Re: [pyrnet] Princess Sophie

["Tracy" <espinay@bigpond.com>]

<< My friend weighted Sophie recently and she had lost a pound in just one
week.  Any suggestions?>> Jenn


If she doesn't want her to lose weight, and was doing ok on the food before
the vet recommended cutting her ration, then I would simply feed more!

Remember that the guidelines on the bag are just that - guidelines.  Every
dog is different and some may need more while some will need less.  Some may
also need to be fed more or less at different times of the year, if their
exercise level changes or at different times of their life.  The only way to
truly tell how much is right for your dog is trial and error.

 If they are a good weight and maintain a good weight on the amount you are
feeding, dont mess with it.  If they are getting too thin, increase the
ration a little so they gain slowly to the weight you want them to be (but
remember to cut it back a little again when they reach the right weight as
you want them to maintain it and not gain more!).  And if they are
overweight, cut the ration a bit so they lose slowly (again, remember to
increase slightly once their reach their 'maintenance' goal).  Be vigilant
by checking your dogs weight regularly.  Make it a conscious habit to do the
'hug test' (ie feeling the ribs etc) before mealtime so you can tell how
they are doing under all that coat.  That way things will not get out of
control (which they can do quickly) and you can adjust the rations by a
small amount straight away rather than a big amount later when there is more
to be gained or lost.

If she was maintaining well at a good weight beforehand and you want her to
gain it back, you may want to try going back to what she was being fed
before plus a little extra (just a little) until she has gained the weight
back and then reduce to the 'maintenance' ration again.  If she is a good
weight now after losing the weight and she was maintaining on what she was
being fed before, you could try increasing her food now to what she was fed
before.

Tracy Bassett
Murrumbateman, Australia
espinay@bigpond.com