Hip Dysplasia ,i Don't Know What To Do...help

[Kirislin]

I would also suggest weighing your dog at the vets every week so you know whether you are reducing her food enough. The vet shouldn't charge you just to use their scales.

Edited May 18, 2010 by Kirislin

[bridie]

I would also suggest weighing your dog at the vets every week so you know whether you are reducing her food enough. The vet shouldn't charge you just to use their scales.

I shall and I have taken all the advice on board from all & it is appreciated,I was very afraid for her future after the vets' yesterday,re her quality of life,I was in FEAR of the unknown as to what i could do to save her& give her a quality of life,To one and all....I plead guilty to over feeding and I honestly feel terrible contributing to Bindies condition,talk more t'morrow it has been a long day.Not a whinge or whimper from Bindie her attitude .....she is so so brave.Such a beautiful little lady.I live for my dogs,pathetic.......many would say....get a life.

[skip]

As Kirislin has suggested - use scales at the vets or your own at home to keep track of your dogs weight.

I have chi x foxy who can seem to get heavier overnight if you don't watch her. My dog food suggests 1/3 cup a day for her and she id bigger than a chi. But cause she does agility her rewards are often her only food for the day. So rewards must be healthier and instead of her meal.

If she got a chicken neck or a bone them she doesn't get the dry food. She is not really into the dry food but that is good. If she doen't want it then she doesn't get anything else. If she was hungry she would eat it.

I would seek some advice about her diet from the vets if you can find one who is more helpful. But keep a record of what she weighs and what you are feeding her each day. If she is not dropping weight then reduce the food till she is. I would do it slowly. For treats I would use unprocessed treats and even the odd meaty bone. Supervised of course.

Good luck. I found it a bit of a shock after feeding my rottie that they can eat so little. Lucky mine runs round a lot and burns it off. Must be harder because your dog won't run round that much.

Progress reports will be required.

[bridie]

As Kirislin has suggested - use scales at the vets or your own at home to keep track of your dogs weight.

I have chi x foxy who can seem to get heavier overnight if you don't watch her. My dog food suggests 1/3 cup a day for her and she id bigger than a chi. But cause she does agility her rewards are often her only food for the day. So rewards must be healthier and instead of her meal.

If she got a chicken neck or a bone them she doesn't get the dry food. She is not really into the dry food but that is good. If she doen't want it then she doesn't get anything else. If she was hungry she would eat it.

I would seek some advice about her diet from the vets if you can find one who is more helpful. ( That is it in a NUTSHELL,I wanted & NEEDED options and never recieved it,in hind site.) But keep a record of what she weighs and what you are feeding her each day. If she is not dropping weight then reduce the food till she is. I would do it slowly. For treats I would use unprocessed treats and even the odd meaty bone. Supervised of course.

Good luck. I found it a bit of a shock after feeding my rottie that they can eat so little. Lucky mine runs round a lot and burns it off. Must be harder because your dog won't run round that much.

Progress reports will be required.

I have learnt a lot today,been a very emotional day,thanks DOLers,great site.I will do as you suggest,taking a breather as to what is next,just the diet for now.

I"m gobsmacked that they need so little too,I just put it all out there....help yourselves!Thought they would just eat what they needed.Gave her a table spoon of the Barf Kangaroo and she loved it....mmm must try it!Yummy Mummy.

[Kirislin]

I have learnt a lot today,been a very emotional day,thanks DOLers,great site.I will do as you suggest,taking a breather as to what is next,just the diet for now.

I"m gobsmacked that they need so little too,I just put it all out there....help yourselves!Thought they would just eat what they needed.Gave her a table spoon of the Barf Kangaroo and she loved it....mmm must try it!Yummy Mummy.

I am not sure if you mean here that you used to free feed, meaning you just left plenty of food out all day and whoever wanted to eat it could. If that's what you mean, it's exactly what has to stop.

From now on you will need to be very strict, each dog gets its own bowl with a small amount, only what is needed for a little dog. Make sure they stick to their own bowls and dont steal each others. Good luck, if you stick to it, it will work.

Edited May 19, 2010 by Kirislin

[bridie]

I have learnt a lot today,been a very emotional day,thanks DOLers,great site.I will do as you suggest,taking a breather as to what is next,just the diet for now.

I"m gobsmacked that they need so little too,I just put it all out there....help yourselves!Thought they would just eat what they needed.Gave her a table spoon of the Barf Kangaroo and she loved it....mmm must try it!Yummy Mummy.

I am not sure if you mean here that you used to free feed, meaning you just left plenty of food out all day and whoever wanted to eat it could. If that's what you mean, it's exactly what has to stop.

From now on you will need to be very strict, each dog gets its own bowl with a small amount, only what is needed for a little dog. Make sure they stick to their own bowls and dont steal each others. Good luck, if you stick to it, it will work.

