How Much Do you Feed your 55-60-65 lb dog - a poll.

liamum · 01-22-2009, 05:17 AM

Our vet pointed out that our 2-year-old Lab, Daisy, gained too much weight since the summer. Over the summer she was 60 lbs, but now she is 70. The vet says she still has a waist, which is good; but her ribs are too covered up with fat.

We feed her dry food two times a day. Also, she jogs each morning with DH.

I had been feeding her 3 cups of dry food a day, which is obviously too much for her as that caused such a big gain. Last week, the vet cut her back to two cups a day.

So it has been 2 weeks . . . and she seems ravenously hungry

Today I am giving her 2 1/4 cups to see if she seems more satisfied

But do y'all think 2 cups is too little for her, or she is just having to adjust?

Apple-Saucy · 01-22-2009, 06:15 AM

My Best Friend is a Vet. Her recomendation is feed the dog's hunger. If the dog Wolfs down her food she's still hungry, if the dog picks at her food or leaves some behind you're feeding her too much.

The fact that your dog goes jogging with your DH everyday means that she is burning A LOT of fuel, Her weight gain may be due to the fact that she is gaining MUSCLE.

Johns_Gal · 01-22-2009, 06:29 AM

Ah, labs. We can't win with ours, his weight yoyos constantly. In the summer, he just picks at food, but runs and swims *everywhere*, so he becomes so thin.

In the winter? He looks pregnant.

He is free choice fed, so I figure he does what he needs to. When I can do it, he and the other dog get meat a few times a week and they are both sleek and shiny practically overnight, but that just doesn't happen as often as I'd like.

Bowie always maintains his weight... maybe a five pound difference over the year, and he is a big dog so that's nothing. But Coal? *sigh* I feel your pain.

JessicaTX · 01-22-2009, 06:58 AM

That doesn't sound like much, my 2 little dogs get their kibble bowl filled morning and night and get a raw drumstick to snack on once a day. Neither one looks even remotely chubby.

SouthPaw · 01-22-2009, 07:06 AM

My 55 and my 80 pound dog both get 3 cups a day to maintain weight. Most dogs will eat if given the opportunity unless they are completely satiated, so I am not surprised your dog 'acts' hungry, especially if specific behaviors like going to the food bowl or food container get her fed - she knows what works

liamum · 01-22-2009, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Most dogs will eat if given the opportunity unless they are completely satiated, so I am not surprised your dog 'acts' hungry, especially if specific behaviors like going to the food bowl or food container get her fed - she knows what works

true. Well our Dachshund is more of a self-regulator when it comes to dog food so I am not used to the Lab mentality

Singingmom · 01-22-2009, 07:22 AM

I voted 3 cups, but it's really more like 4 I think. We fill his bowl twice a day. He runs a lot during the day and he seems very fit. He's a Brittany.

01-22-2009, 08:03 AM

We feed our 100+ lb dog 3 cups a day. The amount you feed depends on the type/brand of food you feed. Something from the grocery store has a lot of filler, so they need more and poop more. Read the back of the bag...it's usually right on.

liamum · 01-22-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CakeLady

We feed our 100+ lb dog 3 cups a day. The amount you feed depends on the type/brand of food you feed. Something from the grocery store has a lot of filler, so they need more and poop more. Read the back of the bag...it's usually right on.

Thank you. We use Canidae since it was highly reviewed and is organic.

SouthPaw · 01-22-2009, 08:19 AM

Great food

Does she get any bones/chewies/treats etc? Sometimes when people are in my training classes I have them cut back on food a little b/c the (healthy) treats make up for it.

liamum · 01-22-2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieKitten

Great food

Does she get any bones/chewies/treats etc? Sometimes when people are in my training classes I have them cut back on food a little b/c the (healthy) treats make up for it.

Uh - this depends on the day

and DS loves giving her treats it is true!

