Overweight Dogs

This is an issue that really bothers me. Around here, i swear, almost every dog is fat. At the dog park i once saw, no joke... a weimeraner that at least weighed 125. it was disgusting! every lab in this area weighs at least 95 lbs, most closer to 115. I am also constantly told that i need to feed Kaiser more. Kaiser is at a healthy weight. i cannot see his ribs and he is not hungry. When people tell me that he's too skinny, i usually just say, "no, you're just used to seeing fat dogs so he doesn't look normal." and then go about my business.

This topic infuriates me!!  From years of working at a vet clinic, I had to see hundreds of obese pets.  It was so horrible to see all the problems they were having, and the owners usually got angry if you even tried to suggest weight loss.  They all said, well, they are happy so what does it hurt?  Um, how about their joints, their heart, their liver, their skin!!!  Geez people.  It hits me close to home because my dad owns a cat that is 27 lbs.  He weighed more than my three year old up until a few months ago when my son reached 30 lbs.  The poor cat can't even jump over things, he can't reach his back to groom himself, and it's heartbreaking.  And my father insists that their vet says he is healthy!!  What!!!  Are you freakin kidding me!!!  Ugh, it makes me so mad.  These animals depend solely upon us for their food, it is all our responsibility!  We also had a poodle that came into the clinic that was so obese that she waddled like a penguin and had blown both her knees out by the time she was 5 yrs old.  By the way, the owner admitted he took her through the Mcdonald's drivethrough at least once a day.  Grrr.

RE Conformation dogs: There were only two black and tans entered in the dog show but one of them? Overweight. Not obese or anything, but definately lacking a nicely defined waste and tuck and with an unsightly fat roll on his shoulder blades.

Around here I don't see THAT many overweight dogs. The dog culture in my neighborhood is very much, well, people are very into their dogs. I don't get that many comments about my own being "too skinny" though I have gotten a couple here and there.

Most, meaning all except one, of the labs around here are fat. You know, the ones with a belly that flops over and rolls of fat on their shoulderbaldes? Then a neighbor moved from the country with a feild style lab, who was fit, acive, and SO healthy...and guess what? Animal control had to stop by and make sure the dog had food and water. I don't get harassed, though, because all of Sams fur sticks straight out and makes him look 'normal'

I missed that show but it does seem to go along with what is happening in society today. Overweight people, kids and now pets!  I had even noticed with the Bog last week (didn't know you were only supposed to put a thin layer of Peanut Butter in the Kong....I had stuffed it![&:])  Anyways Bog was happy but put on a few pounds.  So I got him some new food for overweight/less active dogs (to mix with his usual food).  But it amazed me when reading the feeding instructions.....it said to feed the Bog (65lbs) before gain 4 to 6 cups a day!!  He was only getting 2 cups a day before!  Obviously we are ignoring that and sticking with the 2..but it does make me wonder how many people follow thoose type of recommendations.  No fat/less calories so have twice as much!![8|] 

ORIGINAL: aussiegirl

Most, meaning all except one, of the labs around here are fat. You know, the ones with a belly that flops over and rolls of fat on their shoulderbaldes? Then a neighbor moved from the country with a feild style lab, who was fit, acive, and SO healthy...and guess what? Animal control had to stop by and make sure the dog had food and water. I don't get harassed, though, because all of Sams fur sticks straight out and makes him look 'normal'

That is really sad!  I love seeing Labs who are in shape, and I see soooo few.  There's a black lab around here who is quite the chunky monkey.  It's a sad sight, but I think one people are used to seeing, hence why those neighboors called AC on a Lab who was in good shape.  Grrrr, that would have made me a bit peeved. 

My dogs seems to have a built in mechanism that tells them when to go off of food.

Even the pom...who is a pig, will go off of food.

They both stay thin.  I can't fatten them up. If they are in an "off food" mode, roast beef or even rib eye won't turn their head.

This show airs again tonight. 

I saw it.  It was very interesting and very sad.  That woman with the rottie was rediculous.  I'm glad that groomer said something though.  I don't know if I could have.  I'm not good with confrontation.  It amazes me how ignorant and stupid some people can be.  She was the only pet owner on the show that wouldn't do anything about her animals weight.  I definately think someone should get involved and get that dog out of there.  And if a vet did say the dog was perfectly healthy, then they should be penalized as well.  There's no excuse to treating your dog like that. 

