Nuetering and weight gain - Page 2

Can you tell my neutered boys that statistics say they should be overweight!! They are eating 4 cups of Canidae per day but they burn it off playing ball ALL the time. From my experience, if the owners are not overfeeding and they are getting proper exercise, they will not be fat whether they are neutered or not. I have dogs neutered who are also not less active. Geez, you would have to say half of the Police K-9's in CT should be either fat or less active because they are cut.  My personal opinion is the dogs who are fat when neutered would be fat if left intact because it is obvious their owners are overfeeding or not getting enough exercise!

Tina

Then it seems that once an owner has one overweight dog, the pattern continues over and over again!

Unless a dog has medical problems that cause weight gain, the cause of overweight is too much food and/or not enough exercise, IMO.  My spayed 6 year old female eats very little, but has a medical problem that causes her to gain weight (yes, she's being treated for it.)  My intact male pup, on the other hand, eats like a horse and is thin as a rail. Actually, my vet, a breeder friend and I think he's the perfect weight. He's all bone and muscle, but sometimes strangers tell me to "feed that puppy! He's too thin!" I just laugh and tell them he eats a lot but is very active. And it's true.

I've never had a neutered pet (dog or cat) get overweight from getting snipped.

I think it's more an ownership question, not being sensitive to the idea that the pet's food intake can fluctuate based on a variety of factors; and a common problem of having a large foodbowl, and feeding the dosh, not the dog.

Why would any dog be overweight?

Just feed less.

Dogs don't need will power. It eats what you give it.