Fat Labrador
It’s not unusual to see a fat Labrador. Our perspectives on healthy weights for dogs have been a little skewed in recent years as more pets hit the obesity marker on the scale. And Labradors are very prone to weight gain for genetic and hunger reasons!
Canine obesity comes with a raft of accompanying health problems. Feeding your Labrador just the right amount can be a bit of a balancing act, but it’s one that you have a responsibility to try your best to achieve. Not all Labradors need the same amount of food, so you will need to pay attention to your individual dog’s needs, and be prepared to change your habits if necessary.
Some dogs like working dogs for example, will need quite a lot more food in the winter than they do in the summer. This is down to the amount of exercise he is getting differing dramatically in the changing seasons. You need to adapt your feeding to suit these shifts.
Contents
- Is my Labrador a healthy weight?
- What causes weight gain in Labradors?
- Are fat Labradors always unhealthy?
- Helping your dog to lose weight.
Is My Labrador Fat?
It is really important that you keep your Labrador’s weight appropriate for his height and build, rather than following guidelines on food packets or in books too closely. The best way to tell is by eye and touch.
Have a look at your dog and compare him with the picture below of a healthy Labrador. Look at your dog from the side.
- Does his belly slope upwards towards his groin, or is it a level line from his front legs to his back, or even worse is it sagging down between his legs?
- Your Labrador should have an upward sloping line from the base of his chest, towards his back legs.
- Now look at the dog from above. Can you see a ‘waist’ just in front of his hips? You should be able to! Your dog should not be the same width all the way down his body.
- Look at your dog from the side again. Can you see any ribs?
- You should not be able to see a lab’s ribs whilst he is standing still though you may well be able to see the last one or two when he is eating, drinking or bending and twisting.
- Run you hands along his rib cages firmly. Can you feel his ribs?
Ideally you should be able to just feel, but not see, your dog’s ribs. If you can see ribs when he is standing still he is too thin. If you cannot feel his ribs at all with your hands he is too fat!
How Much Should My Labrador Weigh?
As we have seen above, the best way to tell if you have a fat Labrador is by looking and feeling. The trouble with providing you with a number is that it can give a false impression.
Depending upon whether your Lab is field or bench bred, short or tall, chunky or slight, male or female, will all make a big difference to their ideal weight for the individual.
The average adult Labrador will weigh anywhere between 55 to 80 lbs! Male Labs usually being around 5 to 10 lbs heavier than their female counterparts.
If you are still unsure whether your Lab is the right weight for his or her build having given her a thorough check yourself as described above, then the best thing to do is to pop down to your local veterinarian.
They will be happy to let you know how much your individual Labrador should weigh.
Why Is My Labrador Fat?
So how did your slim little puppy end up as a fat adult Labrador?
There are three common assumptions that people make when considering how their dogs came to be overweight.
Does the dog need more exercise? Has he got some kind of medical problem? Or am I just feeding him too much at mealtimes or giving too many snacks?
In general if your dog is overweight the real reason is simply that he has eaten too much. Or rather, been allowed to eat too much.
So let’s have a look at how we can eliminate these other possibilities where most dogs are concerned.
Does my dog need more exercise?
People often say to me, “my Lab is a bit overweight because he hasn’t had much exercise lately.”
Whilst exercise can help to keep your dog in shape as a part of their daily routine, it is not the critical factor when it comes to putting on weight.
He may well need more exercise, but that is not why he is fat.
He is overweight because when you take into account the amount he exercises along with a number of other factors, he has eaten too much.
The exercise needs of your dog are an important but separate issue, which we look at in other articles. The important thing to remember is this:
The less exercise you give the dog, the less you must feed him.
You can’t be forever playing ‘catch up’ with his weight, or hoping to spend more time walking him next week. Once put on, weight is hard to shift and it will simply go up and up over time.
You need to control it on a regular weekly/monthly basis, starting now.
