We have an almost 5 months old puppy dog who has been the 'fatty' of the litter from day 1. We just assumed he was a little podgy, and would grow out of it when he started running around, then, when that did not happen, that he would lose it when he started gettng proper excercise. Took him to the vet last week as he is still far too fat (weighed 10 kg) and was getting concerned there may be a problem. Vet was concerned when she saw him, weighed him and listned to heart - VERY, VERY slow heart beat. Blood tests came back fine for Diabetes, thyroid etc. No apparent clinical problem, but this incredibly slow heart rate (great for a race horse!) and an apparent inability to lose weight. He is not an enormously greedy pup, and his food is watched carefully, but it is hard with a babe as you want to get all the goodness into him for healthy growing. Anyone had experience of a similar thing in any of their pups, particularly the slow hear rate?

By the way, the rest of the litter absolutely normal size/weight.
bye
Gwen

Sorry Gwen - which breed. Someone with experience of your breed will help you I'm sure.

Norm

p.s I have a 4 month old bulldog bitch that weighs 13 kg - not an ounce of fat on her - so the breed is important.

Hi Norm - the breed is American Cocker, and in many years of breeding we have never come acros this in the breed before. My vet is not concerned that the slow heart rate will be a problem (as I said, if he was a race horse - or an athlete - it would be an advantage) just wondered if anyone, in any other breed had come across this combination of factors, and what the development of such a pup was? And I should have said, max weight of a fully grown male is abut 14kg, 10 kg for a babe of this age is A LOT. And he is very podgy:)

bye
Gwen

Could it be that your pup needs to be referred to a vet that
specialises in cardiology.
They then can run full diagnostic checks on your pups heart.
Be warned though it doesn't come cheap.
But worth every penny to have peace of mind though!