overweight beagle

Bunny Runner · Post by **Bunny Runner** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:23 am

OK, I know this thread is a bit older, but thought I would put my spin on it.

First of all, if you cut the rations too much, it will throw off the balance of nutrients and this could cause malnutrition. The dog will start to metabolize muscle to meet it's energy needs and the fat stores are the last to be used. You will notice a drop in muscle mass while the dog may still have some obvious fat on the body. The dog will lose energy and be less tolerant of exercise if it's caloric and nutrient requirements are not being met. Use this method with caution and be aware of the slightest changes in energy and body condition.

Secondly, by cutting the protein, you are taking away the muscle's abiltiy to stay strong, this is the last thing you want to do. So many of the foods today are full of carbohydrates, which puts weight on a dog quickly because they don't really metabolize them the way people do. They do use them for energy, but it is a "quick" energy. They need to use them quickly or it is stored as fat. Carbohydrates, when metabolized as glucose, is used for burst's of energy and during heavy running times, this is a good thing, but during times of less activity, you need to cut back on the carbs in the diet. This is especially true of dogs with a slower metabolizism. Cutting the fat is another truely important factor, since fat provides 2x the calories as protein and carbohydrates. You want to keep the fat content on the higher side during high energy times, but lower it when the dog is not getting as much exercise. Fiber does not contribute any calories to diet. They are merely there to provide bulk and to keep the GIT moving properly. This will increase the amount of food you can feed, but not contribute additional calories. You still have to be careful, however, how much fiber you add, as they can imbalance nutrients AND cause either diarrhea OR constipation.

Remembering all dogs are a bit different in the way their body metabolizes energy and what works good for one, may not work for another.

Another consideration, is medical conditions. Dogs that are hypothyroid (among other conditions) can become overwieght and it is treatable with medication, but diet no matter what, will NOT contribute to weight loss. If you have a dog that will not lose weight, despite your best efforts, needs to be checked for a medical condition. It has been studied and proven, that many of our pets these days DO suffer from immune-system problems that stem from indocrine disorders that can lead to many of the problems we are seeing (ie:allergies, hypo/hyperthyroidism, renal and liver failure, etc)

If your dog is not losing weight on minimal rations, please consider having a complete blood panel with thyroid testing done.

jlboomer · Post by **jlboomer** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:30 pm

thanks bunny runner for your advice. ive switched her to a weight matinece food for now and she seems to be sheding some weight. if she is ran hard about 2 days a weeks she stays in peak shape but if not she will pack on the pounds she is the only dog i have this way and the only one ive ever seen keep weight on that bad.

mo. beagler · Post by **mo. beagler** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:16 pm

ya cant rule out thyroid problems either. If you cut the feed do it over a couple of days. I am feeding 1 1/2 cups right now of blk gold blk bag. My dogs run every morning for about3 hrs. till it start to get hot. Then I might let them out around 7:30 for and hr or two. They are fit. In season I feed 2 1/4 cups.was still on pg 1 when I poster didnt get to see bunny runners post..