Your dogs are too fat !!!! - Page 10

Hey, Hans,

That Dalmation you posted the pic of...Still not as obese for size as the Jack Russell that my uncle is killing..

That's a nice, healthy, bouncy dog!

Crys

 How it happens:

Yes, but the very fattest dogs, I think you'll find, eat a diet more of treats and people food scraps than of the kibble, but you can guarantee they're eating both.  Like my uncle's dog...steaks, whatever the humans ate, as much as they ate, and her kibble, plus candy bars, and hard candies, and whatever else...

People who let their dogs get like the dalmation pictured above, to my mind, are guilty of animal abuse..By overfeeding.

Crys

 Crys,

I agree 100% about the over feeding of table foods, and generally the same foods that lead to obesity in people and that it is as abusive as starving a dog. I also think a lack of exercise plays a big role in the equation. 

As far as cops go, it seems more and more there are stricter regulations that require physical fitness. The small, rural towns might be different, but most of the LEO's I know take their responsibility to maintain fitness very seriously. I mean, it becomes a survival issue for them.  I have seen pictures of Jim and he certainly does not fit the biased image of the donut-eating cop! 

I wish all "service" providers would perceive fitness as part of their professional image-like paramedics, nurses, and doctors. It bothers me when it looks like they are about to have a cardiac arrest and they are telling patients to lose weight. 

Around here, most of the younger officers are fit...and the older ones, too.  But there are a few, and I won't name names, who are just slobs...Don't know how they can do their jobs, or why the departments would want them on the force, but hey, everybody's got to have a job.

That said, most of the state and county officers around here are absolutely wonderful people.  Some of our local city cops, though...Just bullies with badges and a chip on their shoulders...Fitness aside, they shouldn't be on the force, period.

Here's a salute to the good men and women (and dogs) in uniform, serving their communities and countries...

Crys

And I agree about the lack of exercise...

Davren,
 Thanks!

Approximately 99% of all dogs brought to me are overweight, and most of them are grossly overweight, even at a very young age. I have even had a police explosives canine brought here with the complaint that he had no stamina during searches for explosives. It was clear the dog was way too heavy. With a proper diet and a proper amount of food, and a better exercise regime, he lost weight and his stamina returned. It is difficult to tell people their dog is too heavy. The response is usually defensive and/or the person will say that the "Vet never told me this". So what can one do? 

Hi Jim!! :)

Just for edification.

My little girl's average diet when we are not gearing up for a trial is 2/3rd Taste of the Wild (Fowl) formula and 1/3 Orijen puppy kibble.

She's fed 3 cups in the morning, which = 375 calories per cup TOTW so a total of 750 calories from TOTW and Orijen puppy has a yield of 480 calories per cup so we'll say 2/1 for argument sake she gets a total of 1230 calories in the morning.

In the evening she is feed 3 cups so that would be another 1230 calories for a total of 2460 calories a day.  This is her maintenance diet, with a three pumps of Grizzle salmon oil and a raw egg every 3 nights.

Going by this website, and she's about 59lbs so we'll split the difference at 1500 Nutrition chart she is getting 960 calories above recommended.

Now, when we are ramping up to a trial, I boost her intake to include the same amount of kibble along with a can a day of TOTW Bision formula wet food.  This gives her an additional 482 calories per can, per day topping her out at 2942 calories per day, plus the odd egg / bit of raw liver / raw steak.

She is a 2 year old spayed female, who works regularly 2 - 3 times a week, bump up to 3 - 4 times when getting ready for a trial and she maintains a weight of 57 - 60 lbs.  Before anyone asks, she has been cleared by the vet for all internal parasites, her stools are firm, regular and of a good size and she doesn't vomit or have any digestive issues.

No it is not difficult to tell them that. I'll tell people :" Your dog is almost as faty as I am!" And they freak out and put their dog on diet.
Prager Hans