Medical causes of canine obesity
Although most dogs who are overweight have simply had a few too many bites to eat, there are some medical causes for obesity which do crop up from time to time.
Canine medical conditions that can affect your Labs weight include hypothyroidism, insulinoma and hyperadrenocorticism.
If a medical condition is the reason then the weight gain will normally be sudden and unexpected.
If you are concerned by sudden weight gain in your Lab when you have not been giving him more food, then a checkup at the vets is definitely in order.
You may also find that your dog puts on weight after having been neutered. If this is the case you will need to adjust your feeding habits accordingly.
However, for most dogs weight gain is a simple result of over feeding.
My Labrador is always hungry
People are often concerned because they worry that their dog is still hungry after eating his dinner. Here is an important truth:
Most Labradors are always hungry.
You cannot win this battle. These are greedy dogs and your Labrador will always want more food than you give him. No matter how much that may be.
If your Labrador is overweight he really needs to eat less and he will get used to his new regime quite quickly.
Are Fat Labs Less Healthy?
If you have looked at your Labrador and decided he is overweight, you might be wondered whether that actually matters.
You still love him and he doesn’t care what he looks like – so why should you bother?
Is it really worth the effort of ignoring those puppy dog eyes and whines for extra food? Aren’t chubby Labs just even more cute and cuddly than their skinny friends?
Whilst it’s true that your dog has no interest in his outward appearance, he will be the one suffering on the inside if you allow him to get fat.
Slim dogs are healthier
Being overweight predisposes you to an awful lot of unpleasant health problems. This is true regardless of whether you are a human or a dog.
Carrying extra pounds can also make existing problems your dog may have worse. For example joint problems like arthritis and hip dysplasia can be exacerbated by having more weight to lug around.
As well as joints and bones suffering from obesity related issues, increased body fat can also make your dog more likely to have problems with their organs including those needed for breathing and digestion.
Scarily, in order for these risks to be increased your dog doesn’t even have to be very over weight. Just a bit of extra fat can have a host of unwanted consequences.
Being a fat Lab puppy can potentially make your dog more likely to suffer from joint problems later in life.
Slim dogs live longer
Not only will a slim dog have a better level of fitness and a lower likelihood of becoming unwell, they will in all probability live longer too.
Purina PetCare carried out a lifetime study on 48 Labradors, where they were divided into two categories, one of which was given 25% more food than the other.
Those Labs on the large food ration had a median lifespan of over 11 years old. Those on the smaller food ration lived to be over 13 years old.
When you look at the difference which can be made in these terms, by helping your Lab to stay slim you could be giving him an incredible two more years with you!
So, if you are going to help your Lab to lose weight let’s have a look at the best way to go about it.
How to Reduce your Dog’s Food
The first thing to cut out of your overweight dog’s diet is any snacks or fillers that you give him in between meals. If he gets a lot of household scraps these may have to go too.
If you use food as rewards in dog training, this should be deducted from his daily food allowance.
It could also help to find healthier alternatives to your usual training treats.
Bear in mind that if your dog is unwell, old or very young, it is sensible to consult your vet before tampering with his diet. It is also a good idea to have a chat with them beforehand if your dog is very overweight and has a lot to lose.
Record your Dog’s Weight Loss Progress
If your dog gets nothing to eat but a complete dog food then you can safely simply reduce the quantity you give him by about a third for three to four days.
Take a photo of him from above and from the side before you start.
At the end of the three to four days, check the dog over as described above and ask yourself if he is still fat.
(paid link)If you think he has improved a little but needs to slim down a bit further, keep going for another three to four days then review the situation.
Compare the photo you took a week ago and you should see some improvement.
Keep going until your dog has a ‘waist’ again and you can feel his ribcage when you press firmly along his sides.
You may need to increase his food slightly in order to maintain his new slim figure and ensure he does not get thin.
If the dog is not losing weight after a couple of weeks on two-thirds of his previous food allowance, you may need to cut his food down even further.
