Weight of my Cairn Terrier

Question
ClaraBelle's vet has said that she is overweight.  She weighed 19 pounds during her physical exam in March 2007.  The vet asked that we limit her food intake to twice a nice, at 1/4 cup each serving.  We've abided by this, but find that she is constantly hungry and checking her food bowl.  Before her physical, I only fed her 3/4 cup of food her day, once a day.  She would eat only at night and if she wanted to.  Some days, she'd wouldn't eat at all.  Now, it's all she can think about.  She is 4 years old.  She walks or runs every day 3 to 4 miles so it's not an exercise issue.  

Can you suggest a food that will fill her up?  I feed her Innova brand.

Thank you for your advice.

Answer
Dear Miss Clarabelle.  

You do indeed have to be careful not to gain any more weight because it's not good for you.  We want you to stay healthy and strong for many many more years to come.

I would recommend that you keep eating the Innova, but would recommend that you keep eating twice a day because if you are watching your weight, and you get too hungry between meals, your tummy can turn sour and you can have a real swing in your blood sugar.  It's better to eat 2 smaller meals a day, and maybe add in some of what my Mom, Beth, calls "freebies."

When we have a dog on a diet here, they can have baby carrots, green beans, and even some canned pumpkin (the plain kind, not the kind with spices in it already).  Those things help my foster siblings feel fuller.

It will also take some time for your tummy to get used to not eating so much. I would think that about 1/3 cup twice a day would work to start and then, if you don;t lose weight, your parents can cut you down to the 1/4 cup again.

Connor - Dog sidekick to Beth

Beth here, I do not recommend switching to a food with more fillers in it just so she feels less empty. Many many cairns are a little sensitive to foods and can react to the stuff they add in to fill the dogs up.  I would just try picking an amount between what the vet said and what you were doing before, and try adding some baby carrots, etc each day.... (1/4 cup per day total of freebies at most)

Yell if you need more thoughts

-Beth