Family in denial?

[kimberlysuz]

My husbands mom and dad's dog is 10 pounds overweight. She is a springer spaniel about 9 years old. The problem is his dad is feeding the dog treats and table scraps everyday. The family knows the dog is overweight and is even on a special dog food for weight. It seems like they (especially the dad) don't understand how serious this issue is. How do you think we can get them all on the same page and help the dog out?

[Jean]

I think your best bet would be to discuss the health risks of having an overweight dog.

Here is an article on the subject.

Then once you've done that - you can mention the benefits of having a healthy dog.

Healthy dogs live longer and have much higher energy.

Many people associate food with love or affection. He may feel that he is showing love for the dog by giving her so many treats. In return, I'm sure the dog shows affection back when given the treats. Along with showing them the dangers of an overweight dog, let them know that the dog will feel loved and return love just by getting their attention. It may take a while to "break" the dog (and maybe the parents) of the habit, but exchanging it for healthy activities such as a walk (if the parents are physically able) a game of fetch or some other activity will keep their friend around alot longer. I lost my best friend much too early due to heart failure from an infection. I'd have done anything to have kept him around longer.

[leema]

It may be helpful if the family set up little pots of the dogs' food around the house (to add up to a total meal) and use these little pots as treats instead of 'other stuff'.

I'm not very tactful with convincing people not to have fat dogs. Unfortunately, because I see a lot of fat dogs!

[CollieMan]

I've already aired my views on the subject before so won't start preaching again. I agree with leema, regarding diving the daily food intake up into treats. I really don't see any other way, if their treat mentality is so ingrained.

Sadly, in such cases, many people don't realise how serious it is until their dog collapses and ends up in the vet's surgery. Somehow they have to realise that those acts of kindness really aren't kind at all. They are building up to create a slow torture for the dog.

[l_l_a]

I like Leema's idea of setting out the dog's daily ration and using it throughout the day as "treats" rather than plonking it down in a bowl and then on top of that giving treats.

but I suppose the owners have to actually want to get their dog to lose weight. if they just don't want to, then they won't do anything no matter how easy or sensible.

My parents in law have a 10-yr-old beagle who was been obese for most of his life. Then recently he developed thyroid malfunction (dunno if related to having been obese for so long, or not) and on top of that he had a very severe back pain that made him cringe everytime he had to walk so he became so lethargic and depressed it's like he wanted to die because he was always in pain and miserable. The x-rays couldn't pinpoint anything obviously wrong with his back so no surgery was schedule, but the dog was clearly in pain so all they could do was give him pain medication, but it would only work for short periods. The poor dog was so miserable my parents in law thought they had to put him down. As one last hope they brought him to a different vet, who, in addition to prescribing thyroid medication (which the first vet already had done anyway), ordered them to put the dog on a diet. With such an ultimatum, it wasn't that hard for them! (people have a much harder time putting themselves on a diet, than putting their dog on one!) Now, it's been 6 months, and the beagle is like a new dog!!! He is not yet at his ideal weight, but he is no longer obese, just a little on the chubby side. The difference is astounding, he looks so much younger, even his face looks more puppylike! His eyes sparkle more, he is so much more alert and interested in his surroundings and whereas 6 months ago he had to be carried upstairs because he had such severe pain he could barely walk, now even without having had any surgery at all he is running up and down the stairs again like a young dog! He looks better than he did at age 5!