This is a good point to check in with your vet, let him know what you are doing and get his opinion on cutting down further on the dog’s daily food rations.
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We have a 3 yr old lab who is 110 lbs and know he is over weight. Has been this weight for last 3 mths now walks on and off leash wih long sprints in between walking. We do feed him extra treats but also fresh vegies and fruit for treats. What do we do?
I feed mine Cooke chicken or lamb mince or beef or oily fish with raw veg green beans broccoli green lentils omega oil twice a day I batch prepare and put in 100 gram tubs and she only gets a dentastick for treat and she is loosing weight and is very healthy looking now
I have a 3 year old Labrador. I adopt it from my uncle. At the time I take him he is too skinny, and it’s been 5 months from the day I taken him to my home. But still he is not gaining weight, I live in India..m feeding him good but still I am not getting a good result.
prem, you could try liver and kidneys, and carrots are good too
We are at the other end of the scale ,Mollie our choc field lab almost 5 is 24 kilos ( 52 .9 lbs ) ,fit active ,loves to chase her ball across the fields and fast. Always been very conscious of fat lab syndrome ,gets fed predominantly dog food ,and the odd treat ,bones etc ,does not beg or look for food as in excessively hungry and the bin is right by her food bowl ,got caught once ,never bothered since !! We are concerned perhaps we are under feeding her .
I have the opposite problem, but I know it’s because he is still growing. I have a coming 10 month old lab mix (little bit of golden in him.) He is taller than your typical lab, and came from field bred lines instead of english. Field bred or “American” labs tend to be longer and lankier than their english relatives so his slim appearance doesn’t concern me. He gets 4.5 cups of food a day, plus some natural peanut butter in a KONG, as well as a some liver treats for positive reinforcement training. It sounds like a lot of calories and it is, but as a result, his weight is absolutely perfect and he hasn’t finished filling out. He stands 25″ tall at the wither and weighs just over 65lbs. I figure he will finish around 70 or 75 lbs over the next year or so, so in all, a nice big male. He gets about 2 hours of exercise a day (he goes out for a pack walk everyday when we’re at work) on top of his morning/night walks and ball play. I will be looking forward to the day I can cut back his kibble rations and save a few bucks a month in dog food!
my dog is fat
Hi,my self arnab.I’m from kolkata (India),my dogy name is bozo.I’m very much tensed for him..because he is silm..so want to know how I grow him as healty…Please give me suggestion.
thanks for feedback. I have a wonderful spoiled yellow lab who was born with epilepsy. she takes zonesdamine and phenobarbital which does a good job controlling her seizures but increases her appetite. she is always hungry…. she has managed to jump up and devour quite a few subs and pizzas! I must admit I tend to share my snacks with her. Thanks again for helping me to be a better mom to my girl!
My. Choco lab Rolo recently had his Heath check and injections . The vet said we should try to get him to lose weight as he is 46 kilos. She referred us to the vets diet nurse who told us how much to feed him. He went again this week on an unrelated matter and gas been dieting for two weeks. He weighed in on this occasion at 42kilos and he has list 5cm off his girth and 4cm around his shoulde end. The vet was so delighted with him that he us now to appear on the cover if their monthly newsletter with a picture to encourage others to keep their dogs at a healthy weight. He is our little super star and is still steadily losing weight. His energy levels are way up. He used to run for a bit then sit for a longer bit. Now he’s on the go all the time with our other lab a little black drakeshead lab who runs like a whippet! The moral if the tale is listen to your vet no matter how hard it is because you are rewarded with a healthy happier friend, who will hopefully live to a wonderful old age.
Well done for persisting with your dog’s weight loss programme – he is a lucky boy to have such caring owners 🙂
I think dogs are getting fatter for the same reason as humans – junk food! There are huge profits in dog food.
You can feed your dog a healthy diet, without kibble made in China and shipped to the US for packaging.