SouthPaw · 01-22-2009, 08:50 AM

Just like humans, one unhealthy "snack" (and I give my dogs treats too

) can add up the calories. So just be aware and don't feel bad cutting down on the food a little if she is getting the calories elsewhere. 2 1/4 c does sound reasonable though. Most people honestly keep their dogs a little overweight because they don't know what a healthy, fit dog looks like. We think that a little plumper means healthy and happy... or maybe that's just a Southern thing

You should be able to feel the ribs and just be able to see them, as well as see a noticeable waist. Just get her there and then you may be able to increase again a little to maintain weight instead of dropping it.

liamum · 01-22-2009, 09:49 AM

Thank you, Kathrine. It is hard when we are saturated by a culture where food =love.

Amber · 01-22-2009, 01:25 PM

My lab is aroudn 55-60lbs and get 2 cups of food a day. If I let her, she would eat a lot more

When she was younger we fed her about 3 cups a day, but about a year or two ago I noticed that she was getting a little heavier, so we started cutting back a little.

liamum · 01-22-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amber

My lab is aroudn 55-60lbs and get 2 cups of food a day. If I let her, she would eat a lot more

When she was younger we fed her about 3 cups a day, but about a year or two ago I noticed that she was getting a little heavier, so we started cutting back a little.

Ah-ha - just like us!

View Poll Results: I feed my 50-60-65lb dog this many cups of dry food per day:
3 cups	2	28.57%
2 1/2 cups	3	42.86%
2 cups	1	14.29%
other	1	14.29%
Voters: 7. You may not vote on this poll

01-22-2009, 05:17 AM	#1
liamum Rose Garden Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,553	How Much Do you Feed your 55-60-65 lb dog - a poll. Our vet pointed out that our 2-year-old Lab, Daisy, gained too much weight since the summer. Over the summer she was 60 lbs, but now she is 70. The vet says she still has a waist, which is good; but her ribs are too covered up with fat. We feed her dry food two times a day. Also, she jogs each morning with DH. I had been feeding her 3 cups of dry food a day, which is obviously too much for her as that caused such a big gain. Last week, the vet cut her back to two cups a day. So it has been 2 weeks . . . and she seems ravenously hungry Today I am giving her 2 1/4 cups to see if she seems more satisfied But do y'all think 2 cups is too little for her, or she is just having to adjust? __________________ Leigh Wife to K (5/02) Mother to Liam (10/03) Mother to Ardan, Now Held By God Graceful Leigh Jewelry on Etsy Faithfully Handmade Jewelry My art blog INFJ and also type 3 ". . . we only feel the weight of the cross when we try to get out from under it. If we bear it gratefully, we find that it carries us." - Mark Salzman.

01-22-2009, 06:15 AM	#2
Apple-Saucy Deactivated Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: In my Pants Posts: 12,181	Re: How Much Do you Feed your 55-60-65 lb dog - a poll. My Best Friend is a Vet. Her recomendation is feed the dog's hunger. If the dog Wolfs down her food she's still hungry, if the dog picks at her food or leaves some behind you're feeding her too much. The fact that your dog goes jogging with your DH everyday means that she is burning A LOT of fuel, Her weight gain may be due to the fact that she is gaining MUSCLE.

01-22-2009, 06:29 AM	#3
Johns_Gal Rose Garden Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 8,764	Re: How Much Do you Feed your 55-60-65 lb dog - a poll. Ah, labs. We can't win with ours, his weight yoyos constantly. In the summer, he just picks at food, but runs and swims everywhere, so he becomes so thin. In the winter? He looks pregnant. He is free choice fed, so I figure he does what he needs to. When I can do it, he and the other dog get meat a few times a week and they are both sleek and shiny practically overnight, but that just doesn't happen as often as I'd like. Bowie always maintains his weight... maybe a five pound difference over the year, and he is a big dog so that's nothing. But Coal? sigh I feel your pain. __________________ He is seven and she is days from turning two. I'm not sure how this happened.

01-22-2009, 06:58 AM	#4
JessicaTX Rose Garden Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Barrens of Texas Posts: 5,152	Re: How Much Do you Feed your 55-60-65 lb dog - a poll. That doesn't sound like much, my 2 little dogs get their kibble bowl filled morning and night and get a raw drumstick to snack on once a day. Neither one looks even remotely chubby. __________________ Sam's wife Keegan, Zoe, Anakin and Anaiah's Mom Nonni to Jasper, Iris, Ivory, and Lyric!

