Morbidly obese rescue! Need input!

[alexav]

Hello all,
A few years back, I rescued a 6 month old female from a local shelter. After basic training, vaccs and spaying, I found her what I thought was an ideal home. Her owner loves her and really is a doting mom, but there's the rub...

This girl is now SO obese that it is a threat to her health. She weighs at least twice what she should! I have intervened several times and her owner has promised to cut her back. I believe she has the best intentions but every time I see this dog she is fatter than before. This time, I was boarding her while her mom had eye surgery. She was playing in the yard and collapsed, acting as if she just could not get enough air. I ran her to the ER (New years eve) and they put her on O2 and ran some bloodwork. It seems her body cavity has too much fat and not enough room for heart and lungs. I sat politely through the lecture on fat dogs hoping to get some new ideas on how to convince her owner but no luck. I KNOW the seriousness of obesity in dogs, but how to enlist coooperation?

I have been nice, I have been firm, I have lectured, I have threatened to take the dog back. I am at my wits end but it's important to know that I really love this lady (the owner). I know it would kill her to take Sandy away from her now but Sandy could very well drop dead next time she overexerts herself!

I talked to her today and she swears she will keep Sandy on a strict diet and increase her exercise but I fear that the old "Just can't say no" demon will continue to live there.

Can you folks add ANYTHING that can help? Maybe if she hears it from all of you she will realize that I am not just being overprotective and picky.

Thanks in advance!

[Judi W]

Have you told her the dog is going to DIE if she doesn't take serious action and that it will not be in 10 years but this year? I had to do that with a friend of mine. Tell her what the clinic said. Take her a small (very small) food bowl that will only allow a certain amount of food and tell her only twice a day with only 3 small dog size treats a day.

Many people do not understand "cut down" and they also I have discovered have large food bowls because they think "well, I have a large dog". Then when they put the food in the bowl it doesn't look like enough because of course the bowl is so darn big, so they add more.

Try that.

[alexav]

Originally posted by Judi W
Have you told her the dog is going to DIE if she doesn't take serious action and that it will not be in 10 years but this year? Tell her what the clinic said.

Absolutely! I even have made her cry several times.

The bowl idea is a great one! Thanks. I plan on going to her house when I return the dog and going over portions, nutrition, etc. (Again... )

[moondog]

And give her a cup measure, marked with permanent ink at the not-to-exceed point. Tell her those big, brown, pleading eyes might look like they're begging for food, but what they're really begging for is a WALK! :) I don't envy your dilemma, I hope you can get through to her. You could also tell her the next collapse is likely to be permanent and where will Sandy be then?

[spidey]

I agree with the above suggestions (especially the smaller bowl and the clearly marked measuring cup - perhaps also type up a clearly-worded daily diet for the dog with lots of bold and highlighting on words like "ONLY" and "NO MORE", and perhaps a print-out of the dog "healthy weight chart" (this is a good article/chart combination: http://www.vetref.net/articles/_articles/obese.html and also this article: http://www.cycledog.com/weight.htm and this article: http://www.doggiedude.com/dog_obesity.html ) for her to put on her fridge, or near where the dog food is kept, so she can see it every time she thinks of feeding the dog ;) ). I'd also use the old emotional blackmail trick and tell her that if she loves the dog, she will stop placing her own emotions on it and do what's best FOR THE DOG - the dog needs to lose weight or it will die, and sooner rather than later. She's abusing the dog, even though she may not realise it, this has reached such an extreme that what she is doing is no different than someone starving a dog to death - the end result will be the same, the dog will die a slow and miserable death (if a heart attack doesn't get her first). Tell her the dog is MISERABLE being that fat. Tell her you did not rescue this dog and place it with her to have her abuse it, that she seems like a kind and loving owner, and that you've been behind her up to now, but that her refusal to get the dog's weight down is forcing you to reconsider your opinion of her, since her treatment of the dog is NOT that of a kind and loving owner (be kind, but firm, remember that she IS abusing it, no matter how nice she is, or how good her intentions are).