Many years and Labradors ago, a vet advised me to bulk out the dogs raw mince with cooked cabbage and carrots, fills them up and they don’t feel so desperate. A boiled egg is also good (with shell), for the calcium, or youhurt, occasional tin of sardines.
I think they live longer.
Hi Pippa, My black Labrador Retriever is nearly 3 years old, he weighs 38kilo he is on a BARF diet,which…as I live in Australia, contains 300grms raw kangaroo mince, i carrot,half stick celery, half small orange half small apple..which are all minced…barely half cup dry food…this is split into 2 meals also has a hard small dry biscuit at bed time….he has a waistline and I can feel his ribs if I press my hands along his sides…I just feel he’s too heavy…I am a bit over the top with him as I lost my last 2 dogs ( not Labs) to bone cancer within 14 months of each other…So need to do it right for him. Cheers Jean
Hi Jean,
I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your last dogs.
It sounds like you are doing a very good job of keeping an eye on your Labrador’s weight for him. If you are still concerned after inspecting him yourself though, then the best thing to do is to pop down to the vets and ask them to give him a checkup. They should be happy to help put your mind at rest.
Best wishes, Lucy.
Hello my lab is 72days old and his weight is 4kg. Is this good??
And one more think his skin is hard what should i do for it?
Hey guys.
I have a 7 year old female lab called Chloe. I’m really struggling to get the extra weight off her. Currently she weighs 38kg, I managed to get 2kg off but she’s just stayed on this and will not budge. I’ve got her on a natural dog food with no rice, grains etc that’s 33% lower fat. She had a very small handful of biscuits in the morning and then one tray that I think weighs 300g in the evening. I take her for walks although that’s all I can get her to do, I throw her ball and try to get her to run around but she’s a sniff and plod type of girl. She gets no treats aside from very plain biscuit type ones very rarely. I’m just not sure what to do to help her lose those last few kg. As she’s getting older I’m really wanting to get this weight off as I’m starting to hear her joints creak and don’t like seeing her pant out of breathe. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks
-Cheri-
Hi Cheri, it really is a question of quantity. Follow the instructions in the article and reduce her food by a third. Measuring it will help you stick to the right amount. Many older dogs need far less than the quantities of food recommended on the packets. Good luck.
Thanks for the reply Pippa. I’ve always found the amount they say on the packets way too much. I use a measuring cup that comes with the food and when I asked the people I store they said I should fill it almost to the top for her breakfast then a tray of meat for dinner because I inly give her about 1/4 cup. The vet’s a bit miffed so we checked her thyroid amongst other things which all came back clear. On Thursday were gonna have a chat with the vet again and see what else can be done with her chunky bum.
I think the most important thing to do if you want your dog to properly lose weight is to weigh all his/her food. ‘A handful’ is very different when its my hand or when its my husband’s hand. As soon as our black lab looks as though she is putting on weight we can cut back and know exactly how much she is having. Cut out all snacks. Love the article – went and checked my Lab and my Lab/Rottweiler – both have nice curving up bellies from their chests and nice waists – Lab weighs 26 kilos, Lab/Rottweiler (very tall but only 11 months) weights 24.3 kilos. Lab is fed 135 grms of a complete food from our local farm/pet store (their own mix – excellent) and Rottweiler 145 grms for each of their two meals a day. Also get one Winalot shape after each meal, after a good daily walk (of the lead for maximum exercise) and before bed. I just hope this might help someone who is struggling to slim their dog and maybe needs to see a few figures to compare.
That’s a good tip Penelope, weighing is certainly better than guessing 🙂
Great article! My Black Lab, Sadie, was 15 pounds overweight. The vet had me cut her feed back by a third, but had me adding fresh vegetables. That worked very well, and she learned to eat all dog friendly veggies and fruits!