01-22-2009, 07:06 AM	#5
SouthPaw Rose Garden Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 12,872	Re: How Much Do you Feed your 55-60-65 lb dog - a poll. My 55 and my 80 pound dog both get 3 cups a day to maintain weight. Most dogs will eat if given the opportunity unless they are completely satiated, so I am not surprised your dog 'acts' hungry, especially if specific behaviors like going to the food bowl or food container get her fed - she knows what works __________________ INTP Wife to: Mr. Aerospace Mommy to: Ballerina (8) Jester (7) Speedracer (6) Flying Squirrel (August '14)

01-22-2009, 07:22 AM	#7
Singingmom Administrator Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 25,954	Re: How Much Do you Feed your 55-60-65 lb dog - a poll. I voted 3 cups, but it's really more like 4 I think. We fill his bowl twice a day. He runs a lot during the day and he seems very fit. He's a Brittany. __________________ Kelly Wife to my sweetheart for 30 years Grateful mom to 3 young adults Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

01-22-2009, 08:03 AM	#8
CakeLady Guest Posts: n/a	Re: How Much Do you Feed your 55-60-65 lb dog - a poll. We feed our 100+ lb dog 3 cups a day. The amount you feed depends on the type/brand of food you feed. Something from the grocery store has a lot of filler, so they need more and poop more. Read the back of the bag...it's usually right on.

01-22-2009, 08:19 AM	#10
SouthPaw Rose Garden Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 12,872	Re: How Much Do you Feed your 55-60-65 lb dog - a poll. Great food Does she get any bones/chewies/treats etc? Sometimes when people are in my training classes I have them cut back on food a little b/c the (healthy) treats make up for it. __________________ INTP Wife to: Mr. Aerospace Mommy to: Ballerina (8) Jester (7) Speedracer (6) Flying Squirrel (August '14)

01-22-2009, 08:50 AM	#12
SouthPaw Rose Garden Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 12,872	Re: How Much Do you Feed your 55-60-65 lb dog - a poll. Just like humans, one unhealthy "snack" (and I give my dogs treats too ) can add up the calories. So just be aware and don't feel bad cutting down on the food a little if she is getting the calories elsewhere. 2 1/4 c does sound reasonable though. Most people honestly keep their dogs a little overweight because they don't know what a healthy, fit dog looks like. We think that a little plumper means healthy and happy... or maybe that's just a Southern thing You should be able to feel the ribs and just be able to see them, as well as see a noticeable waist. Just get her there and then you may be able to increase again a little to maintain weight instead of dropping it. __________________ INTP Wife to: Mr. Aerospace Mommy to: Ballerina (8) Jester (7) Speedracer (6) Flying Squirrel (August '14)

01-22-2009, 09:49 AM	#13
liamum Rose Garden Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,553	Re: How Much Do you Feed your 55-60-65 lb dog - a poll. Thank you, Kathrine. It is hard when we are saturated by a culture where food =love. __________________ Leigh Wife to K (5/02) Mother to Liam (10/03) Mother to Ardan, Now Held By God Graceful Leigh Jewelry on Etsy Faithfully Handmade Jewelry My art blog INFJ and also type 3 ". . . we only feel the weight of the cross when we try to get out from under it. If we bear it gratefully, we find that it carries us." - Mark Salzman.

01-22-2009, 01:25 PM	#14
Amber Rose Garden Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: The rainy side of Washington. Posts: 18,232	Re: How Much Do you Feed your 55-60-65 lb dog - a poll. My lab is aroudn 55-60lbs and get 2 cups of food a day. If I let her, she would eat a lot more When she was younger we fed her about 3 cups a day, but about a year or two ago I noticed that she was getting a little heavier, so we started cutting back a little. __________________ Amber ISFJ Wife to my wonderful DH And keeper of the boys Big M (6/03) Forever ours Dec 2012 C (6/04), Little M (10/05) Forever ours Dec 2012 K (5/06) Missing our foster daughter Miss A

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