I have a standard schnauzer who from an early age was always a bit of a porker!
He doesn't eat a lot but he had an illness recently and the vet had to put him on steriods. I bought some scales and weighed him and he really is too heavy for a young chap. He is 18 months. I feed him a lite dried food diet and tuna as he won't eat anything else. I do give him the occasional treat but I dont feel I give him too many.

He seems to be getting bigger and the vet doesn't wasnt to give him anything to lose the weight because he may rely medication for the rest of his life.

Can anyone advise on anything herbal or anything at all that may help him get the weight off. I just want to give him a healthier and longer life

To get weight off there is only one way. Cut out all treats and feed less! Weigh out his food and if you feel you need to give him something as a reward give him a little from the weighed amount so you always know exactly how much he's had.

Regards, John

How much exercise does he have? Decrease the calorie intake and up the exercise...
Archer

Also by cutting back on the food a little and giving green beens helps. I do this for my dog and he has lost weight and looks great, he now has a waist line :) I only give a treat once a day and sometimes not even that, instead I will give carrots, beens ect they like veggies. :)

I would up the exercise,if he can handle it,i can feed my dogs treats all day long,but they will never be porky as they get heaps of excerise.They are shih-tzu's and they get around 1 1/2 hours off lead exerc. daily.

christine :)

Thanks for the advice. I will try the green beans and the veggies. I cant really cut down any more on the food as he doesnt eat alot anyway. Is there any food I can give him that is not too fattening?

As for walking the problem is I cant let him off the lead to run about because he runs away and wont come back. But I will take him out more on his flexi lead to the park and run around with him. It will do me some good too!!

What do you have him on now for dry dog food?

I use to have Taz on weight management and decided to take him off it and put him on lamb n' rice thats why I do the green beens, I found he loses weight just as good on this. For his size I give him 5 cups but some of that is the green beens. I feed mine Nutro Natural Choice lamb n' rice.

Where do you get that dog food from?
I may try him on that!

If your talking about the Nutro I buy it at PetCetera :) Here's their site :)
Nutro

1 hour a day plus he runs around in the garden for about two hours with my young pup.

His growth plates have now closed and therefore he can have almost unlimited exercise.  The only cure for weight loss is to decrease the intake of calories and increase expenditure by more walks!  Steroids will put on weight.  His weight is under your control, just put less in the food bowl, if he won't eat anything other than what you give him sounds as though he is not really hungry.  If he is overweight he is obviously eating too much for him :D

Toby was getting a bit chunky so i gave him less treats and longer walks didnt take long

Heidi