I am watching it right now......both women ticked me off beyond anything.........6 pieces of birthday cake after the vet made a statement the dog had maybe a year left to live...........[:@]

ORIGINAL: Stacita

My mother in law did this and it just drove me crazy. She meant well, but refused to ever see that she was dramatically shortening their lives and also making it difficult for them to enjoy play or exercise. After being told by vets of the harm she was doing, she'd just get mad and go to a different vet, or none at all until she found one that didn't say anything.

She wasn't overweight herself. She was 5'5" and 120.

To balance the equation a little though, during her later years, she took in several very geriatric dogs well into their teens. Some were blind, deaf or close to both, and gave them a comfy retirement home when no one else would have.

I visited our local shelter not to long ago.  A terrier mix of some sort was surrendered because it's elderly owner died.  The dog was so overwieght, the shelter had a grate under it because it couldn't get up to go potty.  I think that sometimes elderly people either forget that they already fed the dog or the dog is the only thing they have and over spoil it.  Sad that the family didn't do anything about it.

In an opposite situation, I used to work at a Pet Supplies "Plus."  This elderly lady came in looking for some tool to dematt her dog.  The groomer told her the dog was too matted and would have to be shaved.  The old lady didn't want the dog shaved and was trying to de-matt the dog herself.  I used to work at a grooming shop, so I explained to the lady that the best thing to do would be to have the dog shaved because brushing it is going to hurt.  The old lady had the dog in her car and brought it in for me to see.  Not only was the dog extremely matted, but very, very thin.  I could feel it's hips, ribs, every  bone in that poor bichon's body.  I told the old lady that she should get the dog shaved.  I also said, "you know she's awfully thin."  That's when the old lady explained that she was having memory problems.  She was so upset.  She kept saying that she sometimes forgets she has a dog and she needs help.  She gave me her daughters #.  I called her daughter in the store and explained the situation.  I didn't want to get into specifics with her mother.  I just said that her mother needed help with the dog.  That she needed to remind her mother to feed it and to come over and brush it.  I even suggested that they get the dog shaved regularly, so her mother didn't have to brush it.  The old lady liked that idea and bought some dog coats.  The lady thanked me profusely and the daughter came in and thanked me.  I never saw the dog again though.

ORIGINAL: snownose

I am watching it right now......both women ticked me off beyond anything.........6 pieces of birthday cake after the vet made a statement the dog had maybe a year left to live...........[:@]

 
The birthday cake lady annoyed me at first, but at least she took some steps to help her dog.  The rottie owner needs a brain transplant.

I just finished watching this and I had to shut the tv off for a while due to the rottie's owner. She made me so mad about having her dog that huge and wouldn't hear anything of it if someone told her that her dog was fat. I was very proud of the groomer telling the lady off about her dog being so grossly over weight. It's a shame that dog will never lose that weight only to killed by her stupid owner. That lady needs to get her head out of the sand and help save her dog's life by changing it's diet. I like to know what vet tells someone that size of an animal that overweight is healthy.

I was agviated by the King Charles's lady especially to leave the vet's office knowing that her dog's life is close to dieing then to give her dog 6 pieces of cake. All though I was very please to see that she finally got good advice and is getting his weight down.

The other pet owners I was happy to see that they where really trying to help get the weight down and listen to their vet.

I thought it was a good show that hopefully that it open people's eye and maybe change on the way people think on their animals weight.

When I first started grooming at my school we had a lady that had 8 dogs all of them where very over weight and wouldn't listen to my instructor's advice that they needed to lose the weight. Sadly we had to  refuse one of her dogs it was so overweight that the thing couldn't stand more then 3 mintues and trying to get the animal on the table took about 3 of us to lift the thing. Even now I see dogs that are overweight  that come for grooming that have rolls over their tails.

OMG I'm watching the show right now (1pm EST and it's on animal planet) and Beau is freaking HUGE!!!
 
The owner really disgust me!  Did you see?  She's sitting there talking with her fat dog at her feet...puffing away at a cig....
 
Sweet.

I had to go by Petsmart last night and while I was there I looked through the grooming window.  Inside was a "doodle" that was at least 30-40 lbs overweight.  I was ashamed and embarrassed for the owner.
 
I walk around with my furkid and everyone says he's too skinny-well he is right at running weight but could probably use 3 or 4 lbs.  If he was 10lbs overweight the majority of these people would still say he is skinny.