Best way to get weight off a ESS?

[ziplex]

My old mum isn't well so we may have to take on her beloved Spaniel, she has let him get very overweight, our past warnings about his health has always fallen on deaf ears unfortunately, so was wondering what would be the best way to slim the little mutt down as fast as possible? Bearing in mind he's undeniably a fat lad what sort of food/excersize should I give him do you think? (he's 4 years old btw).

[WGD]

Run him, but don't overdo it - he'll slow when he's tired. Feed him enough that he still has the energy to want to go, but no more than that. At 4 YO he's young enough just to be a fatty without any age related ailments to worry about when taking the weight off.

[ziplex]

Run him, but don't overdo it - he'll slow when he's tired. Feed him enough that he still has the energy to want to go, but no more than that. At 4 YO he's young enough just to be a fatty without any age related ailments to worry about when taking the weight off.

 

What about food?, the dog has been getting 'treats' all of his life but that'll change a bit sharpish if we have him. Any ideas on what might be best?

[WGD]

What's he on at the moment. And what do you feed yours? I completely agree with you that treats stop ASAP and then I would wean him onto what yours are on. You can get a various "lite" diets but for a dog young and capable of exercise I would feed him something to give him everything he needs, just less of it. My choice would be a complete quality kibble of some kind, I feed Arden Grange, but not for a working dog as they tend to be higher in various things to help the dogs hold weight.

[Imperfection]

What about food?, the dog has been getting 'treats' all of his life but that'll change a bit sharpish if we have him. Any ideas on what might be best?

 

Try substituting the unhealthy treats with carrot sticks.I know they wont be as appealing to him as biscuits,but since you're going to be radically reducing his food intake-he will take anything offered.Make him work for them too remember.

 

Edited to add.

'Burns' dog food is good for those which need to loose weight because it dont contain any cheap fillers.I cant feed my Bullmastiff it because he starts to look a bit ribby in couple of months,but would be ideal for yours.

Edited May 27, 2010 by Imperfection

[ziplex]

Thanks for the replies, from what you're saying i'll put him on the same food as ours are on and run him 'til he's out of puff, (which won't be hard, poor lad). I feed ours once in the evening and through the week they get a tin or two of Tuna for thier coat condition in the morning.

[MC]

My springer Merlin puts on a couple of kilos almost as soon as the shooting season finishes, he is on Dr Johns Gold Medal during the season as he suffered from collapse two seasons ago.

 

I have had him on Chudleys Lite for a couple of weeks now and the weight is coming off, he also gets plenty of exercise twice a day.

 

The only treats he gets are rawhide chews.

[ziplex]

My springer Merlin puts on a couple of kilos almost as soon as the shooting season finishes, he is on Dr Johns Gold Medal during the season as he suffered from collapse two seasons ago.

 

I have had him on Chudleys Lite for a couple of weeks now and the weight is coming off, he also gets plenty of exercise twice a day.The only treats he gets are rawhide chews.

 

That's probably where he suffers most, at the moment he only gets a gentle walk to the field a short distance away then charges around for 15 minutes. If I have him he'll be out twice a day come rain or shine for at least an hour, my guess is it'll be some while before he can take an hours excersize unless he's on a lead..trouble is like all springers he simply does not know when to give in and what with being such a bloater i'm a little worried about his ticker.

[WGD]

trouble is like all springers he simply does not know when to give in and what with being such a bloater i'm a little worried about his ticker.

 

Nah, he'll slow down when he's tired. You look for the signs and pull him up then. As I said before, at 4YO he'll be fine. On and off the lead over the hour would be better than a blast to exhaustion then on the lead for the rest of the walk.

[ziplex]

Nah, he'll slow down when he's tired. You look for the signs and pull him up then. As I said before, at 4YO he'll be fine. On and off the lead over the hour would be better than a blast to exhaustion then on the lead for the rest of the walk.

 

Well....if I do end up with him, which is seeming more likely every day just lately, i'm determined to get him into shape. It'll break her heart having to let him go but it's probably the best thing for him, poor chap.

 

Thanks all for the advice, appreciated.

[rickyspringer]

all great responses from the lads off here, I wouldn't feed heavy meals either, I would maybe break his feed down into 4, and very very light.

 

I would get on the bike with him aswell, just get him going at a trot next to you, slowly build it up, that will take the weight off him for sure.

 

Good Luck and hope your mum gains better health asap

[ziplex]

all great responses from the lads off here, I wouldn't feed heavy meals either, I would maybe break his feed down into 4, and very very light.

 

I would get on the bike with him aswell, just get him going at a trot next to you, slowly build it up, that will take the weight off him for sure.

 

Good Luck and hope your mum gains better health asap

 

Thanks again, not sure about the bike option unless it's all downhill/flat but you never know....I could do with losing weight too. My daughter is a bit of a fitness freak so in time he could go jogging with her but it'll take a while for him to get to that level, he's really knackered after a 10 minute run around as he is, like you said it'll have to be a slow build up for him.

[WGD]

Very good point from RS... hope your Mum retrurns to good health ASAP.

 

As far as the dog is concerned, bike/jogging etc it great for a fit dog but with an unfit one in summertime the dog will be very tired with the constant exercise before a fit human will. My dogs, having had a hard winter and very changeable weather now, are still well coated and lose pace very quickly on the recent hot days. 2 weeks ago here I was scraping frost from the windscreen in the morning and within a week it was over 20 C; how's a dog supposed to cope with that :unsure:

 

My ESS sorted herself after a hunting session today; she leapt into the duckpong I shoot - except it wasn't a duckpond today, it was a mudbath

[rickyspringer]

"As far as the dog is concerned, bike/jogging etc it great for a fit dog but with an unfit one in summertime the dog will be very tired with the constant exercise before a fit human will. My dogs, having had a hard winter and very changeable weather now, are still well coated and lose pace very quickly on the recent hot days. 2 weeks ago here I was scraping frost from the windscreen in the morning and within a week it was over 20 C; how's a dog supposed to cope with that "

 

Regarding my point, you don't go on the bike for yourself you go on the bike for the dog, when there is a change in the dogs actions, ie fatigue setting in you get off the bike and call it a day. As mentioned you have to have some common sense about you and not go out when the sun is beaming down.

 

I like the method as its a way of noticing improvement and the dogs fitness coming back.