I have always left out dry all day,Optimum, meal times I put on 3 plates like a smorgasboard I suppose,I will have to feed separate from now on to make sure each has their share.Last night they were all running around looking at me asking ...where is the rest of it,actually they were getting into the dry after the main.I have cut back to half of what I usually feed them.They don't like eating on their own they like to eat together,too bad.I was looking at the is it BARF at the pet store,thinking this may be the way to go,wondering how much a 2 kilo dog should have,may be it says on the packet.I will finish up the chicken pieces and just do necks & the Barf.Isn't it ridiculous the price of necks $4.50,re chicken pieces $2.50 @ kilo.Wondering is Liver non fattenning?

Bindie is the only one with the weight problem,not only did she gulp her food she probably never ran around to the extent the others do because of her legs.I only noticed the past month that she seemed to walk with a swaying of her hips so took her to be checked out.Not a murmer or whinge out of her she is such a good girl,I'm sure I would be whinging with a cut like hers.

[persephone]

Puppies and ill dogs may benefit from free feeding- but I feel most dogs will do much better if their portions are controlled, and if they are kept lean By feeding your dogs separately , you will soon discover what dogs are needing more/less food, and it is more of a communication/love thing - YOU are actually providing the food every time your dog eats. YOU are standing thee, telling your dog to sit ,while waiting for his dinner, and your dog is there gazing at you - rather than the dogs just helping themselves whenever THEY want

You might find THIS thread interesting

[Kirislin]

I have always left out dry all day,Optimum, meal times I put on 3 plates like a smorgasboard I suppose,I will have to feed separate from now on to make sure each has their share.Last night they were all running around looking at me asking ...where is the rest of it,actually they were getting into the dry after the main.I have cut back to half of what I usually feed them.They don't like eating on their own they like to eat together,too bad.I was looking at the is it BARF at the pet store,thinking this may be the way to go,wondering how much a 2 kilo dog should have,may be it says on the packet.I will finish up the chicken pieces and just do necks & the Barf.Isn't it ridiculous the price of necks $4.50,re chicken pieces $2.50 @ kilo.Wondering is Liver non fattenning?

Bindie is the only one with the weight problem,not only did she gulp her food she probably never ran around to the extent the others do because of her legs.I only noticed the past month that she seemed to walk with a swaying of her hips so took her to be checked out.Not a murmer or whinge out of her she is such a good girl,I'm sure I would be whinging with a cut like hers.

If you still mean you are leaving dry food down for them to eat freely when ever they want take it away! This is part of the problem, your little fat dog can help herself whenever she wants. You have no control over how much she eats. No food to be left on the floor for them to free feed from now on. Never.

Edited May 19, 2010 by Kirislin

[bridie]

Hi have high energy Belgian Shepherds who play daily [and I mean PLAY] and are training and trailling. My trialling dogs only get a 1 and 1/3 cups of Pro Plan and they are BIG dogs!!!!.

I also have a Belgian Shepherd who is 14 years and 8.5 months old with SEVERE HD. Be Be has a hip score of 64. I have NEVER let her get fat and she gets regular gentle exercise that included lots of swimming when she was younger. Be Be is still alive today because I was careful with her diet and her exercise.

Be Be at her age and level of fitness gets 3/4 of a cup of Pro Plan, is 57.5 cm at the shoulder and weighs about 22.5 Kilos. Be Be is an older style, heavier built style BSD.

I would give your Chi no more than a 1/5 of a cup of low calorie but high quality biscuit and that is it for the entire day. If you feel she needs a bit more, then give her a very small amount of tinned green beens or grated carrot.

NO TREATS, NO EXTRAS until you have got at least a kilo off of her.

BTW Be Be has never seen a specialist though I do have a first rate vet and never had surgery to correct or aid her HD - she never needed it. But in your case I would recommend going to a specialist or another vet for a second opinion!

Good luck

Thanks,waiting waiting patiently for these ex-rays for a second opinion.

Is that Be Be? she looks like a cuddly black bear.

[bridie]

I have always left out dry all day,Optimum, meal times I put on 3 plates like a smorgasboard I suppose,I will have to feed separate from now on to make sure each has their share.Last night they were all running around looking at me asking ...where is the rest of it,actually they were getting into the dry after the main.I have cut back to half of what I usually feed them.They don't like eating on their own they like to eat together,too bad.I was looking at the is it BARF at the pet store,thinking this may be the way to go,wondering how much a 2 kilo dog should have,may be it says on the packet.I will finish up the chicken pieces and just do necks & the Barf.Isn't it ridiculous the price of necks $4.50,re chicken pieces $2.50 @ kilo.Wondering is Liver non fattenning?

Bindie is the only one with the weight problem,not only did she gulp her food she probably never ran around to the extent the others do because of her legs.I only noticed the past month that she seemed to walk with a swaying of her hips so took her to be checked out.Not a murmer or whinge out of her she is such a good girl,I'm sure I would be whinging with a cut like hers.

