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Deathpyre t1_jaczwsy wrote

Key Tip: If your dog is built like a barrel they are probably too fat, it's not just 'how your dog is'

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DankMemerCatGamer t1_jadvzvz wrote

Applies to cats too. Too many times I see an overweight cat and it’s “chonky.” No, it’s morbidly obese and needs to lose weight.

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Typingpool t1_jaerbel wrote

My cat really is just a husky boy! I feed my cats the same amount twice daily. No food is left out and I make sure they're only eating their own bowl. My female is completely normal weight but my boy is straight 16 pounds 😭

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Ok_Skill_1195 t1_jaeyfvf wrote

It's entirely possible you're over feeding the cat based off their metabolism and activity level. Overfeeding doesn't mean free for all necessarily, it means over their caloric needs

It's also possible you just have a big boned cat. You'd really need to ask their vet

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akpburrito t1_jaew60j wrote

for the most part, yes. i must add though that one of my dogs we found as a stray on city streets, emaciated and estimated around 1yo. even then, when he was every-bone-showing, bleeding, and calloused he was still a tube! sure, he’s put on a few pounds - but he’s truly just a tubular dog. and the biggest best snuggle buddy love bug ever.

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KKAPetring t1_jaev1yf wrote

For second I got scared since we always say one of my dogs has a barrel chest, but then I realize it’s not her whole body thank god haha

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Mulchpuppy t1_jacxdlv wrote

We had a similar realization recently. We didn't know it, but we were actually double feeding him. He gets a mix of dry and wet, and we were accidentally giving him a full day's amount of each. He was actually having a little problem with his hind legs because of the excess load.

The good news is, the weight comes off pretty quickly. It's been about two weeks and the issue with the back legs appears to be entirely resolved.

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iamtheliquor__ OP t1_jad53jq wrote

My girl also has some problems with her hind legs in her old age. It’s pretty common for dogs with longer backs as they get older. Keeping them at a healthy weight definitely helps. Let the de-potato-ification commence!

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PlavaZmaj t1_jadd70z wrote

IVDD is no fun. Weight plays the biggest role in how long back breeds age.

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paspartuu t1_jadszxo wrote

>He was actually having a little problem with his hind legs because of the excess load.

My parent's dog was also ailing a couple of years ago and everyone thought it's just the age, but then they put her on a diet at the recommendation of a family friend vet, and the vitality and tail wags and energy and ability to get up some stairs or run or jump on the sofa kinda came back, and it was a moment of "oh- she was just too fat".

She's now 16 and more energetic than she was at her fattest. It really does make a difference. We thought she wouldn't see next spring two springs ago, and she's now seeing a third

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Date_Snape t1_jadmw7f wrote

That's thanks to a super high metabolism and the fact unlike humans dogs can't fuck up their weight loss diet by continuing to over eat like a human would lol

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Mystic_Zkhano t1_jae6irs wrote

Yea, not having control of your intake will definitely help with the ole weight loss

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flushlikeatoilet t1_jad5dla wrote

Are you shorter than your dog or something? That seems like a pretty common angle to see doggy.

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snausagesinablanket t1_jad22ab wrote

Don't just take away her excess food, ween her off it. You can also add water to dry food to stretch it and make her feel full.

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CreativeGamerTag t1_jadb52n wrote

Also, green beans. Filling with very few calories. The vet I used to work for always suggested them when putting a dog on a diet.

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unclekarl t1_jae7x8q wrote

Fresh or canned? If fresh, should you cook them? One of my dogs needs to lose 3 lbs, like Regina George.

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CreativeGamerTag t1_jae8rh2 wrote

Fresh is great. Raw is fine. It depends how/if your dog likes them. If you do cook them, don’t be like an old client who cooked them with butter lol. I honestly can’t remember the amount per pound of dog though, sorry.

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KrowJob t1_jacsnrb wrote

You’ve never made your dog sit for treats?

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iamtheliquor__ OP t1_jacss5i wrote

The potato shape is more obvious when seen from a balcony

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cheeseballfreak t1_jaejpwt wrote

A general rule with dogs and cats that I've noticed is that the wider they position their front legs when sitting, the fatter they are. A dog or cat at a normal weight will keep their front legs close together

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Haru_vip t1_jad81dh wrote

I don’t know why I find his pose funny and adorable🤣🤣🥰🥰🥰

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Mental-Lobster t1_jad2yho wrote

now you also need to jog along with your boy

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CaitCatDeux t1_jaddng0 wrote

What a sweet little old lady, please boop her for me. Good luck with helping her lose weight!

