : 1/30/2007 1:33:38 PM Oh and my friend who has a 13" dog that was a top ranked special in his day and kept in tip top shape...he was 12 1/2"...and weighed 12lbs! Here he is in his show days...he is Ellie's sire, he is now 11y/o, retired and erm....weighs a bit more than that hahaha!     0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• mrstjohnson Posted : 1/30/2007 1:40:12 PM ORIGINAL: rwbeagles Pictures taken while eating are deceptive because the entire stomach area is retracted and the dog will look a lot thinner than it actually is. Same while drinking. Maybe that's why my perception is off, he only stands still long enough to get a good look at his waist while he is eating []   I will try to get some more pictures tonight of him to post so you can see him better. Do you suggest less food or more exercise?  I am leery to stress his joints him too much at one time (i.e. longer walks) and there is only so much exercise he can get in the house; however, I am also worried about cutting his food level down too low since he is still a puppy.  I will walk him more if necessary or do what ever it takes because I don't want to start him off overweight and on the wrong foot.  The vet did say I should take him off of puppy food and switch him over to Innova adult food now (when I am done with the bag) so I don't know if that will make a difference or not?  We have cut out all treats except two Bill Jac liver treats a day hoping that will do it. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• snownose Posted : 1/30/2007 1:41:10 PM Oh and my friend who has a 13" dog that was a top ranked special in his day and kept in tip top shape...he was 12 1/2"...and weighed 12lbs! Here he is in his show days...he is Ellie's sire, he is now 11y/o, retired and erm....weighs a bit more than that hahaha! Yeah, you know what happens once the "Modeling Days" are over......[] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• rwbeagles Posted : 1/30/2007 1:50:53 PM Well...I don't want to say too much simply because I haven't seen him...I did email a friend of mine to see if my judgement on typical weights for 13"s is right. I'll let you know what they say.   He is 9 months old...he may be growing and end up a 15"...in which case 22lbs is a great weight to be...lol!   My crew here adults and older pups alike get between 1 1/2-2 1/2 c. PER DAY of their food. Cup as in measuring cup...I don't do treats unless I am training for something like focus/free stacking or table work.   Most Beagles...15"s mainly get along great on 2-2 1/2c per day...divided however their owners prefer...13"s do 1-2c per day depending on the hound and their energy level. If a dog's working or on the campaign trail and being roadworked a lot that can go up or the formula may be changed to keep weight on. I do add things but not regularly...just whenever I have something or feel like it. My girls haven't gotten puppy formula since about 5 months old.   Beagles tend to be easy keepers...meaning a house Beagle with normal walks and no extracirriculars can get fat seemingly by sniffing food, let alone eating it, haha! It's really so bad for them, being heavy...look for muscle definition (good)...rolls behind the neck or a "pad" over the shoulders...that's where many hounds tend to carry excess weight.   For pups the best thing is free exercise in a fenced in area...dog park, someone else's yard you can use, long line and a field...etc. They will set their own pace on what they can do... 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• chelsea_b Posted : 1/30/2007 2:03:40 PM I will try to get some more pictures tonight of him to post so you can see him better.   Try to get a side pic. Sometimes it's easier to tell from that. But also, I'm big on feeling ribs, which we obviously can't do through the computer. Cherokee's ribs are easily felt, and if she had a thinner coat, I'm sure I'd be able to see the outline of the last few. That, to me, is perfect. My sister has a it bull (closer to the "hippos" then the standard []), so very short hair, and I can't see that he even HAS ribs. But he has a waist and a belly tuck, so obviously they can be misleading. I can feel his ribs if I try, but they're not obvious if I just run a hand over him. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• mudpuppy Posted : 1/30/2007 2:56:56 PM he does look a little on the chubby side to me, but the real way to tell is to feel them up-- you should be able to easily feel ribs, points of hips, and when you pinch at the neck you should only get a thin bit of skin. On a short-coated dog like a beagle you should be able to see ribs at certain angles. Most dogs are way too fat, and you sadly may have never even seen a dog at a normal, healthy weight. One way to tell if your dog is at a healthy weight is by how many people comment on how skinny the dog is or make snide remarks about you not feeding the dog. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• houndlove Posted : 1/30/2007 3:05:20 PM One way to tell if your dog is at a healthy weight is by how many people comment on how skinny the dog is or make snide remarks about you not feeding the dog. True that! [] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Chuffy Posted : 1/30/2007 3:41:42 PM Run your hands down his sides.  You should be able to feel his ribs.  Generally speaking, if you can clearly see a dogs ribs he's too thin, if you have to poke, he's too fat - that's just a very hazy rule of thumb. If the vet reckons you should take him off puppy food now, why not subs some of the puppy stuff with the adult variety?  If he gets chews, bones, scraps, treats... don't forget to cut down his daily ration of normal food.  Also, be aware just how fattening some shop bought treats are..... some of them are grossly calorific!  How many of us check the packet on those things rather than simply trusting that the manufacturer truly wants whats best for our pooches as much as we do?  Avoid the worst offenders, or if the dog reeeeeaally likes them, only offer very rarely for exceptional bhvr. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• mrstjohnson Posted : 1/30/2007 8:44:40 PM OK - here are some side shots.  I can feel his ribs when I rub his sides, but there is a little access skin.  It doesn't feel like fat, but almost like he has extra skin...maybe that's fine, I don't know.   We usually give him homemade liver treats; however, with my nose working overtime with the pregnancy, I can't stand the smell so we have to go store bought for at least a little longer.  0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Michelle Posted : 1/30/2007 10:15:33 PM Doesn't look too bad to me, although the shot is looking kind of down rather than straight on. Then again, I've got some extra baggage myself, so maybe I'm not the best judge[] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• snownose Posted : 1/31/2007 7:19:17 AM I don't know much about beagles, but should he have that extra hanging skin at the age of  9 months? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Luvntzus Posted : 1/31/2007 7:42:34 AM He does look a little pudgy in the side shot. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login