My papillion is 17 pounds and I want to know if that is overweight for a papillion?

Question

I want to know if my papillion is overweight and if so how can I get her to lose 5 pounds?

Answer 1

In the Papillon, as with other small breeds, a difference of a few pounds can mean the difference between overweight and underweight.

This also means that dogs of different sizes will have very different weights. It's impossible to say if your dog is overweight without knowing how tall she is. But yes, in a normal sized Papillon, 17 pounds would likely be overweight.

I recommend that you look at pictures of Papillons to get an idea of how they should look. They're a fairly lean breed. Also, see how easily you can feel her ribs.

It would be best to ask this question to a vet or other dog professional. If this is not possible, it's better to go to a dog park and ask the people there. You'll likely get the same mix of knowledgeable and ignorant people, but at least they can look at your dog, so it'd be a much better evaluation.

Answer 2

A female papillon of the breed standard size (8-11 inches at the withers/shoulder) should be between 7-9 pounds

If your dog is larger than the breed standard, then she will obviously weigh more.
If she is of the breed standard size but weighs 17 pounds, then she is definitely overweight.

Can you feel her ribs when you run your fingers over her ribcage? If you cannot feel any ribs, then she is overweight.


If she is overweight, start feeding her in measured amounts, not "free choice". Some dogs overeat when fed free choice. (My papillon eats a little over 1/2 cup of food a day, but under 3/4 cup.)

You can also look into switching to a lighter, high quality food, such as:
* Canidae Platinum - http://www.canidae.com/dogs/platinum/dry.html
* Wellness Weight Management Super5Mix - http://www.oldmotherhubbard.com/wellness/dog_wellness_dry_super5mix_weight_management.html

If you switch foods, remember to do it slowly so it doesn't upset her system. I do this over about a two week timespan:
25% food A, 75% food B
50% food A, 50% food B
75% food A, 25% food B
100% food A

In addition to the changes in feeding, take your dog on more walks for exercise. Or try to get involved in agility by taking some class, papillons love to have a "job" or a "purpose".

Answer 3

If she's a purebred, that is probably overweight. Here's a good way to tell: if you look down on her, she should have a slim waistline and if you feel along her ribs you should be able to feel them with only a little bit of skin covering them. You should not be able to see her ribs and her hip bones shouldn't be sticking out, that means she's underweight.
Ways to get her to lose weight:
Pay attention to serving sizes, my Papillon get's 3/4 a cup of Nutro puppy food per day (about 1/2 a cup on the morning and 1/4 in the evening since she is active during the day)
Feed her quality food. The less wheat gluten, animals byproducts, and corn there is in your food, the healthier it is. Try to pick a food with a meat as a first ingredient and with as few ingredients as possible.
Make sure you are taking your puppy on walks and giving her plenty of stimulation and play time. Papillons are active dogs and need stimulation.
Obesity is one of the most common problems we see in dogs and can lead to all sorts of health issues. Many dogs end up needing back surgery or getting diabetes because of it. The sooner you help your dog lose weight, the better.

Answer 4

The best way to determine if a dog is overweight is to run your fingers along her spine and ribs. If you can distinctly feel each rib and vertibrae, then your dog is at a good weight, if not a bit underweight. Also, if you look directly down at her, and you can see a curve in at the "waist", then she is fine. If she curves outward from the shoulders to the waist, then she is overweight. Your veterinarian can prescribe a wight loss diet if increased excersise does not work.

To stimulate excersise, we use a laser light along the floor, and our dogs love to chase it. You can also take a walk every night after her dinner. This helps with going to the bathroom, which also will allow her to lose weight.

Answer 5

An adult papillion should weigh about 11 pounds. Check with your vet about her weight and weight loss formula dog food. They sell a prescription dog food called RD at vet offices that is suppose to help with weight loss more than other weight loss formulas.

Answer 6

Does she look fat? If not, she is fine. When you look at it from up above it, you should see the widest part at her shoulders, and the area where the ribs end and the back legs start, should be somewhat smaller. If she is overweight, ask your vet for the best kind of food and the amounts to give her.

Answer 7

Music allows you to eat more. According to research by the journal Psychology and also Marketing, soft, classical tunes encourage someone to take time over your food, so you consume more meals. So, switch off – silence will make you more aware of what you’re putting in your mouth.

Answer 8

Bask in the sunshine. Just 20 minutes of Vitamin D absorption on a daily basis will boost your ability to help loose weight.

Answer 9

Music allows you to eat more. According to a study by the journal Psychology along with Marketing, soft, classical tunes encourage you to take time over your dinner, so you consume more meal. So, switch off – silence is likely to make you more aware of what you’re investing in your mouth.

Answer 10

depends on your dogs actual size.. some Papillons are a little bigger than their standard. Can you feel her ribs? If not, then she does need to loose weight. If you can easily feel and count her ribs, then she is probably the right weight.

Cut back on the kibble and take her on more walks.