I feed my 9yr old chocolate Labrador, on raw meat, in the morning, and grain-free biscuits, made from vegetables & chicken, or duck….because after I made some big changes to MY diet, the first time, 35 years ago, when I dropped the Dairy, then a year ago, I dropped all grain, and every health problem, went away. This was fabulous at 66 yrs old. I discovered it’s more WHAT ‘we’ and of course our pets, consume, that’s the key !
There’s an amazing Group, and also one for animals, on Facebook, started by an Australian Vet, called The Turmeric-Users Group.
My black Lab had 2 of her mammary glands removed last year and she was neutered at the same time. We never give her table scraps and her treats are taken from her daily food allowance. Because she was neutered during the operation, we reduced her food allowance by a quarter to prevent her from gaining weight. It didn’t work, she has gained 1.9kg in the last year. I’m not worried because she still only weighs 26.4kg which is a good weight I think. She has the waist that you spoke of and I can feel her ribs when I stroke her. What I am wondering though is will she continue to gain weight or will it reach a plateau? I don’t want to wait until her next annual check up to find out because she could potentially weigh 28.3kg by then. So do I reduce her daily allowance again now or wait and see what she weighs next year? She’s 7 years old and has never been overweight.
my 3mnts labra femail puppy not eat home food and she is very slim .. what i have to do so she can eat home food and become healthy … any advice … please … i need it …
I have a 4 1/2 year old female lab. She is a mix between the American and English labs so she carries both lab characteristics. Her chest is boxy so it makes her look bigger than most other labs. Her weight ranges from 72 lbs to 82 lbs. We exercise her regularly with trail walks and she plays with a group of pups on the weekends. The vet told me she is overweight. Her belly has always been flabby since she was spayed and she has inflammatory bowl disease so I’m very careful about her food and treats. I’ve even started making my own treats to cut out all the preservatives and fatty stuff in them
Sorry…cut off before I finished. I’ve cut her food and limit the treats but we can’t seem to get her weight down to the 68 lbs the vet wants. She is already on weight management food and I’ve cut her down to a cup and a half a day. Any suggestions or thoughts?
Hi, Have a female lab who is 2 yrs old, was spayed at 7 months. Her weight has shot up to 41 kgs and we are really worried. The vet says she must lose at least 6 -8 Kgs. What should be her ideal weight approximately? She is fed a mixture of home cooked boiled food (rice/lentil/soya granules/vegetables/chicken/ and milk/bread) and pedigree dog food. Have cut out the tidbits. Please help….would really welcome some advice.
These are the two articles you need Sheila https://www.thelabradorsite.com/how-to-feed-a-labrador/ and https://www.thelabradorsite.com/how-much-should-my-labrador-weigh/
I have a 2 year old Black Male Lab….He seems to be carrying excess weight, but only around the mid region. He looks normal at the front, but poddgy from the back. He was diagnosed with a Heart Murmer when he was a pup “which is still present”. I have cut down his food over the past 2 weeks which is never easy as my son will feed him crusts etc. He excersizes ok, and still gets very excited for walks but is very lazy now around the house. He weighs around 35-37kg. what would be a reasonable time scale to see if the diet is working?
Hi – great advice! Cooper, my yellow 15 month-old had to lose weight recently. He was up to 97 lbs! Now, he’s down to 88 lbs and he looks similar to picture above. He is what you call a show lab, so bigger. However, it did take 2 months, cutting down his food, lots of play/ exercise w friends at doggy daycare and dog park. A couple more lbs. and I’ll maintain. Btw – how do I gradually increase his portion after he has lost extra weight?
Hi, my lab is almost 9 months old, how long should she be kept on puppy food before switching to adult food?
My labrador is 1 year old. He is a little fat. Should I cut his food down. He is still growing.
Hi pippa
my chocolate lab weighs 31kg, which I would like to get down a little, as there is a little too much fat covering. How many calories should I be feeding him for his size for minimum weight loss? I have used different websites calorie calculators but they all give me different answers and my vet was very vague. Please help as I don’t want to feed him the wrong amout of calories which could lead to him over or under weight.
