Post spay weight gain

[duvetlife]

Any advice on successful dieting for your dog after spaying?

Our little girl should be around 8kg but has rocketed up to nearly 10kg we are 10 weeks post op.

We thought once normal exercising was resumed the weight would drop off but it doesn't seem to be budging.

We are taking her to the vet in January for some advice but wondered if anyone had been thru anything similar

Her metabolic rate will have dropped about 25-30% so she needs significantly fewer calories. Have you reduced her food?

If you’re concerned about hunger then Hills metabolic or similar diet food is lower calorie

Reduce the biscuits is step 1. Less treats and more walks.

Your vet should have told you that weight gain is common after neuturing.

Ours didn't gain any weight but that was because he did a lot of exercise going to daycare etc. Though in the last few months he has stopped running as much and I can see he is putting on a bit of weight and probably needs to lose about 1kg. For me as he gets enough exercise (he never stopped before) I have just started to cut his food and treats a little bit at each meal and will weigh him weekly until we get down to his ideal weight.

Thanks for your replies.

We were told this may happen but I think have been surprised how quickly and how much!!

She has been back to full exercise post op for a while now (2 hours off lead per day) and isn't loaded with biscuits or treats either, again this is why the amount of weight gain took us by surprise.

As suggested I think we may have to look into specialist food to help us and her! It's tough to cut down the food intake when she is sniffing round clearly still hungry and not full

Thanks again

Whenever mine has been on restricted exercise after operations we notice weight differences. It can be quick when they aren't moving much.

I feed my dog carrots for treats. I also think it helps that we feed ours wet food as there is more bulk compared to kibble for the same calories so he feels full.

They definitely need to eat less after being neutered. We had to reduce the food ours got by about a third to keep him at a healthy weight.

I'm not sure what yours is fed, OP, but substituting kibble for wet food (even just a % of the meal) can help the dog feel full because it is less calorie dense so, volume wise, the dog has to eat a bit more for the same energy value.

Add lots of vegetables to help fill him up. Cut out dog biscuits and treats, they’re all junk food. Use bits of real meat as training rewards.

Our vet nurse recommends that you cut calorific intake by 25 - 50% after neutering.
Seems almost cruel but better than an obese dog.

Dry food usually swells in water so can be more filling. My Dog never chews it anyway so doesn't make much difference. Ive split her meals & add things like green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots as I think the medication may have increased her hunger, she's old & arthritic rather so needs to keep slim.

I can tell you from having gone on a Very Low Calorie Diet myself that you quickly get used to less, hunger passes & its surprising how little can become filling after a while. My dog would eat all day given choice, she's proven that even after scoffing several kilograms of kibble and looking heavily pregnant would still eat more if offered.