Overfeeding
your dog is the #1 reason for an overweight
Sheltie. Most people don't know the proper amount of food to
feed. Everyone goes by what the Vet recommends or what's
recommended on the back of that bag of dog food.
Rule
of thumb for feeding your dog: There are no rules! Every dog has a different activity level
and lifestyle - just like us humans. What it all boils
down to is this.....if your Sheltie is fat, your Sheltie is eating too
much or
has a health problem.
Your vet doesn't live with you or your dog, so there's no way for him
to know how much food your dog should eat. The pet food
manufacturers WANT YOU TO BUY MORE FOOD, so of course they're going to
recommend you feed more!
So how much
food do you actually feed your Sheltie?
You might be surprised to know you're
feeding your dog a lot more than you think! Take a look
at the photos below to see what happens to dog food once it's in your
Sheltie's belly.
Shown is 1/2 cup of
dry dog food.
This food doesn't have many fillers, yet look what
happens to it in the next photo.
After 20 minutes of
soaking in water, the volume
DOUBLES to 1 full cup of food. This is what happens
in your dog's stomach.
TAKE A CLOSER LOOK
1/2
cup of dry food
30
minutes in water
Suggestions
Feed your dog twice a day, but cut
back on the amount of food.
If you are worried that your Sheltie will be hungry, add boiled potatos
or canned green beans to each meal. These act as "fillers"
but won't cause your dog to gain weight. Do this for 6 months. Read
about the "Green Bean Diet" Instead
of feeding those fattening dog treats in between meals,
try giving baby carrots! Shelties love them!
#2:
HYPOTHYROIDISM (low thyroid)
Hypothyroidism is a condition resulting
from the body’s inability to maintain sufficient levels of thyroid
hormones. Thyroid hormones regulate metabolism, so lower than normal
thyroid levels can result in a variety of symptoms. Thyroid gland
insufficiency can be due to age and the resulting decreased ability of
the thyroid gland to function, as the result of medications and other
health problems.
Symptoms: weight
gain, thinning coat, dry skin, slow heart rate, intolerance to cold. A
dog may have one symptom or may have a variety of symptoms. Thyroid
disease is a progressive disease, so the changes are often gradual and
subtle. Low thyroid can also make other conditions, especially those
involving the hair and coat, more pronounced.
When a
Sheltie gets to be as obese as Cindy was, it might be medically
necessary
to put him/her on a food such as Hills Prescription Diet r/d.
This food is basically ALL fiber, so your dog won't absorb the food or
calories.
The result is weight loss & a LOT of poop.
Angel's tail upon diagnosis
of hypothyroidism.
Angel's tail months after
medication, Thyroxine.
Notice
the "rat tail" on the left. Sparse hair and dry fur.
You can actually see the tip of her bare tail peeking
out of the white fur.
The Sheltie breed is prone to
developing hypothyroidism as they get older. This could be an
inherited disease or it could be the result of another health issue,
which you many not be aware of yet. Fortunately, it's easily
treatable. If your Sheltie is overweight, make sure you ask your
Veterinarian to at least do a simple "T4" test on the dog - but if you
can afford it, the best thyroid test to have done is through Michigan
State University. Ask your Vet for details.
#3:
OLD AGE & ARTHRITIS
We
all get old. The problem with an old Sheltie is they are prone to
developing arthritis, especially in the spine. This is a
difficult situation because if your dog doesn't want to do anything but
lay around, they can't lose weight. Yet, the more weight they
gain, the less they want to move.
Please
consider having an x-ray done on
your old Sheltie's spine to
confirm the diagnosis of arthritis. Then get him/her on a pain
medication such as Deramaxx, which your Vet can prescribe. Once
your Sheltie starts feeling better, it will be easier to lose weight.
#4:
LAZINESS
Um, we're
not talking about the dog here. There's
virtually no such thing as a lazy Sheltie. The point is,
if your Sheltie is overweight, and all medical conditions have been
ruled out,
then get up off the sofa and take him for a walk!
Throw the ball!
