My Chihuahua Weighs 21 lbs.?

Question

I have 3 chihuahuas, ones a long hair and the others are short hairs. My long hair weighs 11 lbs, and my short hairs weigh 8 and 21 lbs. They all are active for the same amount of time and they play together all day. I feed the 11 and 8 lb chihuahuas regular food and the 21 lb chihuahua diet food, and I walk them all every. None of them overeat, but I can't get the one to lose weight?!

I'm a stay at home mom. I know he does not sneak any food lol.

I feed all my dogs the same portions about 3/4 a cup all together a day.

My vet told me I should get him running in the little gym thing hes got set up in part of his office, but there are always other dogs in there. And even with a muzzle on he is terrified of other creatures, even my hamster.

I can only take my overweight dog for a walk for about half the time my other dogs could. By the time we're all the way around the park, hes panting like crazy and coughing acting like hes about to fall over. We have to cross a hill to get to our backyard and he can't even make it up the hill by himself.

Hold on, I will post pictures...

These pictures are a tad bit old. I'm guessing he weighed 16-18 lbs in these.

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/9281/beanerrn8.png

He is 3 years old.

My other chihuahuas are not overweight, ones incredibly skinny the the vet suggested he gained a pound or two. The other one has really thick, long hair, and when I get it shaved off in the summer he weighs 1.5 lbs less.

I give him 1/2 cup food in the morning and 1/4 around 3 pm. I'm sure he isn't sneaking food. My animals are only allowed in my living room and in the kitchen at feeding time.

He ballooned after he got neutered.

I always watch them when they're eating, and they eat in different parts of the area.

Answer 1

maybe a thyroid problem. Ask your vet to run some tests. Being so overweight can cause many health issues, including diabetes, weakened joints, heart problems, etc., etc.

Answer 2

Just saw the pics. That is a concerning size for a small dog. Can you be absolutley sure there is no possible way the dog is sneaking food? There is either something medically wrong, or he is getting food from somewhere. I would talk to your vet asap. We have a 22lb doxi mix. He get 3/4 cups of food a day...and in the winter we change it to the weight control formula. Your Chi should be eating no more than our dog. 1/4 in the morning, 1/4 in the afternoon, and 1/4 at night. (you can feed 1/2 cup at night if you can't due the midday feeding) Their tummies are very small! Feed him alone and don't leave any food out when he is free in the house.
You can also cut more calories, but give the same amout of food by making each 1/4 cup half dog food, half cool cooked green beans. Dogs love it.
But get this under control soon...he does not look healthy at all.

Answer 3

NO. NO. NO. Heartguard makes an under 10 pound pill/chewable. Do NOT give a 3 pound dog a preventive which will cover a dog up to 21 pounds. I don't care how much cheaper it is off the internet. It can make the dog sick. Such in vomiting and diarrhea. Not kill the dog but make it sick. I do wish people would be more aware the products sold over the internet are often inferior and/or out of date. Be very careful.

Answer 4

whered the 21 lb chi come from?
it looks like a classic version of a chi from a BYB(back yard breeder)
your chii , probably isnt overweight but just has a larger bone structure

edited: just saw the pics, that dog is obese take her to a vet, there could be a medical issue.
Start feeding no treats, more exercise and less food. If you dont stop your going to kill her ,its happened before.

Answer 5

Get a special food designed for overwieght dogs. My friends cat was incredibly overwieght for no reason at all and agfter a few months she slimed down a lot. Ask your vet for a different diet food and there could be health problem linked to this so have him checked out. also, could your overweight dog be stealing food from the others when you are not there?

Answer 6

have you asked the vet??
some are either mixed ( sorry) or are bad throw backs to when they wer bred down from larger breeds to make the little dogs.
According to AKC standard a chihuahua should not be over 6 punds so all of your chihuahuas are large but is it due to breeding or is it that they are overweight??
Plaese I'm not trying to be mean.
I use to work for a chihuahua breeder many years ago, she was a reputable breeder, her dogs were shown by proffessional handlers. She had one dog that matured to 35 pound seh had all the dogs on both sides going back 8 generations non were over 6 pounds but this one ended up being 35 pound his sister was a champion show dog.
This woman either had them in the house or were only allowed outside with someone in the yard observing to make sure no strays got in.So we knew the exact breeding.
Some are just throw backs.

Answer 7

Is he a fat looking dog? Does his middle dip down super low? Does he look like an obese chi or does he just look like a big chi? In any case, if you keep him active and feed him properly there should be no problems. Take him to the vet if you want to find out WHY tubby is so gosh darn fat....don't stop loving his fat body though.

Answer 8

change the diet of the overwieght 1, try giving it all natural food and taking it 4 some extra walks try playing 4 a longer amount of time. hope ur pup looses wieght!

Answer 9

have you had the vet check for any health conditions? and depending on how much diet food, it may not be a diet...

Answer 10

i think somebody is sneaking foooddd!