keanmu
Czech Republic
MH
Posts:304
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| 03/03/2010 10:15 AM |
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My friends GSP no longer resembles a GSP, she is so over weight!!! She now looks more like a shorthaired speckled chocolate lab and a fat chocolate lab at that. I can't believe they've let her get like that, she's HUGE. She runs like a 12 year old dog, she's only 4. I told them how shocked I was with her size but all they said was that she likes her food! |
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Splat
Illinois (Northern)
MH
Posts:2439
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| 03/03/2010 10:27 AM |
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I love the description fat speckled chocolate lab!
That is sad that she is so over weight....I am always trying to save money so I don't want to over feed my dog cuz I want my bag of food to last as long as possible....I wonder how much food they go through a month! |
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http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2553
http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2554 |
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vnrose53
MH
Posts:321
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| 03/03/2010 10:48 AM |
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That poor dog. Its the owner's job to do portion control!
I was at the vet's once and the vet was talking to the owners of a beagle that looked like a tricolored BEACH BALL. After she explained what kind and how much food to give the dog, the owner said "But what about treats?" (Bangs head.) |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
MH
Posts:6748
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| 03/03/2010 10:55 AM |
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| That is sad. I just don't understand why people do that to their pets. We have them such a short time as it is and then to let them get fat and shorten their life even more. Urgh!!!! |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
     
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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zodiakgsps
NW PA
MH
Posts:1059
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| 03/03/2010 11:07 AM |
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See it all the time at my grooming shop. Poor things get early srthritis, have NO stamina, cannot even stand through grooming. I have gotten to the point I charge extra for obese dogs & tell owners I do & why. (hard on my back too!!)
Had a client with a severly obese GSP, almost 100 lbs & should have been about 65!! Dog died at 8, owner couldnt believe it?? Talk about banging your head......
I know where the dog came from & it's brother & sister are still alive & well at 13!! |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:3916
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| 03/03/2010 11:36 AM |
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When they have to start shelling out big bucks for vet bills and meds thay may change their tune.
Some people really don't want to accept responsibility on a higher scale. |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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Sarox
JH
Posts:21
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| 03/03/2010 12:34 PM |
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very sad...
charging extra to groom overweight dogs is a great idea, hopefully encouraging owners to recognise & hopefully change it. |
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CL66
MH
Posts:399
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| 03/03/2010 2:45 PM |
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| Tssssk, that makes me so mad. I watched a programme on fat pets the other day, the mentality of the owners astounded me. Not to mention the amount they spend feeding their pets, some of the dogs ate better than me (roast joint of lamb every day for dinner!!) But they ALL had health problems and needed operations etc. So so sad. |
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everbell
Kanata, ON
MH
Posts:2737
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| 03/03/2010 3:35 PM |
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| I wonder if it's like Manchausen syndrome? They want to have something to talk about so they deliberately (or not) make their pets ill so they have something "interesting" to talk about. |
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Joce and Rich
Bogart and Shiraz (GSPs)
Roxane (RIP: 1995-2009) and Tiger Lily (Cats)
The Everbell Adventures |
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singltrak
Las Cruces, NM
MH
Posts:1051
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| 03/03/2010 7:41 PM |
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One of my favorite statements to folks with chunko, blimpo animals is, "my, you are killing him with kindness". When they ask what I mean, I tell them about feeding appropriate amounts. It seems to happen with a great amount of regularity with folks who free feed...Now, it looks like I have passed on this attitude to my daughter. She's telling me about her boyfriend's Yorkie and the problems he has had with feeding "Hunter". Pam promptly went into her "put the food down and leave it for 15 minutes and what he doesn't eat, pick it up!!!!". She was so proud last weekend that she had finally convinced him to quit feeding what I'll call "grocery store food" and gotten the dog on some more beneficial food for his 3 pound weight!
Talk to them about heart problems, digestive problems, arthritis...you name it! It may or may not work, but at least you have done your best!
Phyllis and the singltrak furtribe
www.singltrakshorthairs.net/ |
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Look to the Past, Breed for the Future |
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zodiakgsps
NW PA
MH
Posts:1059
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| 03/03/2010 8:15 PM |
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Some people I have found, no matter how oyu appoach it, get offended by you telling them the dog is over weight & unhealthy due to it. I have even had people say "I don't want to hear it!!"
These same people come in & try to give my guys Snausages & like treats & I tell them no!! I want my guys to live long lives, they are not allowed those things. Now they get treats mind you, baby carrots, meat, etc, healthy snacks I monitor amounts of.
I groomed a Lhasa mix who was so obese her stomach touched the ground........have a Cocker coming in next week I will take a pic of, she is almost 60+ lbs....(Yep, 60+!! weighs more than most of my GSPS!!) |
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Marie
Wisconsin
MH
Posts:2662
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| 03/03/2010 10:02 PM |
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Here was my Rocky a few years ago at 94 lbs. shortly before he came down with pancreatitis and almost lost him.  |
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Marie and Rocky, a tall, high energy GSP
http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab18/Annette_Merryfield/100_0285.jpg?t=1287205231 |
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Marie
Wisconsin
MH
Posts:2662
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| 03/03/2010 10:13 PM |
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| Very hard lesson learned. At 94 lbs, Rocky limped on his right shoulder. I had him on Dermax. With the pancreatic attach Rocky was one step from being hospitalized with IVs. We had to change our no table scape feeding giving into sad eyes. Changed his food to a senior low fat diet. To this day Rocky goes every 2 months to the Vet for nail trim and weigh in check. We been able to keep him between 75lbs to 80lb weight range. Since he is at a lower weight , no more limping. With the weight loss he runs again like he is 2 years old. Rocky is now 8 years old. |
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Marie and Rocky, a tall, high energy GSP
http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab18/Annette_Merryfield/100_0285.jpg?t=1287205231 |
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Marie
Wisconsin
MH
Posts:2662
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| 03/03/2010 10:24 PM |
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 Here is Rocky last week at 77 lbs knocking down his snowman I built for him.
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Marie and Rocky, a tall, high energy GSP
http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab18/Annette_Merryfield/100_0285.jpg?t=1287205231 |
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MelB
MH
Posts:1196
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| 03/04/2010 3:33 AM |
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| my female springer at one point in her life got up to 72 lbs. Sienna usually runs between 50-55 lbs. I had to do some major portion cuts on her and get her out moving more. It worked, it took a year but we got her down to 50 lbs again. She now runs about 56, which is the high side of where she should be, but she hasn't gained more so that's ok. |
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