Plus Size Doodles???

[Jennifer and Jack]

I took Jack to the vet today for a follow up appointment. He is doing great, however, he gained another 0.5 pounds bringing his weight up to 14.5 pounds... I am not in any way saying Jack is overweight but the vet said he is getting "thick"

Also when I walked in one of the vet techs first words out of her mouth was, Oh good Jack is putting on some weight!! My immediate response was "Nay, I think it is his hair making him look fluffy"

Sure enough My Chunk is gaining, He has always weighed 10 pounds and that was too little, they didn't like him that skinny, but he is now on the upper limits of what he should be. I swear he doesn't eat even half of the kibble that he is supposed to, however, I put a topper on it, give him peanut butter kongs on occasion,  I have always tried to bulk him up. Plus my mom meaning well, but not doing good gave Jack and Molly very bad treats and high calories meals when I was in the hospital, she was nervous and had to cook for someone I guess!!!

What we also realized is I  always took Jack for several walks a day probably totally about three to four miles a day. I obviously have not been able to do that since October, and that is when his weight started going up.

My very sweet and loving Vet lives close to me, she and her husband are on a walking program so Jack will be getting picked up and taken for a walk three times a week by my vet, she will walk him a couple of miles, and in between, he will walk with me the best I can do which is about 3/4 of a mile a day.

So obviously Jack is not a plus size doodle yet, but it amazed me how Jack who I always see as never eating anything, is now on the upper limits of what the vet wants for him. I am g lad to know and we will make adjustments..

I always hear how skinny our doodles are, anyone have a thicker doodle???

[Doris]

How nice that your vet will take Jack on walks!  And . . . um . . . . I always get Bodi's hair CUT SHORT right before his regular exams!  Then he doesn't look so fluffy!! Jack doesn't need to be skinny!

[Donna K & Quincy]

Jack, I know how that is, hardly eating a thing and gaining weight anyway. I'm feeling a bit "thick" myself: :>) It's good that he is going to get more exercise and what a great vet you have.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Yeah,  I am pretty dang thick myself these days,  and I hardly eat a thing, oh wait I mean I hardly stop eating and for as long as I am alive I am blaming the steroids, that is my story and I am sticking to it!!!!

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

yep, Winnie was a little on the chubbie side when I first got him. But I think the combo of being on thyroid meds and getting more exercise has helped him shed the extra lbs. I wouldn't worry too much about Jack. i bet he's just fine.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

This is so nice that Jack will be able to take walks!  I am impressed!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

That's great that the vet can walk him! Chloe gains when the walks are more limited in the winter. I hope he gets back to the best weight for him.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna has a tendency to gain weight - we have to monitor her food intake closely.  When she was about 8 months old the vet told us she should lose about 5 pounds... that's a lot for a 35 pound dog!

Basically how we manage it is that we keep her within the feeding range for her size (1 1/2 to 2 cups), but change the exact amount daily depending on her exercise.

If she's had very little exercise the previous day, the next day she gets 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 cups

If she's had a lot of exercise the previous day, the next day she gets 2 cups

Also - we've almost completely eliminated using treats for training (she started getting "chubby" right around the time we started more "serious" positive reinforcement training with food... probably not a coincidence!)

[Jennifer and Jack]

I know I am so grateful Jack will get good exercise. She is a great vet!!!

I will see what the scale says for him in a few weeks, if he has another gain, I guess I will have his thyroid tested. I really think I just need to be more mindful. He really still is I. A healthy range, just the high end of it!!!

[Camilla and Darwin]

How sweet of your vet! I think it's totally understandable that he would be gaining weight, with all that is going on.

Darwin is one of those doods that is at an optimal weight. I think DH and I are obsessive about his nutrition/fitness level to make up for our lack of. :-) 

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

They certainly can look so much heavier than they actually are when they have longer hair. I was just feeling Bella this morning and even tho she looks like 100 pds, she has bony prominences at her shoulders, hips and ribs when I feel through all that thickness.
I like mine on the thin side though as they seem to be more active than heavier dogs I've seen. And with the propensity for hip dysphasia, I feel it helps take the stress off the hips to be a little lean. The Vet Thinks they are fine too.
I'm sure Jack will lean back down quickly with all the extra activity. What a great vet you have to walk him for you! He will have fun with other dogs too.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

And that my friends is why I continue to look for a new Vet.

Jennifer you have so many wonderful people in your life, I am very happy for you.

And yes the steroids make me crabby and hungry. My AA Doc tells my DH, remember she can get a little "off" when she is on this.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I lucked out with this Vet, She is amazing, She is the owner of the practice, has several vets that work for her yet she acts like she has all the time in the world. She is also the one who makes house calls for me when I  wanted Jack looked at!!!

Lisa, I would for sure make sure you get a Vet you love.. or at least respect enough that they will do the right thing by you. I wish I could share her with you...