overweight schnauzer

Question
I have a 4 years old schnauzer he has stayed at 29 pounds for 3 years, he really needs to reduce down alittle, I have read so much on the bad ingredients in dog food I have switched to a all natural with no harmful chemical, he really loves his meals now, where before he would just pick at it, only eating, because he had to. His average weight should be somewhere around 22 pounds?What is your thoughts on weight management dog food, or should I just reduce his serving size. What serving size is correct amount? I also have a 4 month old, and really want to get him on the right track, both are healthy and happy, they get alot of exercise, Just want to do what is best. Thanking you in advance

Answer
You absolutely must get that excess weight off of your guy as overweight schnauzers are much more prone to diabetes and pancreatitis! One of my vets told me once that the #1 problem she sees in schnauzers is diabetes, and every one of them is overweight.

Most dogs are overweight because they are simply getting too much food for their exercise levels and, just like us, they start packing it on as fat. A small handful are overweight because they are hypothyroid, so it wouldn't hurt to have that checked.

Weight is dependent on height, amount of bone, and musculature, with males generally weighing more than bitches.  Normal-sized (12-14") bitches generally weigh somewhere between 12-17#, with males usually 15/16-20#. I have no definitive answer as to how much your dog should weigh since I cannot see him and put my hands on him. Food amounts for a normal dog are anywhere from 1/2 to 1+ cup, depending on the size of the dog. Neutered animals require less food than those who are intact.

Here, 15-year-old 12-1/2" Witch is a bit over 12#, while 5-year-old, active, muscled 12-3/4" Terra is 14#. Peter is 12-years-old, not so active anymore, 14" tall (more refined dog than massive 14" Finn at about 21#), with severe arthritis in his front toes and wrists thanks to those damn slats on the AKC agility A-frames, and I have taken his weight down a pound to 16.6#. Vet says this is a good weight for him with his condition.

Every dog should be given the "healthy hug" test periodically. The ribs should be easily felt, but not seen (on Peter a bit of his spine can now be felt).

How to measure your dog's height: See the highest point on your dog's topline?(directly above the dog's front legs.) THAT is where you measure your dog's height. This would be done with the dog's legs directly under it, but with the dog's head elevated normally. A lowered head will make the dog measure shorter. My rule of thumb is to measure a dog 50 times and then take the average<G> I use a metal measuring tape and a comb which I hold level over that high point.

A brief anatomy lesson.... see the bulge at the front of the dog's chest? That is the prosternum or sternum bone. When you lay your fingers on it, do you feel the bone easily or do you feel "flesh" there? What one should feel there is only a layer of skin over that bone. (This bone may not be as prominant in those schnauzers which were bred to have a more "terrier front".)

Also the shoulder blades are made up of two bones (the [upper] scapula, and the [lower] humerus, aka the dog's upper arm), and these bones meet more or less (depending on the individual) in a V shape, with the point of the V pointing towards the front of the dog and about level with the dog's prosternum. The forward edge of these bones, particularly the point of that V, should have only a layer of skin over them and nothing more.

Weight management food seems to work for some people and their dogs, but those foods frequently are not as nutritious as the premium foods simply due to their nature. They tend to be high in carbohydrates (grains) and lacking in protein. (My best dieting days are when I eat more protein and less carbs.) For me, it is MUCH easier to diet any dogs here by simply reducing their food intake.

First, you need to THROW AWAY ALL TREATS!!!! Very few of them are healthy anyway... get RID of them! (And no people foods being snuck under the table by family members or friends...) Here when I diet a dog, I take them down to 1/2 cup of food once a day. You might give a bit more if your schnauzer is one of the taller ones. If you want to give him treats, set some of his daily ration aside and use those pieces of kibble for his treats. The primary treat my dogs get here is ice chips, and they go crazy for those, particularly on the hotter days. No calories in ice!

Get your dog on a regular exercise schedule and start walking your dog every day. Confine those walks to the cooler parts of the day. Throwing balls, etc. for him to chase, and hopefully retrieve, will also help. Having a puppy around for him to play with will be very helpful, too.

And if you need any more motivation, there have been tests done that prove that dogs kept slightly on the thin side live 1-1/2 to 2 years longer than their overweight littermates (labrador retrievers).

Good luck with this!