ziplex Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 Right, long story short my mother has been taken into care and i've had little option other than to take the little chap in permanently.....he is very overweight so i've a long road ahead getting him trim again. He is a male ESS and weighs 37 kilo's (yes you read right)! I did post a while back but cannot find it in the 'search' section so apologies to all who responded but i'll ask the question again. The last time my sister took him to the vets it was suggested that he has 300 grammes of food a day so i've measured out a standard mug contains approx' half the right ammount, ie: he'll get this ammount twice daily but my question relates to excersise.....is it ok to run him ragged or take it easy with the little man? I have a GSP and Springer that'll run for England if allowed, (very fit), do I let him get on with them or hold him back? He is approx' 5 year old but i'm worried he'll keel over with too much excitement!? Appreciate any help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshLamb Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 If it were me, I think Id break him into it gently dont let him run himself to exhaustion! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 Plenty of exercise is good. Re the amount of food. It varies with the particular food. What you need to do to work it out is look at the particular bag of feed and there will be a feeding guide for a weight range. What you do is find the range of food for the weight the dog SHOULD BE and go to the lower end and subtract 20%. Weigh it accurately and re-weigh the dog in 1 month. If weight loss not sufficient then cut it down further 10% after a month. EG PW Dogfood for a dog weighing 20-25kg needs 250-350g/day. Ideal weight 25kg, so we go for 250g minus 20% (50g) so the dog gets 200g/day. Special low calorie foods are available from your vet that can really help shift the weight without leaving you with a starving dog always begging for food. A tablespoon of bran helps fill the dog without adding many calories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 yeah agree with above , regular walks to get some weight off him first then start to build him up to working slowly i would and get his fitness back up to scratch , otherwise i think you may have a very unwell dog in a feild scenario Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 We only want a slow rate of weight loss, too fast and they put it straight back on again. As a guide 1% bodyweight/week is good. Means that to get from 37 - 25 = loss of 12kg and this could take 8 months! Don't rush it too fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boromir Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 I have a friend who doesn't feed his dogs 1 day a week, maybe this will help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshLamb Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 I have a friend who doesn't feed his dogs 1 day a week, maybe this will help. :blink: WHY!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruity Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 :blink: WHY!? An old wives tale , so say helps your dogs digestion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boromir Posted October 23, 2011 Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 :blink: WHY!? He said it makes them work better and stops them getting overweight. His dogs look healthy still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted October 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2011 All taken on board, Apache.....appreciate the explanation, it (sadly) makes sense, it also reminds me of the long road ahead for the little mutt! ideally i'd like him to be in shape in a matter of weeks but realistically this isn't going to happen I know. It's just I watch him lumber about and I worry a little about him charging around 'ala Springer'....he really is a fat lad :unsure: Without sounding ungrateful, I really wouldn't have taken him on by choice, but, 'hey ho' here he is and it's up to me to put him right, which i'll do Thank you..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kermitpwee Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 Plenty of exercise is good. Re the amount of food. It varies with the particular food. What you need to do to work it out is look at the particular bag of feed and there will be a feeding guide for a weight range. What you do is find the range of food for the weight the dog SHOULD BE and go to the lower end and subtract 20%. Weigh it accurately and re-weigh the dog in 1 month. If weight loss not sufficient then cut it down further 10% after a month. EG PW Dogfood for a dog weighing 20-25kg needs 250-350g/day. Ideal weight 25kg, so we go for 250g minus 20% (50g) so the dog gets 200g/day. Special low calorie foods are available from your vet that can really help shift the weight without leaving you with a starving dog always begging for food. A tablespoon of bran helps fill the dog without adding many calories. I really do think that 25kg is too heavy for a springer tbh. I know that vets say they should be 21-25kg but that has to be flawed. Maybe when the breed was bigger but most spaniels are not that big in modern times. I have a