I need some help please. Very overweight foster dog

[LennyPugGoat]

A rescue centre that I volunteer at asked if I could take in a foster as his owner has sadly died and the warden put him in kennels, we think he is around 9yrs old and currently weighs 56lbs.

I have skinners Chicken and rice dry and forthglade just chicken wet. My furloughed brain can't work out how much to feed him?

I also need to get a collar, I'd tag and muzzle (he has been an angel here with me but we don't know how he is with cats etc yet) he came with a harness. Can I just order from Amazon or can you suggest somewhere else onlOne?

I'll try and add a picture for you.

I don't know the answer, but I think working this out would need his breed and an idea of his likely ideal weight.

Re other kit, afaik pets at home is open both online and physically.

Pets at home are still open , though Amazon would do just as well if you know the measurements for the collar (we got a collar from home bargains!) I wouldn't muzzle unless he's shown signs of being aggressive out on walks - we use a harness and a halti with our dog and whilst she does bark she can't get near anything. As far as I know there is normally a feeding guide on the food as it's normally based on the weight of the animal (I used to have a rescue who was very overweight when she was first put into foster care and she came to me on royal canon)

We had an overweight rescue and he lost the excess quickly on a senior food. If you are planning on feeding him with what you already have, my vet recommended to feed for 5kg lower or the weight you are aiming for, whichever is highest. How much should he weigh do you think? Be strict with no treats and we used his food allowance for training.

I hope I’ve now added a picture.

I had a google and a 9yr old staffy should be between 13-17 kilos, he is currently 25

Vet here- we would normally advise feeding for their target weight. He does look like a bigger staffy so the 13kg end of the scale would be very small for him. I would aim for 19-20kg initially. It's easier if you're feeding one type of food to work out the amounts so maybe stick to the dry food alone if he'll eat that, and I would feed him the recommended amount for a 20kg dog initially (the recommended number of grams is normally per 24 hours). Avoid any treats and extras, if you need to give treats for training/reward then take a portion of his food out of what you've already measured as his daily allowance. If you're struggling to get weight off him with the food he's on then there are prescription weight loss foods that can be more successful. Good luck, he's handsome!

I heard that grating up raw carrot and mixing it in with their dry food helps bulk it out and stops them feeling hungry.

Really helpful, thanks Clark he is certainly very handsome and so far a gentleman as well

Can I just say how adorable that dog is!

Thanks Barole I was really hoping someone else would repost so I can brag about how amazing he is, such a star with a sad background although obviously loved.

Loves a belly rub, chilling in the garden and his own chair to snooze on before we all go to bed, he is so lovely.

Aww what a gorgeous chunk!

So cute 🥰🥰🥰whats the likelihood of you keeping him 🤣

Oh, bless him, he looks so content with you. You know that odd phrase 'preloved'? I think for once it applies.
for being a dog foster mum

Sorry no useful advice but what a lovely looking dog. He looks so happy to be with you.

Awwww what a little beauty, I want a cuddle

I’d love to keep him and let him live his last years with us but once this madness is over we all work full time so he would be home alone a lot, I don’t think he would cope.

He has quite severe anxiety even when my DH just goes to cut the grass out front!

Oh he is gorgeous 😍😍

If you were any where near me I would adopt him, we are looking for another rescue staffy, the last one we fostered is...umm...still here!

Rose can’t beat a staffy grin

He's adorable!! It's a shame you can't keep him, but I'm sure they'll find him a lovely home.