Help my dog lose weight!

[SureIusedtobetaller]

When I weigh out what he’s supposed to have it seems tons. He’s not vast but really does need to lose a couple of kilos. He’s a big staffie- even when we first got him from the rescue he was around 22kg and I think this would be a good weight. He’s around 24-25 now. We don’t feed lots of treats- he likes carrots though.
How do I reduce his calories but make sure he’s getting all the nutrients he needs?

[BiteyShark]

The feeding guides are just that and often dogs need to be fed less than that depending on the amount of exercise they do.

Do you measure what he has now? If so I would start to cut it down perhaps 5-10% and see how you get on.

[DogInATent]

Write out meal diary of what you're giving him now, then cut out a little here and there whilst maintaining exercise levels.

Our girl staffy should be 20-21 kg but had crept up to 23 kg. I got stricter with her lunch, cut back on the kibble a little, and reduced the added tinned food I was using as an appetiser with the kibble. It's got her back to 21kg over several weeks.

A balanced dog food contains the right proportion of nutrients to calories. Cutting back to the amount that will keep him on target weight will give him all the nutrients he needs.

[Cuppateeee]

I’m trying to do the same thing, I’m trying to up Ddogs excersize and taking a small amount off the recommended kibble amount each day. Is there anyone who could be treating him? I’ve had to get stricter with my dad and the tip bits he gives him.

[SureIusedtobetaller]

He does sometimes scavenge food and dh gives him the occasional bit. But mostly I think we are just feeding him a bit too much- I don’t measure it so I will start.
What veg can I give him that he might like?

[Bunnybigears]

I had a horrendously overweight rescue Bichon Frise who had come from a home where she ate exactly the same as the humans. We used to give her all her food allowance on walks so dried food taken out with is and given as treats for coming back when called or juat for walking nicely besides us. She soon learnt that exercise equalled food and slobbing about the house didnt she was slimmer of the year at the vets.

[DogInATent]

Don't worry about the veg, just start measuring the food! - and measure it as less than you're giving now, not based on a recommended amount (they always suggest too much).

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Our dogs like most veg - carrots, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, lettuce, sprouts, cabbage, to name but a few (though the cabbage and sprouts do have a somewhat farty aftermath).

I assume you have already got one of the lighter kibbles, rather than the normal version - we used these for our dogs with no problems. Ddog1 is a brown lab and very greedy, and would be an absolute porker, if we fed her the way she wants us to feed her, and ddog2 has had three lots of knee surgery, with very restricted exercise afterwards, and is now getting a bit elderly and isn’t up to the long runs she used to love, so we have to be careful about both their weights. We generally manage their weight by cutting down their food a bit when necessary, and if they were obviously too hungry, we would pad their kibble out with veg, but to be honest that hasn’t been necessary so far.

[Wolfiefan]

Is it dried food? It’s very easy to overfeed that and you must weigh it.

[SureIusedtobetaller]

I’ve just weighed it out and we’ve been over feeding -only a bit but enough for him to pile it on gradually....

[Wolfiefan]

That’s easy enough to put right though. Feed a little bit less and see how he goes.

[SureIusedtobetaller]

Yeah will do. Will also threaten everyone else!

[Wolfiefan]

Haha! But can you make your threats more persuasive than those sad eyes?!

[smackbangwhollop]

Feed him the best quality food you can and weigh his food, no treats. Reduce his ration by 10% and be consistent. I use a British 80/20 holistic dog food called Eden. Its rated 5/5.on the allaboutdogfood website. If the food is high quality you will feed less anyway and your dog will get everthing it needs.