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Zerbulon t1_jadqmv6 wrote

aww, poor thing

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chrisjones1960 t1_jaehlya wrote

Props to you for realizing he needs to lose weight and deciding to help him. He will be much happier at a healthy weight, and may even live longer. If you measure his food every day, and reduce what he is currently eating by 10-15%, he will lose weight slowly, which is best

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thickener t1_jad1wl5 wrote

Walks. Lots of walks.

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TanukiChaos t1_jaee3c2 wrote

I have no idea how you didn't notice until now but I'm just glad you've noticed. Don't just feed him less, but give him some more exercise too

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beeinabearcostume t1_jaend9h wrote

Check out Body Condition Score charts. Some use a scale of 1-5, but I prefer looking at the ones that range from 1-9. Some even differentiate between small, medium, large, and giant breed dogs. Royal Canin Body Score Condition Charts. On a scale of 1-9, dog should be at a 4 or 5 depending on breed, age, and lifestyle. Many dogs I see in my area are at least a 7, and many pet owners that don’t know any better believe a 6 (overweight) or a 7 (obese) is what they are supposed to look like. When they see a young, fit dog at a 4, they assume the dog is being starved. Remember that diet is only one part. To help strengthen and build muscle that will help burn fat and keep it off, exercise is just as crucial. If you can swing it, swimming is a phenomenal way to exercise overweight dogs since there’s little impact on their joints.

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Ok-Drive-9685 t1_jae4kfd wrote

We have a Corgi and I took a video of her running towards us. My SO and I viewed it in slow motion and made the same snap decision.

She’s lost 5 pounds and she’s much happier, as are we.

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H0tlips76 t1_jacsreg wrote

You have never realised your dog is obese

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iamtheliquor__ OP t1_jacsxo2 wrote

She only looks slightly overweight when seen from a normal angle.

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H0tlips76 t1_jact105 wrote

So you knew she was overweight did nothing and now she is obese smh

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gooeydelight t1_jacuik3 wrote

That's not a healthy way of thinking... and as far away from being a piece of constructive criticisim as I can imagine.

Maybe you think it works for you, but have you questioned those you're imposing this view upon if it works for them? I seriously doubt it.

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ryantrw5 t1_jad09z7 wrote

That’s not how Reddit works lol

Edit…I really enjoy the way you think though.

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gooeydelight t1_jadcmt9 wrote

Ah yeah I think everyone knows reddit's a magnet for the worst kinds of people thanks to the anonimity... But I was just trying to cheer OP up.

...and it's painfully clear u/H0tlips76 should've just been ignored. Maybe they're... decent... in person, but in this instance, thinking they know better than OP and actively trying to make them feel bad is not a good look, to say the least. That's certainly all they wanted to achieve.

And unfortunately, OP got put in the situation in which they impulsively started explaining themselves to someone who never cared in the first place... because of course it's a concern they have, they noticed it in time and can work from here. It's in the friggin title lmao.

But implying they somehow deliberately caused the dog harm, that's as useless (maybe even counterproductive) as it is hurtful - in any instance, no doubt. And they probably knew it.

It's just so infuriating... I'm sad they were made to waste their precious time - time that could've been spent with their gorgeous doggy </3

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Hunnykysst76 t1_jadhysy wrote

Very well said! 👏👏👏 Exactly what I was thinking… if criticism isn’t constructive and offering a solution then it’s just negativity and not doing anyone any good. 💯

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ryantrw5 t1_jadf08e wrote

Dogs can gain weight because of medication they need and what not. Also I mean what if a dog gets fat because you love them so much you can’t stop giving them treats even though like you know it’s bad.

Situations are nuanced and without details it’s impossible to know sometimes

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gooeydelight t1_jadk4dz wrote

Oh yeah, that's why I didn't speak on the story at all, there's no need to, nor is it my place to make suppositions at all, rather on how that user decided they were omniscient and that it somehow justified their shitty behaviour, lmao.

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iamtheliquor__ OP t1_jact7aq wrote

Grandma and grandpa are a little heavy handed with the treats. Also, it’s tough to make a 14 year old dog exercise. Check my other posts- she’s really not that heavy. It’s just the picture.

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paspartuu t1_jadtch6 wrote

I also like to be heavy handed with treats. I rain treats on my dog. Which is why the official feedings are rather restricted - I feed way less than recommended because I know for a fact my dog's calorie intake is like 50+% treats (a lot of it dried meat)

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Butterdonie t1_jadej15 wrote

My vet recommends leaving the food down for only 10 minutes and picking it up. Of course, mine quits eating before the 10 minutes is up.

