Obese Lab

snowbunny

snowbunny

Location
Andorra and Spain
I had to pop into the vet's this morning. As we entered, a Lab came up to us. "No, Nala, she doesn't want to be pestered by a 50kg Labrador!". I just laughed and explained I own three Labs, so wasn't bothered in the slightest by any Labrador greeting. But, by god, this dog was obese. It was heartbreaking. She was about the same height as Squidge, with a smaller head, so certainly shouldn't weigh any more. I try to keep Squidge under 30kg; she looks very slim at about 28.5 and a bit tubby at 29.5. So this poor, poor dog has another TWENTY kilograms on that (over 3 stone, or 44lb in old money), for a not too dissimilar build.
The poor thing could hardly move, and I certainly had no worries about a boisterous welcome.

When I saw the vet, she said that she has horrible hip problems, but the owner won't believe there is a link between the dog's weight and her health problems. He is totally blind to it.

I almost showed him a picture of my three, but thought better of it!

Poor girl :(
 
HAH

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
Oh that’s brutal. Poor, poor dog; I’m guessing it’s a lot like children, in that people can become oblivious to weight gain in their much-loved dependents unless it’s very severe. There’s a world of psychology in there...
 
Ashley

Ashley

There is a show I like on Animal Planet (forget the name - I think Pet Makeover) and a trainer helps people with fat cats and dogs. Gets them on a better food, teaches them about proper feeding amounts and makes them use a Fitbark to track and make sure the owners are exercising their dogs enough. So many people could use help like that to educate them!
 
SwampDonkey

SwampDonkey

So sad for the dog. We do see a few round here. One was so fat her rectum became detacted and came out of her anus. The vets could help and she died. The owner had been warned repeatedly by the vet but couldn't see it.
 
SwampDonkey

SwampDonkey

This Bailey he's much fatter now. His owner has him on a diet as per her vet he had no health problems other than she gives him too much food.20160616_150510-1-1~2.jpg
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
I never understand how a fat dog is even possible. I always say as long as I'm the one with the bank account and opposable thumbs, there's no reason for a fat dog because he can't go to the grocery store for himself. I also always say I wish I had someone to control my diet the way I can control my dog's.

Or maybe because I have such a weight problem myself, it makes me want to make sure that I don't do the same to my dog.
 
Selina27

Selina27

Location
Herefordshire, UK
Emily_Babbelhund said:
I never understand how a fat dog is even possible. I always say as long as I'm the one with the bank account and opposable thumbs, there's no reason for a fat dog because he can't go to the grocery store for himself. I also always say I wish I had someone to control my diet the way I can control my dog's.

Or maybe because I have such a weight problem myself, it makes me want to make sure that I don't do the same to my dog.
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This is how I see it myself. I'm overweight, but my children never were and I don't want Cassie to be either. That said I'm finding it difficult to keep the weight from going on her, she's 29.5 kg at the moment, I don't want her to go over 30kg.
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
Selina27 said:
That said I'm finding it difficult to keep the weight from going on her, she's 29.5 kg at the moment, I don't want her to go over 30kg.
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I was worried about Carbon when he had to reduce his exercise because of the heart worm, but once I went to fish only (no raw) he's actually on the thin side and still eats the same amount volume-wise. Not saying that raw isn't good, I just found it interesting how the switch affected him.
 
Charlie

Charlie

Location
Argyll & Bute, Scotland
It's bloody cruelty and these dogs should be removed from the owners if they refuse to look after them properly. I refuse to believe owners can't see how fat and under exercised their dogs are. Hattie is a very healthy 25 kg and she is bigger than a Labrador, Charlie is a healthy 30 kg and much bigger than a Labrador. Why on earth do these people have dogs. There is absolutely no excuse for this behaviour, it makes me sick to my stomach, mad and deeply upset. :'(:'( xx
 
Cupcase

Cupcase

I have a problem with fat dogs. It is a human in charge of their food. Most of the labs in this area are obese, not just fat, obese. There is one poor lab that is severely obese and can hardly walk, the excuse is her age, when I asked how old she is, I was told 10 years old. Disgraceful. Cassie will be 14 years old in July and has severe arthritis in her hips and can walk further and as I found out yesterday run better than this poor dog. Cassie at 10 was NOT old.

To put 50kg into the size a dog should be to carry that weight, here is my friends newfoundland, he is kept as recommended by her vet at 55kg, this newfoundland weighs only 5kg more than that labrador. He has elbow and hip issues, so his weight is monitored.
C071CF01-5843-44BF-B05E-7CED3E4A9B86.jpegC071CF01-5843-44BF-B05E-7CED3E4A9B86.jpeg
 
A

Aitch

Location
Buckinghamshire UK
I have a constant battle with Poppy's weight but at least I'm trying to get it right.
There is a lab near us that had been overweight since the owner got her. I think people had been too tactful to ask the owner about her weight. I'm not all that tactful. I asked why she was so overweight and didn't it worry him? He was surprised and asked why it would worry him so I talked about the issues connected to obesity. He trotted off looking very thoughtful. Sadly, it was too little too late. Her joints were already compromised and she is in physio after operations. However, he has now brought her weight down significantly.
 
Charlie

Charlie

Location
Argyll & Bute, Scotland
Good for you @Aitch I have had a similar conversation with the man in our village with the absconding Labrador and Flat Coat. The Flat Coat is so overweight and has a constant limp which he has not sought vet treatment for. Every time I see him I ask him what has the vet said. Nothing because he won't take him. He openly admits that the dog is overweight but then so is he, massively. I told him that's irresponsible and cruel so take him. xx
 
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