My dog has been on a diet for two months and only lost 9 lbs.!

[Bunny]

My poor Golden Retriever weighed 150 lbs. in Dec. This was attributed to a thyroid problem, mainly, although I will cop to not getting her exercised enough.

Anyway, she's been on meds and diet for two months. Took her to the vet today for a weigh-in and she only lost nine pounds. I was bummed, especially since she looks so much thinner than she was before. I fully expected to see a 20 lb. or more weight loss, and it was only 9 measly pounds.

I was wondering if maybe the thyroid meds weren't working as well as they should. The vet had nothing encouraging to say, other than to keep it up. Anyone know if dogs lose weight easily, or is this slow loss typical?

[ewagner]

1. Keep going, don't give up

My Border Collie was over 100lbs last winter. She weighed in at the Vet on Friday at a svelt 69lbs!!! Lots of work on diet and 1-1/2 mile walks every day. She's healthier than she has been in a long time.

[Bunny]

5. Way to go!

That's great :)

[philosophie_en_rose]

2. She's on the right track.

She's lost a lot of weight so far - a whole cat's worth.

[Fenris]

3. Actually, that's a good pace for weight loss

Did the vet say she should be losing more?

[Bunny]

4. He said she was fine, and keep it up.

He wasn't particularly helpful, as usual. In fact, I was the one who insisted that he check her thyroid, because I was concerned about her weight, did some research, and found that Goldens are prone to thyroid problems. I don't know why I still go to him, I guess because he's close and has decent hours. But he's uncommunicative, that's for sure!

[twilight]

6. what have you been feeding her?

My dog (a Shetland Sheepdog) is on a diet too. I inherited him about 2 years ago and he was overweight then and is about 8 years old and yes, not a lot of exercise here either. He must really like his new home here because he has gained another *yikes!!!* 10 lbs. since I've had him.

He's been eating mostly diet (1/3 less calories) dog food made by NutraMax (dry food only). He does look thinner but I don't have a scale to weigh him on. He's been on this routine about as long as your dog has been.

I'd say 9 lbs. is good progress! I'd even take that myself! :D

:dem: :kick:

[Bunny]

7. I feed her regular dry dog food from the supermarket.

Iams, Pedigree, etc. I just feed her a whole lot less than before. A total of about 1 and 1/3 cups each day, along with one 5oz can of moist dog food. (I divide in half and feed her half in the morning, and half in the evening). I guess it's a good weight loss, but she looks so much thinner, I was convinced she'd lost a lot more than 9 lbs.!!!

[LynneSin]

8. She didn't gain the weight overnight

9lbs is a good start.

Keep up the great work

[YellowRubberDuckie]

9. Also, if you're exercising her more...

She could be gaining muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat. That could be why she looks like she's a lot thinner, but the poundage isn't significant.
Duckie

[Llewlladdwr]

10. Agreed.

If you're not exercising, give it a try. My dog actually gained weight when I started taking him on a daily 1-3/4 mile walk. However, he no longer looks like a sausage, and now has a discernable waist. Two months isn't long, just be patient. :-)