Thanks,
Hi Pippa,
Love your articles!
I have a beautiful choc lab. His name is Dexter and he is 5.5 years old. We moved from a house to an apartment 8 months ago. We walk him 4 times a day. Two of those walk last between 35 minutes to 1 hour. When we first moved in we bought a pet loo. I tried to get him used to it for several weeks using the appropriate product – Skip to my loo – he just was not interested. The problems is that I work 3 days a week for up to 7 to 8 hours and he just waits for me to get home to take him out, to go to the toilet. I leave him in the balcony, which is a big one but he just won’t go to the toilet!
What can I do?
Hi Marta, your best bet is to get someone to come and let him out at lunch time.
Get a dog sitter
I adopted an over weight 7 year old lab. She needed to loose 20lbs. She was a breeder dog and rarely walked. I walked her four times a day and gave her one scoop of kibble with pure pumpkin in the morning, and one scoop with green beans in the evening ! She loves pumpkin, love in fat, high fiber and very filling.
I have 2 Labs I feed them twice a day-dry food and vegetables with meat-limited portions. They have treats during the day-a slice of toast when I have lunch (this will stop when I start work) an apple when I go out and some biscuits when they go to bed-they look great-I have have to keep the black lady’s weight down as she has a problem with her knee (10 years old-limited mobility) the blond who is 9 what can I say she is still a puppy! Weight control is an issue for Labs-my vet is happy with they way they look!
We have a 7 yr. old black lab that is overweight and doesn’t want to play very often. We are feeding him 2 cups of food a day – 1 C in the morning and 1 C in the evening. He is a true lab and wants to eat all of time. He gets little in the way of snacks. Still can’t get any weight off of him.
Hi Irene, whatever you are feeding him, it is too much. So cut all snacks out and cut his food by one-third. Review in a few days. If he is getting too thin, you can increase it again. This always works. You can’t judge what he needs by weight of food, every dog is different and some need far less than others. Harden your heart and save his life 🙂 It’s worth it. Pippa
Hi…A couple of days back, I bought a puppy Labrador. I’m trying to teach him to ‘sit’ but he doesn’t listen to me, but he listens to my brother…maybe because mostly he feeds him. A bad habit of my puppy is that he keeps on coming towards one’s feet and if not stopped, bites the trouser or whatever one’s wearing. Plus, when he is asked to follow, he follows, but stops after a few minutes. Moreover, when I call him, he comes only when he wants to. And I had been feeding him milk and a pieace of bread thrice a day. But as I read your articles, I came to know that I have to buy dog food for him.
Sorry, but what on earth is a kilo?
A kilo is 2.2lbs
My lab’s weight is 32-34 kg. Is he fit??
My labrador is Marley and is 3 this week. He’s about 38 kg and should be 30. He’s on two handfuls of chappy every morning and evening and has a carrot as a treat. I don’t know what’s caused him to become overweight; whether someone else has been feeding him without my permission or he has been going into the bin etc I don’t know. But I really want to get him to lose that 8kg. Please help me!
exactly same weight as my dog / i have now put on royal canine and he has one measured cup for breakfast and one for tea / nothing else and I think hes finally shedding some weight / its hard but much kinder than having them fat and unhealthy
I just picked up a buetiful golden lab she is 6and a half lovely nature but grossly over weight iI can not believed a breeder has let her get so big and I mean big.
I have started I walked her not to far as I did not want to over do it and if been told to give her half a scoop of food twice a day I was informed that shehas been having a daily treat of a rich tea biscuit and loves bread and cheese all bad for her I believe so they are going to be the first thing to go.
Can anyone offer any advise that would help.
