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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not feed my friends fat dog as much as she told me to while she is away?

27 replies

Thedogdietician · 21/08/2009 15:08

Dog is overweight, so much so that its legs are shaking when it just stands there.

She didn't ask me to feed it an excessive amount but personally I don't think that a 4 year old standard poodle needs three meals a day.

So AIBU? And would you say something to friend about how fat her dog is?

OP posts:
ElieRM · 21/08/2009 15:12

I'm so sorry, but that's made me laugh hysterically.
Yes, tell her how fat her dog is.

FimbleHobbs · 21/08/2009 15:13

I don't know. I think maybe your friend is being unreasonable for having a poodle in the first place. (prepares for flaming)

WhereTheWildThingsWere · 21/08/2009 15:14

YANBU, give it bit less food and take it for some nice long walks.

Original poster
Thedogdietician · 21/08/2009 15:15

It is not really a poodle, I didn't want to be recognised but it is a similar size or would be if it wasn't so fat.

OP posts:
brimfull · 21/08/2009 15:15

my friend takes dogs in for money and alwasy reduces the amount of food she gives of the dog is fat

owners are always impressed by the weightloss

she's thinking of starting a weightloss camp for dogs lol

if I were you I would reduce the dogs food to two meals a day

pickyvic · 21/08/2009 15:27

youd be doing the pooch a favour! reduce his meals and lots of walkies! but is she just likely to get the poor pooch fat again when she comes back?

peanutbutterkid · 21/08/2009 15:41

I would probably do the same, OP.

Figure out what weight he should be and feed him the right amount for that. Maybe still in 3 meals/day if that's what he's used to. You can find online calculators to help you determine his ideal weight range.

pjmama · 21/08/2009 15:42

Two meals a day is adequate for any dog. IME though, owners tend to be very defensive about their dogs weight and are often unwilling or unable to see that there is a problem. However, overfeeding and under-exercising is just as cruel as starving a dog and I think I'd have to say something to her. She'll probably take the huff and ignore you though... poor pooch!

GrimmaTheNome · 21/08/2009 15:51

YANBU. Quite the reverse. The feeding guides on tins and packs of dogfood are (IME) usually far too much.

Poor pooch, its so sad when people kill their pets with kindness. I have a dachshund and he's a lovely lean fit creature - I really hate to see poor fat sausages panting along with their bellies on the ground. Theres no excuse for it.

McSnail · 21/08/2009 16:50

Poor dog - I hate it when people make their animals fat. It's abuse.

No, YANBU. Our dog gets breakfast and dinner, plus two good walks a day.

The owner should be ashamed, and TOLD that she's harming her dog! If she takes him to the vet for check-ups etc, she's probably already been told off about it though.

gagamama · 21/08/2009 16:57

YANBU! Double the walks, too - the dog will be ecstatic, and it's amazing how quickly they can get trim. Our neighbours used to have a very overweight labrador, she wasn't much older than mine is now, but she could barely walk the lengths of the house without panting and having to have a rest. We looked after her for a fornight, fed her less, walked her more and didn't give her tidbits (a huge no-no, but she was obviously used to getting them) and everyone commented on how much healthier and happier she seemed.

TheChilliMooseTalksNonsense · 21/08/2009 17:10

Three meals a day???!!!!
Just give two meals a day and double the walks. The poor thing will love you for it.

EyeballsintheSky · 21/08/2009 17:15

So she asks you to look after her dog, and you decide to put it on a diet. So she comes back to a thinner dog. Great. Except you don't sound like a trustworthy friend if you'd ignore her instructions and do what you want. He dog, her responsibility.

Disclaimer: I don't have dogs, hate the things so no emotional attachment here. But would you babysit her fat child and starve it? It's not down to you to decide.

EyeballsintheSky · 21/08/2009 17:16

But I'd tell her what I thought though

Original poster
Thedogdietician · 21/08/2009 17:30

Not starving Eyeballs - reducing intake. If it was her child I would do the same exact thing, decent meals, healthy snacks no overfeeding! I could not in all conscience feed a fat child something crap I would very much try to substitute. Could you honestly give a small child a load of shit to eat because the parent told you to. Would you not try to offer an alternative?

OP posts:
Original poster
Thedogdietician · 21/08/2009 17:31

Obviously if said child wouldn't eat anything else then I would give her what was wanted and not let child go hungry.

OP posts:
chichichien · 21/08/2009 17:38

Don't tell her the dog is fat.

Just feed it half its usual amount. What fun.

MmeLindt · 21/08/2009 17:48

How long is your friend away for? Is the dog likely to loose weight in the time that you are looking after it?

I would feed it less and take it out for a good walk. Poor dog.

And yes, tell her that her dog is a porker and needs to go on a diet.

I reckon that my dog eats about half of the recommended daily amount on the packaging.

cancantcan · 21/08/2009 17:50

YANBU. Having a dog who is overweight and not trying to restrict its food intake is every bit as cruel as not feeding it at all.
I would ring her and say that you are considering taking dog to vets as its legs keep shaking.

Turning this on its head, if the dogs ribs were showing, and she had told you to only feed it every other day, would you do that?
I know I wouldnt.

By all means give the dog 3 meals a day, just make them half the size she suggested.

MaybeAfterBreakfast · 21/08/2009 17:53

I've done the same with MIL's dog (has been staying with us for a few weeks). MIL showed me how much food her pampered pooch usually has and it was twice what my springer has and the springer is a lot more active. I won't say anything to MIL though.

Surely no dog, beyond very young puppies, needs 3 meals a day?

MaryBS · 21/08/2009 17:57

She'll probably come back, see her dog as being half-starved, think its been pining for her, and feed it up to build it up. I hope not, but I wouldn't be surprised.

sunfleurs · 21/08/2009 17:59

I know this sounds awful but sometimes I think that people with fat dogs want them to be fat for some reason. I mean you pretty much have complete control over what goes into a domestic animals mouth, especially dogs, you have got to know you are overfeeding this animal if it is overweight.

QuintessentialShadows · 21/08/2009 18:02

I dont own a dog. But dhs aunt does. A yorkshire terrier. I dont know how many meals he is on, but he was getting fatter and fatter, and auntie was complaining that her dh only walked him 5 minutes per day slowly up the road and down the road (due to his own heart problem) Auntie was working two jobs and not able to also walk the dog.

I had to help her on a pet insurance claim, and had to read through the dogs entire medical history. It saddened me to see that after every visit from around 1 year of age, the vet had made a note that he had mentioned that the dog needed his food intake reduced, as he was getting very overweight. He also developed diabetes at some point. In the end there was diabetes, kidney problems, cataracts that turned into blindnes. Shaky, sleeping most of the time, but still breathing, at 12 years of age. Not a happy and healthy dog. But, very much loved.....

shinyshoes · 21/08/2009 18:06

I think it's a great idea. But I 'm thinking she'll come back and feed it it's usual amount.

I'd still do it though and perhaps bring home some leaflets for her to read on dog obesity saying you picked them up for yourself because you wanted to be get familiar with her breed of dog, or something.

I give my dog half a tin a day and the equivalent in those Bakers meaty moist chunks. One sitting only.

Mine is a Jack Russell

DrCanineMcKeith · 21/08/2009 18:09

Mine is a minature schnauzer and if he starts looking a bit tubby I just cut down for a while. I want him to live for a long time, I love him to bits and feeding him crap might be gratifying for me in the short term it is horrible for him.

QS That is so sad. Think that is the case here also (I am OP, liked this name better). Vet tells her every time the dog goes that he needs to lose weight, my friends answer - change vets!

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