If you still mean you are leaving dry food down for them to eat freely when ever they want take it away! This is part of the problem, your little fat dog can help herself whenever she wants. You have no control over how much she eats. No food to be left on the floor for them to free feed from now on. Never.

No Bindie wasn't out there last night,but I get your point.What about this Barf?

[Kirislin]

No Bindie wasn't out there last night,but I get your point.What about this Barf?

I dont feed Barf but Persephone put a link for you to read, have you done that?

As to Bindie not being out there last night, you need to remove the food so none of your dogs can free feed. It's too easy to slip up and Bindie will get into it as well. I cannot stress this enough, you need to have total control over what goes into her stomach so you need to take the dry food up off the floor.

I've gone back over my previous posts and put in red the times I have stressed no more free feeding and so far it's up to 5 times. I hope it's got through to you. I am sure I am not the only one to say it.

Edited May 19, 2010 by Kirislin

[SparkyTansy]

Barf is the same deal... it's still food... and it's still not controlled if you leave it down...

Or do you mean you want to know whether BARF is a good food source? I suggest you do some searches on BARF there are plenty on DOL.

Dogs don't know when their next meal going to come, so therefore they gorge themselves each and every time.

[persephone]

yep . Usually dogs are like chocaholics if it's there, they will pig out!! Dogs are 'wired' so that their brains will still behave as if they are wild, and hunting their food.

If they have a good and successful 'hunt' they eat to bursting ... as they may not get a feed again for days . Modern dogs will still do this ... even tho they have food there all the time

for your queries about BARF...

click on HERE

and HERE

have fun learning all about dog food and feeding!

[bridie]

No Bindie wasn't out there last night,but I get your point.What about this Barf?

I dont feed Barf but Persephone put a link for you to read, have you done that?

As to Bindie not being out there last night, you need to remove the food so none of your dogs can free feed. It's too easy to slip up and Bindie will get into it as well. I cannot stress this enough, you need to have total control over what goes into her stomach so you need to take the dry food up off the floor.

Off the floor,,going to Perseys link now.

[bridie]

Puppies and ill dogs may benefit from free feeding- but I feel most dogs will do much better if their portions are controlled, and if they are kept lean By feeding your dogs separately , you will soon discover what dogs are needing more/less food, and it is more of a communication/love thing - YOU are actually providing the food every time your dog eats. YOU are standing thee, telling your dog to sit ,while waiting for his dinner, and your dog is there gazing at you - rather than the dogs just helping themselves whenever THEY want

You might find THIS thread interesting

Thanks I will give it a go,seeing they liked the Aussie Barf,which is Kangaroo,veges and other good products,as well as being able to give them what is good for them but what is enjoyable to their palates.There is a local Brissy number on the packet,might give them a call and see if i could buy in bulk,need to clean the freezer out firstly.No that didn't work,have to buy hundreds of kilos.

[huski]

If you are in Browns Plains I highly recommend going to see the team at Animal Options out at Ormeau www.animaloptions.com.au

[Nekhbet]

I have a huge dog with severe HD. I can tell you thin is always better! rememberdiesel.webs.com is his site, he has many problems which we have corrected without surgery and we are looking at having a leg brace made to help him.

Natural therapies, acupuncture, exercise and electrostimulation got him from bed bound to running about. Dont give up the tinies have a much better chance then a dog like mine at 50kg

[bridie]

Barf is the same deal... it's still food... and it's still not controlled if you leave it down...

Or do you mean you want to know whether BARF is a good food source? I suggest you do some searches on BARF there are plenty on DOL.

Dogs don't know when their next meal going to come, so therefore they gorge themselves each and every time.

The Barf i thought good re lean,ie Kangaroo etc rather than chicken pieces lots of hidden fats in this.I realise what-ever that I need to control it.My others have manners and don't gulp like Bindie did,may-be it was because she was from a large litter and first in best dressed ie as a puppy.

I could spend all day alone on the Barf link,but I have to do other stuff today,I get in some of these interseting site and before I know it it is 5pm,I'm sure you know exactly what I mean.

Edited May 19, 2010 by bridie

[bridie]

If you are in Browns Plains I highly recommend going to see the team at Animal Options out at Ormeau www.animaloptions.com.au

Third recommendation this a.m for this vet,2 personal emails. Thanks will do.

[bridie]

I have a huge dog with severe HD. I can tell you thin is always better! rememberdiesel.webs.com is his site, he has many problems which we have corrected without surgery and we are looking at having a leg brace made to help him.

Natural therapies, acupuncture, exercise and electrostimulation got him from bed bound to running about. Dont give up the tinies have a much better chance then a dog like mine at 50kg

That's great news for Diesel all positive,I really hope alternative for Bindie rather than surgery.Later today will go and look at your site