We have a 4 year old female labrador who weighs about 32 kg. She looks bit overweight, her tummy is tiny bit saggy and she’s quite wide on her back. I would like to get that extra weight off her now before she gets too overweight and it will be more difficult. I’m giving her 2 meals a day, she’s on Burns weight control kibbles+I give her some cooked chicken once a day in her food. But treats are the problem, small bit of biscuit here and there, or piece of sausage/cheese/// She gets 1 half an hour walk a day+some running on the fields with a frisbee..I would still like to get her spayed but I’m worried of her gaining more weight..
Hi Marie, food is the key. Exercise has to be extensive to make a big difference and a sudden increase in exercise in an overweight dog puts a strain on the joints. Follow the ‘cutting down on food’ advice with commitment and you will see a dramatic improvement. Your dog will be so much more healthy. Ignore those pleading eyes 🙂 You can do it.
hi i have an 8 year old over weight black lab apart from exercise can you suggest any sort of diet hope you can help as she is finding it hard to get around
Hi Tina, I suggest you follow the recommendations for cutting down on food, given in the article above. She will soon start to shed the weight. Pippa
Hey! Thanks so much for this article! We have an almost 3 year old female black lab.. She had a litter of puppies when she was 2 years old and shortly after, we got her spayed. After that, she seemed to put on a bunch of weight! We have a 5 year old Male also, and I feed them separately so that they don’t share food. But alot of the time, it’s him trying to eat hers! I am going to try your advice on feeding less, and maybe that will help her. We aren’t in a very nice neighborhood, so the only real exercise she gets is if I go out and play with her, or if she wrestles with the male for fun. Thanks for the advice, and let me know if you have any extra tips! 🙂
Pippa, thank you for the article, The picture is a great help, My herc looks like your dog. I have not meseaured his ” Withers” , need my horse measuring stick, he is a large lab. I think more Amercian Type, but as dumped in the grounds here, do not know his breeding.
Hi, so happy to know that my Lucy is the ideal weight. The Lab in the photo above could be my dog’s twin!!! Thanks for the confirmation….if only I could control my weight like I do for her! lol
Hi Pippa,
I have a 4 year old lab who is 45kilos. I have been using Hills prescription food call RD for weight lose. I need some advice on how much I should be feeding him as he isnt loosing much! He has 2 good walks a day. Can you also advise on how I should be playing with him and for how long as he seems really bored? Also how many treats should i be giving him?
Warm Regards, Amanda Matthew.
Hi Amanda, If your dog is not losing weight, you need to keep cutting down until the weight starts to come off. I recommend you follow the instructions in the ‘cutting down on food’ paragraph above. Treats need to be deducted from the daily food allowance.
Best wishes,
Pippa
We have a twelve year old chocolate. While he has arthritis, he is controlled by rymadil twice a day, so he walks every day and swims on the weekends. He has lots of lumps and is getting flatter ones on his sides so you can’t feel his ribs exactly. His waist is visible, but at his age his belly is not as toned (probably also due to many intestinal surgeries for blockages). His mom an sister died of cancer and wasted away. What do you look for in older, less toned dogs, and is it reasonable to keep a tiny weight buffer for health?
Hi Anna, that is a really good question, and I doubt if there is a definitive answer, but you are welcome to my thoughts 🙂
I am not sure that a ‘weight buffer’ would help with the ‘wasting’ aspects of cancer, and it may be that cancer is more likely in an overweight dog? If so, that would cancel out any benefit in that respect. In addition, extra weight places a strain on the joints and may exacerbate any pain due to arthritis.
I honestly don’t think there is much benefit to a ‘weight buffer’ and suspect that weight control is just as beneficial to a senior dog as it is to younger ones. As always with health matters though, do chat to your vet and get his view.
Best wishes, Pippa
Thanks Pippa!
Hi Pippa!
First time to check this website and gain a lot of info. I am a 1st time dog owner and have a 3month old lab named Chico. Is it important to have a kennel? Chico is just around and sleeps wherever inside the house. My reason is because I want him to learn how to socialize with people and so not to be ignorant or aggressive.
