Maxxs_Mummy
Well-known member
Whoohoo go Lily :*nana: Your new Mamma loves you and you're doing soooooooooooooooooo well Bet those furry brothers love you too :flwr:
Moviedust said:I wish a diet would cure Willow's snoring!! Unfortunately, she's not overweight. She's just a piggy. I wake her up several times a night to get her to change positions. Works for a few minutes, then she falls asleep again. :roll:
Karlin said:I actually had to tell me neighbours what all the noise was... I was afraid they would think I was hiding away some man who they never saw, but who spent most of the day sleeping and snoring... 8)
Can you reiterate again what type of diet you had her on? I've cut back my Sophie's kibble(Reduced Calorie Natural Balance) and supplemented with fr. green beans/canned pumpkin/shredded carrots/apples. I still don't think she's lost much weight at all and she really, really needs to lose! (I keep telling her that we'd both feel better if we lost 10 lbs!)
As adults some Cavaliers may only eat 1/2 cup of food per day, others may eat as much as 1 full cup of food per day. I do not suggest feeding an adult Cavalier twice a day even though it is best for the dog. Cavaliers do not eat much! Half of very little is almost nothing! Nearly every owner I've known who tried to feed an adult twice a day ended up with an overweight Cavalier. When they try to divide 1/2 or 2/3 cup of kibble into two servings the amount barely covers the bottom of the pan--so they add just a little bit more so they don't feel as though they are starving their Cavalier. A little bit more every meal eventually ends up being a lot more! And their Cavalier becomes overweight. With one meal a day the amount looks to our eyes as though it is a half way decent amount and we are much less likely to add just a little bit more each day.
HOW MUCH DO I FEED AND IS MY DOG OVERWEIGHT?
There is no way to tell you just how much your dog will need so far as quantity of kibble. Cavaliers vary GREATLY in their activity level. I know some 20 lbs. dogs that only need 1/2 cup of food a day and others that need a full cup or even more. I know some 10 lbs. dogs that only need 1/3 cup of food a day and others that need a full cup or even more. It is too dependent on the metabolism and activity level of each individual dog. You will have to use a hit and miss approach to figure out which amount is right for your dog. Try 2/3 of a cup to 1 full cup per day for an adult Cavalier over 1 year of age and watch to see if the dog is gaining weight or losing weight. Adjust accordingly. If they seem to be getting heavier, cut back. If they seem to be getting lighter, feed more. Also most dogs will need more food when the temperature outside is colder...
snip
HOW DO I GET MY DOG TO LOSE WEIGHT?
The same as humans--less food and more exercise!
Less Food: cut back to about 1/2 of what you had been feeding. If you are feeding kibble, take 1/2 of what you plan on giving your dog and soak it long enough so that it expands. Mix the dry in with the wet expanded food. The expanded food will help your dog feel a bit more full right after eating. Then add about 1/2 cup of green beans---fresh or thawed frozen (canned has too much salt) to the top and feed. The green beans are a very low calorie filler and quite good for your dog too!
If the dog isn't losing weight within 2 weeks, cut back on the food even more.
Some Ideas for More Exercise: try to take your dog for a walk daily, especially if you don't normally do so. If you can't do that for whatever reason, attempt to play fetch or whatever with your dog for 15 minutes a day. Tether your dog to you while you are working around the house so the dog has to go with you instead of sleeping on the couch. Try a buster cube with a few treats inside. That might help keep the dog busy for a bit. Throw the dog's kibble so it has to go and get it--either the treats or even the dog's entire meal.
:rotfl:Karlin said:I actually had to tell me neighbours what all the noise was... I was afraid they would think I was hiding away some man who they never saw, but who spent most of the day sleeping and snoring... 8)
Also make sure there aren't supplements coming from unexpected places. I realised at one point that Lily was 'snacking' from the cat litter box. :yuk: