Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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So I popped little miss Jasper Lily on the scale at the Petsmart this weekend when we were hanging out, borrowing their AC (you try spending an hour in Petsmart with an active dog after you've been down each aisle - twice).
Anyways .. she's up 2 pounds! She had been maintaining at about 18 pounds for the first year and now she's 20! She still fits in her airline carrier (my first thought) yet I had noticed she felt heavier when I would pick her up. Is it possible that is all muscle? She does not look fat - except maybe in her booty - but this summer, we did a lot more walking in the evenings and I would have thought she would have dropped some pounds, not gained them. She gets the low-end of the kibble required feeding since she gets 1/2 an egg with breakfast. She gets some baby carrots, green beans, cucumbers, spinach which all seem pretty low-calorie ... and no treats. She doesn't get cookies the way Shelby did!
Any thoughts on how to get her to drop those pounds? Maybe I shouldn't worry about 2 pounds! But I feel that if she gained 2 pounds in about 4 - 5 months (the last time she was at the vet) perhaps I need to be more aware.
Oh and this was Jasper this a.m. before I left for work - normally we play in the mornings but the oven (*aka our apt) was too hot! We are hoping it cools down soon. Beach living really sucks when you don't have AC and fans stop working and you live on the 2nd floor and it's 96 outside making it over 100 inside!!! We are SO ready for fall - even if fall in LA only means cooling to 70!
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
I would look at the calorie count of your food and all treats. A little dog does not need much and many of the premium foods are quite high in calories since there are no by-products. Also different proteins have higher fat and calorie counts (lamb tends to be high and beef and fish lower). All foods should have the calorie content per cup as part of the AAFCO statement/nutrition profile usually found on the side of the bag.
If all else fails you could have her thyroid levels checked although she is not the typical breed for that problem. Julian does have a thyroid problem but even on meds he tends to be a fat boy because he really likes to lay on the couch. I found a newer diet that I really like called Nature's Logic that is all natural (not even any synthetic vitamins) and all 3 of my dogs are doing great on it! It even has helped Julian's skin and stool issues and the calorie counts aren't as high as other diets (I was feeding EVO before).
Pam
tazziedog said
If all else fails you could have her thyroid levels checked although she is not the typical breed for that problem. Julian does have a thyroid problem but even on meds he tends to be a fat boy because he really likes to lay on the couch. I found a newer diet that I really like called Nature's Logic that is all natural (not even any synthetic vitamins) and all 3 of my dogs are doing great on it! It even has helped Julian's skin and stool issues and the calorie counts aren't as high as other diets (I was feeding EVO before).
Pam
WOW!!! thank you Pam! Her dog food is probably high (409 calories per cup) and "dog adviser" says she can have 531 calories per day! I am good w/calorie counts since I can measure those so her half egg is about 30 calories and she gets a cup of food so that is less than 500 calories. Her treats are about 4 calories a piece and she might get 2 - 3 (max) a day and I can't believe those veggies would add up!
She's been on Fromms Lamb and Lentil but she still gets a lot of the itchies here and we get allergy meds but I would love to get her off. I might try Nature's Logic - will look into that. I think she's just allergic to the outdoors. Maybe we switch to seafood or beef.
However ... she seems to indulge (before I can catch her) with some kitty yum yums on our walks (aka kitty roca) or squirrel poop so maybe that's it. She is very playful and very active so that's why I think she's just filled out and gained some muscle. I'll keep an eye on it. Our vet isn't worry but schelping her through the airport is a bit hard on my back! 🙂
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Oh Alison! You make me laugh!
I'm pretty sure cat poop burgers are high in calories! Then again, these are California cats, so maybe it's vegetarian poop!
Do remember that vet scales, and I'm sure Petsmart scales, can vary greatly in any given day. Of course, Jasper is a little girls so it's probably not hard to weigh her.
AND, Jasper Lily does a lot of fitness exercising with you and muscle does weigh more than fat!
Merry Myrtle barely fits in the scales and she's wiggling and wagging the whole time! As an example, recently Merry Myrtle gained three pounds in ten days according to the vet scales! And Ive been out of ice cream for a week!
Gonna check out Nature's Logic too. And JULIAN! You're mom did NOT just call you a "fat boy"! Oh no she didn't!!!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
I just learned all about kcals in the past 6 months. Both Chandler and Lucy are on diets. Chandler has lost a nice amount, Lucy, not so much. She eats what seems to me to be so little, but her weight does not budge. I have to watch her because she will sneak and eat the cats food, probably her poo too. She is on a modified calorie urinary food because she gets UTIs. I feed the other 2 Earthborn Holistic dry with a scoop of Merrick 96% beef wet food twice per day. I just measure carefully. I was feeding Chan too much as the food was pretty high on the calorie scale. Does not sound like the case with Jasper though. Chan had an emergency visit a few months ago 2 days in a row and he weighed 4 lb more on the 2nd day. They told me that the scales can vary that much. ( He is fine by the way, he had to get his tummy emptied due to ingesting a no no) I probably wouldn't worry too much at this point, just keep doing what you are doing and keep tabs on her weight. Maybe she is retaining water from the heat. LOL Lori, Ty & Gang
TY GUY, Best Black Lab ever! Diagnosed and had amp in January, 2014. Kicked MRSA's butt. Earned his angel wings on April 16, 2014. Run Free my boy and don't forget a shoe. Ty is a proud member of the " April Angels". Ty sent us Daryl, a Tripawd rescue in Sept. of 2016. Daryl is 5 +or -. We are also Pawrents to Chandler, a Border Collie mix who is 15 and 1/2, Lucy, a Corgi who is 7, 2 minis, 2 horses, and a feisty cat named Zoe. Zoe had a non skeletal Osteosarcoma removed in July 2015. No Chemo, she was at least 16. She is going strong although she is now completely blind. She is now close to 20 and her hobbies are eating and sleeping in front of her personal heater.
Geez Chandler! I hope the no-no was yum-yum! You sure paid a price for that little goody!
I always love reading about Lucy...she's definitely got a ind of her own!!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
4myty said
Maybe she is retaining water from the heat. LOL Lori, Ty & Gang
LOL!!! Can that be my excuse too? It's soooooo hot here! But we did get a cool down today.
Thank for ALL for your insight... I would love to have less 'itchies', 'paw chewing/licking' without meds.
Glad Chan and Lucy are BOTH well... Lucy's a low-rider so I am sure it is harder for her to keep her weight down, right? And since she's Nurse Lucy.... she's probably helping herself to lots of things!
They are so lucky to get wet food! Jasper gets it on her bday only. Maybe she'll lose weight when she's at daycare for her extended stay later this month... Shelby always dropped lbs on her spa vacations.
And I agree -she's probably fine ... I think I have just lost my upper body strength since I don't do 'weights by Shelby' anymore since I do'nt really need to lift little JL! 
Shelby Lynne; Jack Russell/Shiba Inu mix. Proud member of the April Angels of 2014.
October 15, 2000 to April 8, 2014
Our story: Broke rear leg in June 2013 - non-conclusive results for cancer so leg was plated and pinned. Enlarged spleen in September 2013 and had it removed and was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and started chemotherapy. Became a Tripawd January 8th, 2014 and definitive Hemangiosarcoma diagnosis. Three major surgeries in 7 months and Shelby took them all like a champ only to lose her battle to cancer in her brain. We had 8 amazing extra months together and no regrets. #shelbystrong #loveofmylife
Hey all!
Domino too unfortunately fights the extra pounds... lol. I've found that calories makes all the difference, at least with him! He went from eating a diet that was 363 kcal per cup to a diet thats 291 kcal per cup. And just that small of a difference did the trick. He eats the same amount of food (1 cup twice a day) and has maintained a very lean and healthy 38.8lbs on the dot. He gets very little treats, and what exercise he can. He's not eating anything special, since I work at a vet clinic and get an amazing deal on it, my critters are all on Science Diet, and he's eating The Perfect Weight variety. So I think no matter the food, calories is key. Even if you just shake off a couple extra kibbles from what she's getting that may do the trick. At work we always stress to importance of counting their calories.... now if only I could do the same :p
Cassie and Domino
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Domino had his left front leg amputate on May 13th 2014 after being hit by a car. He's now living a happy healthy life on three legs :)
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