Do you have the time to check on the dog weekly? Why not have a Weight Watchers-style weigh-in every week where you can write the weight on a chart to track it? That way she'll see results happening, and she won't feel she can get away with the overfeeding anymore. If need be, explain to her that your rescue insists on this, or the dog must be removed from the home (that way it's not you being a big meanie). Of course, if the dog loses even a couple of ounces, praise the lady like she's a puppy pooping outside for the first time (and then remind her that there's a long way to go).

I would also try and find out what's behind her overfeeding the dog. Sometimes people have some pretty weird thought processes going on which you may or may not be able to change (if not, you may have to consider removing the dog). We had a guy at our clinic with a fairly small Golden who weighed in excess of 150 lbs - the owner claimed that food was the dog's only joy in life so he was going to ensure that the dog was happy, even though he knew it was shortening the dog's lifespan. The guy was just delusional and no amount of educating would change his mind. Good luck, please keep us informed about this.

[Joanne in NJ]

If you're close enough, and have an understanding vet locally- take her in every week for "Weight Watchers". They usually won't charge you anything to just come in and use their scale.

I have a little senior rottie girl who was 126 pounds and leaking urine because she was so obese. She was picked up running (waddling) stray- although how a 126 pound rottie girl gets "lost" I don't know. Perhaps they got tired of her leaking on their carpets...

Once she got below 106 pounds, she stopped leaking and I've had her down to 92, although I think she's creeping up on me again.

Taking her in and weighing her really helped me get a good handle on how she was doing. People have also suggested giving them a cup of green beans. Doesn't do much for them, but they feel full.

[ILoveRotts]

Just a thought -- has she had a thryroid panel done?


I used to get tons of guff for my Drakey (he was very overweight) but we did not feed him much - at the end he was just getting 2 cups a day. All people & several vets just assumed I was feeding him too much.

Well turns out he has an extreme case of hypothryoidism. With medication, he lost 20lbs in a month! My Vet said he would gain weight just by looking at it. Fortunately, I found the right vet who diagnosed him properly. He is a "skinny", healthy, active, happy doggy now!

Just a thought.

[alexav]

Originally posted by ILoveRotts
Just a thought -- has she had a thryroid panel done?

Yes, I took her in a few months ago since the owner claimed she wasn't overfeeding and I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. Hmmmmm, Thyroid normal...Is there anything else physical that could be causing the excess weight? (Grasping at straws...Ha, Ha.)

[TrishB]

Thyroids are not the only reason for being overweight. Sadly, I have also known of obese dogs that weren't obese at all, but feeding huge tumors. :(

Take her to the vet, have a complete physical done. It may include another thyroid panel and a chest / abdominal xray. Be SURE that there is no physical reason for her current condition. This way, you'll know that any action taken by you will not threaten her health and that she's heathy enough to go into a weight reduction program.

There are several things you can do (some which have already been said):

- permanent marked portion scoop
- small bowl
- multiple smaller feedings so the dog isn't overly hungry
- (I might get flamed for this but so be it, I TRULY feel this is your best option) Have the vet put her on Prescription Diet R/D (reduction diet)
- schedule weekly weigh-in's at the vets, keep the weights on her record
- schedule her exercise regime
- throw out all doggy treats in the house
- use plain Cheerios as treats (one Cheerio = one treat) they're low in fat, calories, salt and sugar; high in fibre so they're filling
- enroll her in obedience classes so she'll have something to do and work on
- schedule play dates for your dog(s) and hers at least twice a week

It's not easy to get a dog to lose weight. Just like us, it takes a lifestyle change. Schedule events for the dog to get out of the house, socialize, add to her training. An involved dog / owner are busy and healthy dogs / owners!! ;) It's not just about the food.