Hi Jennifer, you don’t have to have a kennel if you don’t want one. Pippa
poppy is 6 yr old black lab and i was determined she would not get fat but failed miserably and she is now 45kgs. her front legs are stiff and i am so upset watching her walking. i have sterted her on a strict diet( day 5 now) and am having to be strong for her sake. we are taking grandchildren away in 2weeks to a beach caravan and want poppy to enjoy it but do you think swimming in the cold sea will make her legs worse as i know she wont stay out of the water.she is on anti inflammatories from the vet.
Hi Kathleen, swimming is good exercise for overweight dogs as it is non weight bearing. The cold water would not bother a healthy labrador but check with your vet if you are worried. Well done for deciding to take action to reduce your dog’s weight, and don’t give in to those pleading eyes!!
Pippa
My Labrador is 3 months old it is very short tell me about growing a good height what food item I have to keep
I used to worry that Sam, now almost 22 months, was too lean but when I asked my Vet, he said ” Dont you dare worry about him , he will thank you when he`s older and can carry his weight more easily, keep him just as he is ” Ironically his weight fluctuates between 34 and 37 kilos, depending on the level of exercise at the time but it must be all bone and muscle !
100% agree re greedy dogs and the eyes, oh its so hard to resist but better in the long run !
Hi Jen, some dogs are really hard to put weight on. Especially at the 9 to 18 months point. You may need to fork out for some extra meals for a while. It is probably better to add another meal in, than to increase the quantity of existing meals. You may need to do this for a few months, but whe will eventually fill out.
Pippa
Great, practical advice. I hate seeing overweight dogs (esp labs) struggling down the road and am paranoid about avoiding this. Great article! Thanks. 🙂
Thanks Rosamund 🙂
Hi Pippa. My Tisha is a 6-year-old lab that is now very overweight and I am quite concerned. I just can’t resist feeding her table scraps and such when I’m eating when she looks at me with those eyes that say “don’t forget me!”
She needs to lose about 7 kilos in my estimation. We walk three times a day and exercise is not the problem. But people have commented how slow she seems to walk behind me. However, she will still chase after her ball at full speed as fast as she can.
I feed her twice a day, usually rice, dog food and some bread or crackers mixed with either a 1/2 can of sardines or a 1/2 can of meatballs or some other such canned food. What should I do please?
Don’t feed your dog human food as this is too salty and sugary for them they will pile on the pounds and the internal damage is serious – same as humans if we eat too much salt or sugar it affects our internal organs! This website looks to have fantastic help and advice. Try a dry complete food, follow the feeding guidelines on bag and reduce by 1/3 as advised in this article. If you are concerned it is not nice enough or interesting enough for your dog swap some of the dry food for meat – fresh boiled ONLY chicken or liver. Do not fry or bake any food for your dog. If you are going to give treats give only dog treats and remember what they have had at feeding time! My lab is overweight and is struggling to lose it due to the pain in his joints and his age but we are really trying hard with this plan and joint supplements. Good luck!
I have two dogs the lab needs to lose weight the other does not how do i go about feeding ?
Hi Amanda, I appreciate it may be less convenient, but you need to feed them separately. Even in separate rooms. Otherwise the greediest dog will take the most food. Pippa
my labador pup is 3 month old guide me to grow helethy
Great article and those pictures! That definitely looks like Barney’s back end in the food bag. When I first got him he was on kibble and managed to get in the garage one day and broke into a bag. I’ve no idea how much he scoffed before I caught him but he spent ages at the water bowl. Then of course it swelled up so he lay on his back for ages resting but he was still pleased with himself. And that lovely slim dog in the bottom picture could be Rusty 🙂
Thanks Carole, the dog in the bag is a typical greedy lab and belongs to my sister, the slim lady below is my Tess. Another greedy girl! It can be tricky resisting those appealing eyes when food is around 🙂