I have a four year old Australian Shepherd/Blue Heeler who around three months ago started gaining weight. He had also been urinating where he shouldn't. Had him checked. He had a UTI and was put on antibiotics. He had been on Iams weight loss formula when he started gaining weight. I had him neutered. I tried Pedigree and he seemed to lose weight. Dang little town I live in had no Pedigree when I ran out and so I thought I'd try Science Diet for large breeds and boy has he gained weight again. Saw unusual spots on my rug again and vet gave me antiobiotics for UTI again. Got Pedigree again and he is still fat. I run him a mile a day every day so it's not lack of exercise and he does not get hardly any human food, so I don't know what's going on. If anyone has experienced this with their dog, I'd appreciate any thoughts. Thanks. Teri.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by grspirit7777

I have a four year old Australian Shepherd/Blue Heeler who around three months ago started gaining weight. He had also been urinating where he shouldn't. Had him checked. He had a UTI and was put on antibiotics. He had been on Iams weight loss formula when he started gaining weight. I had him neutered. I tried Pedigree and he seemed to lose weight. Dang little town I live in had no Pedigree when I ran out and so I thought I'd try Science Diet for large breeds and boy has he gained weight again. Saw unusual spots on my rug again and vet gave me antiobiotics for UTI again. Got Pedigree again and he is still fat. I run him a mile a day every day so it's not lack of exercise and he does not get hardly any human food, so I don't know what's going on. If anyone has experienced this with their dog, I'd appreciate any thoughts. Thanks. Teri.

I think you need to find a much better brand of dog food----the three you mention are "crap." It would be better still if you fed a raw food diet and had better control over what the dog eats. A dog does tend to gain weight after being nuetered. I've heard, yes it does and no it doesn't. IT DOES---I have a dog that was nuetered and I'll say it again--It does! But the 1st thing you need to do, is get rid of the grain-sugar crap they call dog food. I feed a raw food diet---but you have to know (study it) what you are doing to get the proper nutrition, etc. If this gains your interest--there are a lot of web sites on this subject. Put words like raw feeding/dogs in your browser. Go to heading in this forum called Dog Health and Nutrition and you will find some addresses to click on (in blue lettering) that will take you to good sites on this subject. You will also find the names of much better commercial dog foods to use. Personally, I am against feeding any boughten dog food but if you are going this route---please find a better one, one with no grains for sure. If you do decide to try a raw diet, and after you have really checked the info on this way of feeding and you still have a few questions about it, I'd be happy to try to answer some of your questions. Then there is the home-cooked way of feeding too as another alternative--STAY AWAY FROM GRAINS--ESP, IF YOUR DOG NEEDS TO LOSE WEIGHT, but also because grains can cause a lot of other problems--allergies for one. I do feed a little oatmeal at times---the only grain that isn't too bad.

While I do agree that a raw diet is great it is not for everyone.

Have you had your dog's thyroid tested? Thyroid problems can cause weight gain as can other medical conditions.

I also would recommend a diet change as fillers, by-products and sugar in food will produce a fat, unhealthy dog. A few I would suggest are Natural Balance Reduced calorie, Wellness Light, Innova Evo Reduced calorie. Many of my "fat" clients (I am a groomer) have lost a lot of weight on my suggestion of feeding Solid Gold Holistic Blend.

How much do you feed your dog (in cups)? For a weight loss diet your dog sould be on one of these foods mentioned and eating about 3/4 cup 2x per day with about 1/2 cup of veggies (raw or steamed) such a carrots or green beans.

[Yogi]

I'm with orangedog on this and if you had mentioned the weight gain to the vet I am surprised if he/she was aware why they did not check for thyroid issues.

[chevy & karen]

I would take this pup back to the vet or another vet. I'm also on board with Corky/Max. The commercial pet food's we find in our grocery store's and Walmart's are killing our pet's and giving them health problem's...

Please try a good food. I use Wellness Core along with home prepared but there is Innova, Solid Gold and many other's... You'll pay a little more but it will save you in vet bill's in the end....

Please let us know how it goes....

Neutering itself doesn't make dogs gain weight, but after neutering their metabolism slows down so it is up to the owner to A. be educated about this BEFORE neutering a B. give more exercise.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by orangedog

While I do agree that a raw diet is great it is not for everyone.

Have you had your dog's thyroid tested? Thyroid problems can cause weight gain as can other medical conditions.

I also would recommend a diet change as fillers, by-products and sugar in food will produce a fat, unhealthy dog. A few I would suggest are Natural Balance Reduced calorie, Wellness Light, Innova Evo Reduced calorie. Many of my "fat" clients (I am a groomer) have lost a lot of weight on my suggestion of feeding Solid Gold Holistic Blend.

How much do you feed your dog (in cups)? For a weight loss diet your dog sould be on one of these foods mentioned and eating about 3/4 cup 2x per day with about 1/2 cup of veggies (raw or steamed) such a carrots or green beans.

Just need to say here----about the raw vegs---these must be crushed very, very fine (use a mini-food processor and scrape down and pulse several times)---the celulose walls of veggies must be broken down as dogs do not digest these very well if, if at all--so therefore not getting the nutrition from them. A question I have is it necessary to break down to a finer "mash" if you cook the veggies, I think prob. not but the crushed raw veggies are the best as cooking loses many of the vitamins, etc--heat destroys!

Did your vet do blood tests? The frequent urination and spotting are signs of diabetes, you can do a mini check for this with the urine diastix or the ketodiastix you can buy from Walmart or other drugstore.

Any panting more than ususal? drinking more water than usual?

Orijen is a good food also.

[rayter]

There are many possible reasons for the sudden obesity of your dog. It could be because of diet, thyroid problem or even diabetes. Take your dog to the vet for proper diagnosis.

[lil mutt]

Originally Posted by Mr.Underdog

Neutering itself doesn't make dogs gain weight, but after neutering their metabolism slows down so it is up to the owner to A. be educated about this BEFORE neutering a B. give more exercise.

very true... one way of dealing with it is doing more activities with your pets so they can have a much active and healthier lifestyle..