Hello! I've just adopted a 4 year old cocker spaniel male! He's overweight (I'm told) at about 40lbs (Sorry, I don't know his exact size), and I was wondering how much I should be feeding him per day to loose weight and keep it off? Or what everyone feeds their not overweight dogs? She's been free feeding him Purina Beneful (?) Thankyou, everyone!

Hi, haven't heard of that feed, are you in the UK? Its hard to say as each dog is different and not knowing the make up of the food but I would try about 200 grams a day. Give him an hour's brisk exersise each day in two half hour stints. Weigh him and then weigh again every week and if he isn't losing weight after 14 days reduce the food again. I would try and find a food (if you feed complete biscuit) that is about 20% protein 6-8% fats, this will mean you can feed a little more volume than the higher grade feeds without giving him too much condition. If you give treats be very sparing with them, preferably cut out altogether for the time being. There are "Lite" diets you can buy for dogs but I resent paying more to feed less!!

My cocker got quite porky during the foot and mouth period due to the decrease in her exercise, when exercise levels increased again it wasn't enough to shift it. I tried just reducing her food but cockers love their trough! and it caused her some distress, begging and stealing reached rediculous proportions and some very unpleasant things were sampled :) I starting using a reducing food, Beta Light, and I have been very pleased with the result, her weight has gradually reduced and yet she seems satisfied, I don't think it costs anymore either although I not sure as I buying small bags with only one on it, for greedy dogs I would say any increase in cost would be worth it anyway.

To bulk out the food you could try adding cooked vegetables (not root vegetables) to smaller portions of the food you are already feeding. Most feeding guides on the back of the tin/bag are grossly over estimated. I would also moisten dried food as it then becomes more filling. :D

Hope this helps
Regards
Dill

I would think that 200g would be way to much, especially for weight loss. My Elkhounds at 20 inches tal are the same weight as this overweight cocker, and they eat 200g, and have a good deal of excersise.

I would think that this cocker needs to loose in the region of 10-15 poounds in weight.

When I have had to dietr mine, they have been fed between 100 and 150g of a maintenance diet.

With this being a smaller breed I would expect 150g would be a maintenance amount, so 100g would get the weight off steadily.

Some people will add low calorie vegetables to make up some bulk so that the dog feels full. Carrot and unsweetenmed Pumkin (in USA) sem to be favourites, as well as green beans, Cabbage etc.

Hi, Purina is a good make of food and fed correctly should be fine. However dogs should not be free fed -- especially cockers as the full signal takes 3 days to register! If you don't mind spending money on food like purina may i reccomend that you switch to RCW obesity diet - you can get it from your vet and a very kind loving vet nurse will go through every detail of the feeding/ weight loss regiem with you. I do this at work for my clients. your dog needs to lose a good 15 lbs gradually. If it does not lose weight there will be heart probs and arthritis to deal with in later life. Start now. You know you want to!!

Regards Karen

Hi

As the others have already said you need to check the protein content on his food, try and find one that is below 20% if possible. With regards to his weight it should be roughly between 28-32lbs but if he is on the big side 16 inches or over then I would say 34lbs would be fine. I have one who is 16 1/2 inches and he is around 36lbs happy and healthy.

HTH

Dessie :D :D