good size dog bigger than most springers over here and he is 21kg and is in great shape. If he was 4kg heavier he wouldn't work for that long and I would worry about his joints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maidment78 Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 Ziplex, sounds like the dog is a lucky little fella having you take him as he must be really in a bad way health wise at that weight, sure the other two you have will whip him into shape and then you will have three mad as you like dogs to keep you busy. Well done and good on you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 I really do think that 25kg is too heavy for a springer tbh. I know that vets say they should be 21-25kg but that has to be flawed. Maybe when the breed was bigger but most spaniels are not that big in modern times. I have a good size dog bigger than most springers over here and he is 21kg and is in great shape. If he was 4kg heavier he wouldn't work for that long and I would worry about his joints. That depends on the dog! Not for a second suggesting that's what he should weight, but it's got to be better than 37kg! I tend to go on body condition rather than a set weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kermitpwee Posted October 24, 2011 Report Share Posted October 24, 2011 That depends on the dog! Not for a second suggesting that's what he should weight, but it's got to be better than 37kg! I tend to go on body condition rather than a set weight. Sorry mate took you up wrong, didn't mean to be narky. I bought a spaniel for my uncle last year the dog was 17kg and working well didn't look unhealthy either. My uncle rang me and asked me would I have a look at his dog as he wasn't hunting well and would I take him in to tighten him on the whistle. I weighed the dog 22kg he was and barely able to move, the vet told him to put weight on the dog! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson_tom Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 20-25kg seems a lot for a springer spaniel, our old one was never over about 18kg. My welsh collie is about 20kg and a bigger more muscular dog than most springers we have seen. Cant help but think the vets books need updating. Well done on taking him on sounds as though you saved him from an early grave. My nan is a feeder with her dogs and all honestly they are were all barrels on legs, she only has one now a king Charles thingy which is only about 9 and on heart tablets and specialist diet food which is all a waste of time as it has pate for breakfast and she buys it finest Devonshire fudge. It eats better than my grandad!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 37kg! you dont have to see that to know its one fat lump of a spanner Shape is the important bit, but if your going for slow weight loss in such a fattie you aint goona see much shape in a while yet so weighing is the only way. The vetinary proffesion seem to have shape and weight assesment a lot more sorted than our own Doctors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
straightbarrel Posted October 25, 2011 Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 37kg! you dont have to see that to know its one fat lump of a spanner Shape is the important bit, but if your going for slow weight loss in such a fattie you aint goona see much shape in a while yet so weighing is the only way. The vetinary proffesion seem to have shape and weight assesment a lot more sorted than our own Doctors It's a lot easier to control weight and shape in a dog, they have no say in the matter.A fat human that wants to stuff his or her face will do so, a dog is reliant on someone else to feed him or her, a bit easier to manage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted October 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2011 37kg! you dont have to see that to know its one fat lump of a spanner Shape is the important bit, but if your going for slow weight loss in such a fattie you aint goona see much shape in a while yet so weighing is the only way. The vetinary proffesion seem to have shape and weight assesment a lot more sorted than our own Doctors You aren't wrong there, he's like a fluff covered barrel! next to my other two Springers who weigh 17 and 18 kilo's he looks a monster....still quite keen to charge around when the mood takes him though. One of my biggest problems is getting him in the back of the motor, 37 kilo's from the floor up for me and my cranky back isn't easy, thankfully he's already got the idea (after much encouragement) to stand on the bumper waiting for a 'pump up' now it's not just the old girl stood there waiting for assistance I was thinking about getting my daughter to get him on her treadmill? any ideas on this, good idea or not? at the moment i'm taking him for a 20 minute free run in the morning and again at night, i'm not too sure about how long to exercise him for... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickthemiller Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 Taking all of the comments on board, the weight of the dog must also depend on the size of the dog, I have two springers a four year old dog, he is bigger than some of the labs we meet and he is a trim 30kgs, the other one is a bitch not much bigger than a cocker she is 16kg both are healthy dogs and their weight suits their frame.I was hoping to download a picture of them side by side but don,t know how to make the image smaller. Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted October 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 Taking all of the comments on board, the weight of the dog must also depend on the size of the dog, I have two springers a four year old dog, he is bigger than some of the labs we meet and he is a trim 30kgs, the other one is a bitch not much bigger than a cocker she is 16kg both are healthy dogs and their weight suits their frame.I was hoping to download a picture of them side by side but don,t know how to make the image smaller. Mick I know what you mean Mick, we had a Springer years ago who looked thin at mid 30 kilo's....she was a bit of a freak though it has to be said. Our current two, one an old bird and 'tother a 2 year old both weigh well under 20 kilos. Cally, the fat lad, i'm guessing will look fighting fit at about 22/23 kilo's as he's quite a thick set/broad bodied dog although not overly tall/long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stavvy Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 You aren't wrong there, he's like a fluff covered barrel! next to my other two Springers who weigh 17 and 18 kilo's he looks a monster....still quite keen to charge around when the mood takes him though. One of my biggest problems is getting him in the back of the motor, 37 kilo's from the floor up for me and my cranky back isn't easy, thankfully he's already got the idea (after much encouragement) to stand on the bumper waiting for a 'pump up' now it's not just the old girl stood there waiting for assistance I was thinking about getting my daughter to get him on her treadmill? any ideas on this, good idea or not? at the moment i'm taking him for a 20 minute free run in the morning and again at night, i'm not too sure about how long to exercise him for... I'm not sure that would work, everybody knows that home treadmills are only for hanging your clothes on.... Good Luck with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted March 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2012 29 kilo's................looks a little more like a dog now as opposed to the fat controller. He has a waist forming now...and a neck. Still very much a chubster but he's moving much better, the neighbour's cat is testament to that as he's getting pretty close Just shaved him as his coat was getting way too long, his weight loss is quite noticeable now he's an overcoat shorter. Should really of posted a pic' at the start of his weight watchers regime but you'll just have to believe how much bigger he was a few months back. His 'target' weight is about 22 kilo's I reckon. Slowly but surely we're getting there with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 29 kilo's................looks a little more like a dog now as opposed to the fat controller. He has a waist forming now...and a neck. Still very much a chubster but he's moving much better, the neighbour's cat is testament to that as he's getting pretty close Just shaved him as his coat was getting way too long, his weight loss is quite noticeable now he's an overcoat shorter. Should really of posted a pic' at the start of his weight watchers regime but you'll just have to believe how much bigger he was a few months back. His 'target' weight is about 22 kilo's I reckon. Slowly but surely we're getting there with him. Still a porkster aint it, but you will get there. A BIG WELL DONE SO FAR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziplex Posted March 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 Still a porkster aint it, but you will get there. A BIG WELL DONE SO FAR Yes, still a lard **** and especially looks it next to our other two who weigh about 17 and 18 kilo's at the moment but 8 kilo's in 4 months isn't bad and i'm quite happy with that being as i've never had to shift such a large ammount of weight off a mutt before.......it's been hard getting his weight down without starving him too much in the meantime. Will be giving him more exercise now he's moving better so hopefully we can get a few more kilo's off a little quicker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclestuffy Posted March 9, 2012 Report Share Posted March 9, 2012 our first dog was a bloater (from a friend) and his teeth were bad to from the three digestives a day. It did not take too long for the weight to fall off as we excerised him and reduced his food (couple of months) - it was the building up of his muscles and the early fatigue from being so unfit was the main problem. i also think that the short bursts of play fighting and larking about was just as important as the evening run in the woods. He turned out to be an excellent squirrelling dog (cross breed as well). He was chained up for most of the day so we had the added complication of having a dog with a giant front quarters and very weak hips. He lived with us for 9 years (three when we got him) and he was active right up until his heart attack just before this christmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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