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Unkept_Mind t1_jadvwx1 wrote

My dogs demolish their food in 10 seconds 😆

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Butterdonie t1_jadz5m8 wrote

LOL! My puppy is about that bad. A few days ago, I fed lunch a couple hours lato. He was so hungry he gobbled a lot down, then threw up. He went right back to his bowl and emptied it. May have to get him one of those dishes that slows them down.

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Vern_Mcnue_Fishing t1_jadp7bv wrote

That dog's in shape, the shape just happens to be round.

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Davegvg t1_jae3axw wrote

It take a bit before he understands he's dieting....

Dog weight gain happens fast.

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LM1953 t1_jae9h1r wrote

Dog says “Damn”

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explodingdustbunny t1_jaekejp wrote

Sweet baby! I really give you props for realizing this and taking action. That is a very loving thing and requires some effort.

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TimeTheAvenger t1_jaen44i wrote

I thought Chelsea was looking a little chonky lately.

Good luck, girl!

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asafen t1_jad96aq wrote

Ask your vet first if you should really change their diet, my oldest dog has that barrel shape as well when you look from this angle, however when she is standing you can see she is perfectly fine and not overweight.

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pantherghast t1_jadb3nt wrote

Keep in mind that it isn't just about the quantity of food, but also the quality of it. You may want to research which brands are good for your dog. If you have seen a commercial for it, it is probably not good.

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Shredbetty41 t1_jadkvi9 wrote

Add a probiotic and a splash of water to his food. Kibble is really hard on the digestive system. It’s dehydrated food so rehydrating it, and giving your dog probiotics to process will help. No matter what dog food companies say.

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27endshere t1_jadntpd wrote

My red heeler is heavy too!

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maddmannmatt t1_jaef60i wrote

You also never saw him from that angle. It would be more difficult to get through length-wise.

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walrus120 t1_jael3si wrote

Be careful with diets my cat got very plump i but him on a diet about a month later he got an tumor in his esophagus couldn’t eat. Killed him quickly I really regret that diet

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iuhoosiers3232 t1_jacto7g wrote

Just some extra walks. Weight will come off just keep on loving him. ❤️

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UnfetteredThoughts t1_jadtkm5 wrote

Exercise alone is actually a terrible way to lose weight. Unfortunately, exercise just doesn't burn that many calories.

It's very likely that "Just some extra walks. Weight will come off [...]" is a false statement.

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HugeBrainsOnly t1_jaecjts wrote

Exercise is more than just burning calories, though. it is essential to a person's well-being and helps foster a healthy lifestyle.

I think the "excersize doesn't matter" crowd on reddit does more harm than good. not to mention, if no one is walking or playing with this dog, it's entirely possible that the addition of daily walks and play could be what tips the scale in terms of calories in vs. calories out and will help the dog lose weight with 0 changes to its diet.

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thehotdogman t1_jaddnzl wrote

Ah yes because every dietician and nutritionist agree, the best way to lose weight is simply exercising, not adjusting caloric intake!

Dieting is the single easiest way to lose weight. Don't even need to exercise.

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iuhoosiers3232 t1_jadfh89 wrote

Exercise is not just for weight loss. Overall health.

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HugeBrainsOnly t1_jaebspq wrote

I genuinely think the "entirety of weight loss is calories in vs. calories out" thing has done more harm than good, even if it's correct.

A lot of overweight people who would struggle to change their eating habits would still have their quality of life massively improved if they committed to daily exercise. tons and tons of people stress eat and eat as a coping mechanism for other things, and exercise can have a tangible, positive impact to those feelings of stress and will almost universally result in a more healthy individual.

Too often, the point that comes across is "exercise literally doesn't matter for weight loss, if you don't fix your diet then it doesn't matter", when the point should be "exercise is imperative to being a healthy person and is extremely important, but diet is the most important thing for weight loss".

When I see it thrown around in the wild, it usually comes off as "You thought excersize would make a difference??? get fucked lmao"

I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir here and "excersize is important" is common sense, just felt like ranting.

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[deleted] t1_jacuq6z wrote

She’s just flooofly …. 🥰🥰

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fermat9997 t1_jadn44e wrote

A lazy dog owner would have just avoided this view!

−1

ZealousidealWin3177 t1_jadmhqs wrote

Awe no dog just well taken care of. My youngest looks bigger from that angle too 😺

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