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???

[Martha & Cooper]

Cooper has that extra skin too!   I tease him about being part Shar-Pei, when I get hold of it.  LOL!

[Pam & Trixie]

That is really great that your vet will walk him.

I bet he works off the few extra pounds pretty fast.

Trixie will take them from him- thats about what she is short 3-4#

[Susan and Sasha]

Jen...

Since your Vet didn't say that Jack needed to lose weight...just not to gain anymore... I wouldn't worry. 

You mentioned that your Mom (meaning well) was feeding Jack special high calorie meals while you were sick and giving him bad treats.

That most likely had a lot to do with him gaining weight.

Then add not getting  much exercise...and it would stand to reason that he would gain.

Wow...it's amazing that such a little guy could actually walk up to four miles a day.

It's So kind of your Vet to help you out by taking Jack for walks.  How kind of her! 

I wouldn't worry about getting his thyroid checked.  I don't think there is anything wrong with him. (smile)

If he eats well balanced meals...doesn't get a lot of unhealthy treats and gets exercise...Jack should be just fine.

Hugs and Love...

 

[Jennifer and Jack]

The extra skin that Jack has is what the vet called thick. You can feel his ribs from his belly side but extra skin and thickness on his back side.

[Bonnie and Kona]

The extra skin on Owen is just loose skin. You can feel his ribs easily through the skin. It's like puppy skin when its too big for the puppy. I cannot describe it well, but it isn't thick skin. It's loose, thin skin. ;o) Why did I try?

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Hunter would be a plus sized doodle gal :-) I like to say she is just a little to short, if she was taller she would thin out, kind of like me! The vet told me she had fluffy skin not fur! Lol