I seriously need to get some weight off two of my four dogs...My lab weighs in at 39kgs and needs to lose at least 4kgs although he is a big boy and doesn't look overweight I know he would be better losing some. My other girl is a small sized crossbreed who also needs to lose about 4-5kgs. I have tried cutting down their food but am now at the stage I am worried I'm starving them as there looks to be so little in the bowl. I have tried bulking it out with veggies but they are fed up now and not eating it. I don't want them to go hungry so has anyone any ideas on how I can bulk their food to make them feel full but also get them to lose weight?? Any ideas appreciated...

I have a Cocker Spaniel, another breed that enjoy their grub :), during the foot and mouth episode she put on weight and it did not seem to want to shift even when exercise was increased again.  I had very good success by feeding the "Lite" version of her usual food in the same quantity as she was used to in the "full fat" version and we have maintained a lighter weight and happier dog on it ever since although I sometimes use the senior version now too.

Obesity in dog is one of the fastest growing concerns in the dog world today lack of exercise and overfeeding are to blame. Any reduction in weight should be done over a 3- 4 mth period so start reducing the food slowly and not all at once I know some posterS on hear do not like the diet foods on offer but the good ones do include feeding schedules
But if you really love your dogs remember the old adage dogS eat to live, humans live to eat. I rather have a lean live dog. Than a fat dead dog. Sorry to be blunt but you have to be cruel to be kind.-Jo

I do feed them Lite and always have even before their weight problems. The dogs are off lead exercised over 5 miles every day weather permitting. I know it's probably the treats in between that caused the problem which they don't get so many of. I just want to be sure I don't start under feeding them instead of overfeeding them. Any recipes/ideas for low fat treats would be appreciated.

Use pieces of their diet food, from their daily ration, as their treats. Then they won't be overfed. :)

Popcorn, any veg or fruit but avoid the very sugary ones.

IF your dogs are overweight you seem to be looking for the miracle  cure that all dieters look for. The only way you can loose weight is by feeding less wither   this is at meal time or Treat time trying to find a food that will bulk them out wont work .Until your dog is at its correct weight you can't really underfeed  but reduced feeding over a period of time will lose the weight.

The only way I got weight off my spaniel was to keep to the lower region of the feeding guide AND weigh his whole daily ration out in the morning.  I also used part of that daily ration as treats when we were out walking.  I did relent last thing at night though because all my dogs get a nice treat before going to bed.  This worked and he lost the weight.  Agree with Jo English though.  The only way to lose weight is over a period of time.  That's the healthy way too.  We are all wise to the "fad" diets on offer for us and realise nothing is a quick fix when it comes to losing the pounds.  I'm afraid its the same for dogs.  Anyway, must go I'm just going to have my slimfast :d :d

Only kidding!!!

Good luck.  It is hard though when you have the eyes looking at you but be strong it is for their own good.

Annie

I find with my labs if they dont get a certain bulk of food they go on the scavenge and nothing is safe. Although mine dont have a weight problem if they are doing loads of work and I feel that they dont need extra protein they get poridge oats cooked with either water or stock, together with their normal ration. Fills them up without any fat or sugar. You could also try puffed rice, although it is more expensive than oats.

Meat is very fat these days due to intensive farming and the obsession with profit.    This means that whatever food you feed that is commercially produced, whether dry, tinned or raw, provides much more fat than a dog would have got from the wild when it would have consumed very lean prey animals.   Give no cereal at all and find a low fat meat cut intended for humans and add low calorie and low GI veg such as green leafy veg, runner beans, broccoli and cauliflower.    Cook the vegetables as any food from the brassica family of veg does have thyroid inhibiting properties.  These are reduced by cooking.

>Meat is very fat these days due to intensive farming and the obsession with profit.

Our local agricultural college teaches the opposite - modern farm animals are much leaner than the breeds of the old days, mainly because the consumer prefers less fat on the meat - animals which are carrying too much 'condition' (ie body fat) are actually worth less at slaughter because so much of the carcase weight has to be discarded. Many of the modern breeds of farm animals can't be kept outside all year round because they can't lay down enough body fat to sustain them during freezing weather.
:)

WOW!! Thanks for the advice about the porridge oats Bluebell, they are going down a treat and he's not begging for food half as much as he was....

Glad to hear it iwantasheltie. Believe me I know what it is like to live with a Lab who is constaintly hungry :(

Since posting my request I am pleased to announce that Harvey has lost 3.2kgs and is now down to his ideal weight...so glad I asked on here and thanks again :-)

Very glad to hear that Harvey is now so nice and slim. However that does sound like a lot of weigh to loose in quite a short period of time...If anyone knows a fool proof method for humans, please let me in on it!