How much to feed to loose weight

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I took the girls today to the vet to pick up their prescription of Interceptor. I had each of them weighed - Charli has gained 2 lbs and weighs a whopping 54.5 lbs and is 28" tall - she has gained 2 lbs in 7 weeks

Here's the problem - Samantha now weighs 81 lbs!!!! She is only 23" tall. Built like a lab, short legged and barrel chested. I am appalled!!! 3 months ago Sammie weighed 73.5 lbs and was looking great! Now that she turned 3 (today) I am worried about her joints with this excess weight.

 

I have not changed what I feed them, they get fed once a day usually betweeen 3p-4pm (I usually put a little kibble in Charli's bowl when she asks for it and I have never seen Sammie eat it) -

Dinner consists of 1.5 cups of Evo Chicken, a little ground chicken or beef mixed in with either canned carrots or green beans (without added salt). At bedtime, they each get a Milk Bone @125 cal, I know they are not good for them but they are the only big, crunchy biscuit I can find and they love the breaking and chewing of them.

537 - 1 cup of regular Evo = 805 cal for 1.5 cups

458 - 1 cup of Weight Management Evo = 687 calories for 1.5 cups

 

do you think that the 118 calorie difference between the 2 Evo's is enough for Sammie to loose weight? Should I cut her back 1/4 cup? I am at loss!

Granted - we have been housebound since the Christmas blizzard due to the snow and ice so there hasn't been much exercise.

thanks in advance for your input!!

Adrianne

[Kyoko]

I found this thing called "Bear Biscuit", made by Natural balance. They are pretty crunchy!!

[Dana]

 Mac who's been 70 lbs for the last 4 yrs (he's 5) put on 7 lbs this winter.   It's not the food - we need to be ROMPING on the beach lol!!   

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I totally agree - as soon as it hits 60 I am there!!

Mac is 2 heads taller than Samantha and weighs less!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Adrianne, how much ground beef or chicken are you adding, and what precentage fat is it? (i.e. 85% lean ground beef, or whatever). I'm trying to figure the total calories they're getting per day.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

85% beef and the chicken is ground white meat. 

I never actually measured the meat - just did and it is about 1 cup and then the veggies.

[F, Calla & Luca]

That's a lot of ground beef since 85% has a lot of fat.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

well, who paid attention to that! Obviously, it wasn't me.

It will be ground chicken breast for them for now on though I find it interesting that neither of them finished their dinner tonight. I started giving them less add in's and I guess they are not happy. But, if they get hungry their can go finish dinner.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Check out this site. The difference in amount of fat between the various kinds of beef is shocking. 85% beef is really 63% fat in calories. But the fat is so delicious for them, and us too.

http://www.fatsecret.com/calories-nutrition/usda/ground-beef-%2895%...

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Holy Calories, Batman! who would have thought that the calorie difference would be huge!!! Another reason for guilt but another lesson learned.

Thanks F!!! no more 85% for them.

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

That's true and it is confusing. But you can extrapolate it and the percentages of fat calories is the point no matter the serving size. So 70% beef is 82% fat calories, 85% beef is 63% fat calories and 95% beef is 33 % fat calories. Fat has 9 calories per gram as compared to 4 for protein and carbohydrates, which makes for these astonishing numbers. Or 1 oz. of 95% beef is 38 cal, 1 oz. of 85% is 60 cal and  1 oz. of 70% beef is 93 cal. This can make a big difference if you're feeding a number of ounces.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Trivia:

Fat-9kcal per gram

Carb-4kcal per gram

Protein-4kcal per gram

Alcohol is a different number.   Cookie to the one who gets this right 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

CAITLIN-- YOU GET A COOKIE!   :)    I had it in class too.   Only reason I knew.