I have a four year old dachshund and she has gained weight ever since I spayed her. I also own her brother which is the same age and his weight is perfect. I feed them the same, they both get a a packet of soft food every morning and at night. She must go on a diet soon because I am worried about her joints but I don't know where to start! She wont eat the food the vet recommended Please help!
2006-09-07 12:50:58 · 12 answers · asked by S 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Start her out by mixing the new food in with her old food. Slowly, over a week's time wean her completely to the new food. Also make sure she gets plenty of excercise!
2006-09-07 12:53:30 · answer #1 · answered by legallyblond2day 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First I would get rid of the soft food. This kind of food can be very fattening. Dogs are all different just like humans, we all have different metabalisms, that's why she is big and her brother is not.
Don't give up on trying new foods. There are lots of foods out there for dieting dogs. Just go to your local petstore, there are alot to choose from. Check with the petstore, some will take the food back if your dog doesn't like it. (petsmart has a good return policy for that).
You could try a little more exercise too, all dogs could use that.
As for her joints, you can get Glucosamin and Condroiten in many forms that you can mix into her food or water. Some foods even already have this in it. This stuff is awsome on joints. My mom had a lab that had hip dispalsia and the vets said it he made it to 2 be happy. We gave him food with these in it and He made to 17.
I hope this helps Good luck.
2006-09-07 20:57:52 · answer #2 · answered by Animal lover 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Spaying doesn't cause weight gain, excess calories and lack of exercise do. Soft foods are loaded with sugars and calories. It's not her joints you need to be concerned about but rather her back. Excess weight on a Dachshund puts a lot of strain on a back that is already prone to issues. She needs to be fed a different food and less calories. She also needs more exercise.
You can't compare amounts you feed your other dog to what you feed the overweight one since each dog is an individual and have different caloric needs.
2006-09-07 20:09:34 · answer #3 · answered by Great Dane Lover 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Spaying does not make a dog fat.
Females always carry more weight than a male and have a layer of fat on them that males do not. So they tend to look fatter.
If you want her on a diet put down the food for 20 minutes and what she does not eat take back up do not feed her anything until it is time to feed again and put the food back down. A few days of this and she will be happy to get what ever you put down.
Canned green beans make a great snack as do slices of raw carrot. Treats are just junk food for dogs and full of empty claories. Stop feeding them.
I know it is hard but your dog will not starve herself to death. She will act like it but she won't
Dachshunds are food motivated and tend to gain weight very easily. My friends Mom is a breeder of them and she watches her show dogs like a hawk for any excess weight.
2006-09-07 20:01:17 · answer #4 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
From what I have seen, females gain more after being fixed that males. They should both be on dry food, not soft. Get a good brand food and give her recommended amount for her size/age, and not any more. Do not leave the food out all the time.
2006-09-07 20:01:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have the same issue - our puppies are now two years old, two male, one female. Female spayed, males intact. Males slim & slender & sinewy, female a little porker. All get the same food, same exercise, same everything. We do give our dogs treats (dog biscuits), and she only gets half where her brothers get a whole. That has helped some, but she's definitely more rotund. She is very active, walking, running, playing fetch for 1/2 hour at a stretch, so I think it's just their physique. We do have to watch it with her, though, because she is very food-oriented. Good luck with your little buggers!
2006-09-07 19:56:23 · answer #6 · answered by Helga J 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I dont like the idea of soft food .Make homemade foods that are just for your dog.Dashhunds are well known for being over weight so your dog is normal.I boil lean hamberger for mine in water to pull the oil out and than I wash the oil out.Than I add rice and peas and thats dinner.
2006-09-08 01:25:11 · answer #7 · answered by deedee 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Is her brother bigger than her? Does he get more exercise? Maybe she just needs a little less food and a little more exercise. She will eat the food the vet recommended if you don't give her anything else - no dog is going to starve themselves to death.
2006-09-07 19:54:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is the diet we gave our dog recommended by the vet: Replace 1/3 of her food with canned green beans. Most dogs love them and it fills them up.
2006-09-07 19:52:58 · answer #9 · answered by Fleur de Lis 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
spaying does not cause wait gain. She needs more exercise, and cut back on her food. Her and her brother are totally different dogs just like people and they need different things like she needs more exercise than her brother.
2006-09-07 20:42:55 · answer #10 · answered by carly385057 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