Best of luck! :D

[Sue]

If she really loves this dog so much (and I'm sure she does), it might help to stress the part about how miserable she is. Our Yellow Lab bitch was huge. Maybe not morbidly obese, but certainly obese. The thyroid panel came back with half in normal range and the other half almost normal. We put her on meds and started in with a Large Breed Weight Management formula food, and a marked measuring cup. Sarah has lost 30 lbs!!!! She's now 74.5 and when the vet saw her this week for a weigh in she said her optimum weight is between 75-80 lbs. But my point here is that she's a different dog! She PLAYS!!! She used to chase tennis balls, but never played with the other dogs. Now they play tag and bitey-face wrestle all the time.....the change in her has been amazing:D :D :D

I'm sure she wants her dog to be happy.....maybe that approach would help?

[TrishB]

I just wanted to add: R/D is a specifically formulated diet for obese dogs to lose weight. The dogs must remain monitored throughout the weight reduction program. Once they have lost the weight, the diet will change to a low-cal, maintenance diet.

This is a prescription, just like a drug. Therefore, it must be monitored. It has a very specific purpose and will not be her permanent diet. Once she has reached her target weight, the treatment is over.

I know some people do not like prescription diets - however, there is NO OTHER DIET on the market that can match the specific ailments that these diets are made for. These diets are like a medication - they are not given without a veterinarians prescription. I've seen wonderful success stories unfold before my eyes in my 9 years of veterinary work. I've seen this diet save dogs lives.

[Rottnlove]

Oh boy!!!!

Is this girl asking for trouble or what?! :(

There are SOOOOO many things that can and DO go wrong, and I'm not just talking about the obvious; death.

Unlike humans, a dog does not have the ability to make wise choices. It's up to the OWNER to provide the right diet and proper exercise! Therefore, a dog is 100% dependent on it's owner to make sure it remains healthy throughout it's life.

If the owner is overfeeding this dog, it's obviously they don't give a HOOT about it's health! I wouldn't dream of over feeding my pup EVER!!!! I love her, and I want her to be happy and healthy. Does this lady think her overly obese dog can get as much out of life and be comfortable? If so, this is insane!

Not only will this situation shorten the dogs life, it will live a shorter, less happy life.

Here is a list of some of the problems one can expect to encounter with an obese dog.

1- Heart attack
2- Hip problems, very painful! Costly as well!
3- Kidney problems
4- lethargy
5- painful joints
6- shortened life
7- Death

Now, I'm by no means a vet, but this is just BASIC knowledge!!!!!!

I would think that if she really loved her dog, she wouldn't give it a slow, painful death. :(

[Aegis]

Well, so far this woman's pretty much turned the deaf ear.
I doubt seriously that either pleading with her one more time or one more lecture is going to be any more productive than all the other times.

I'd give her a strict diet and exercise regimen for the dog, instruct her that the dog is to be weighed weekly at the vets as suggested, and you can call the vet to verify the weight.

If, after two weeks the dog hasn't lost an acceptable amount of weight perhaps you could consider boarding her (and charging the owner for it) during her weight loss program.

Then, should you decide to re-home the dog with this woman you could perhaps insist on monthly weight checks to insure that the dog's proper weight is being maintained and the woman isn't going back to her old ways.

Short of that I don't see how you're going to get this woman to comply. Either way, it's abuse and shouldn't be tolerated. I'm not sure that I would re-home the dog with her, however, without a weight contract of some sort.

...just a thought...

[AngelBunny]

I'm with Aegis on this being a case of abuse--the dictionary defines abuse as, "to treat in a harmful, unjurious, or offenseive way..."

Just as starving your dog is abuse, so too is overfeeding your dog. Both damage the dog's health.

Obesity in Dogs -- http://www.ivillage.com/pets/dogs/fo..._19384,00.html

Is the owner obese herself?

Unfortunately, I don't believe all the URLs, scoldings, lectures, articles, and warnings are going to help until the owner gets professional help herself to understand the underlying reasons of why she's doing what she's doing.

[mmgy]

You say you know this woman.....is it possible something could be going on with her? Our local weimeraner rescue took in a dog last summer that was about 50 lbs. overweight. Turns out the husband had died, and the wife was in beginning stages of Alzheimer's and didn't understand how to feed the dog.

I know it's a long shot, but I thought it might give you another angle to consider.

M2