My dog is overweight!

Question
I have a Golden Retriever/Collie mix.  We got her from the SPCA and when they found her, she was 18lbs starving with a litter of pups. Now she weighs 60lbs!  We only feed her 1 cup in the morning and 1 cup in the evening.  We do not giver her many treats but I think people in the neighborhood give her treats. Even so, it can't be enough that would make her this overweight.  I had her on weight management food but that did not help her lose any weight. She is not a real active dog and she is probably about 6 years old. What can we do to help her lose weight? I wnat to keep her around for a long time!

Answer
Hello Amy and thank you for your question,

Here's a test for you to see if she is really all that over weight, Feel her ribs and put a very small amount of pressar on while feeling her ribs, you should be able to feel them without having to dig your fingers in but you shouldn't be able to feel them just by passing your hand over her ribs. Also if you can see a tuck line where he wiast should be then she isnt over weight or at lest not that over weight, if the tuck isnt there at all she is very over weight, if she has thick hair you should still be able to feel the tuck line.

Now for the weight loss part feeding her a weight mateinace/loss dog food is best, Taking her on one or two short walks everyday will help burn extra calories shes taking in from here food and will slim her down slowly as long as you keep the walks up. Try playing fetch with her a few times a week or even daily try it with balls or frizbees squeeky toys even.. anything to get her running around and active. Stop giving treats with more then 3 or 5 % fat in them as this will only add more pounds or pervent he lossing them, If you must give treats give them only in small amounts(small or meduim breed treats) and only two or three a day. Rawhides or knuckles should be cut down to one a week if you were giving them more offen then that also. Avoid people foods unless your giving her a pieace of carrot or apple instead of fatty treats. Be sure the neigebers don't give treats, tell them in advance why they aren't aloud to give treats, also just because there are many people posioning dogs these days I would reccomend leaving a sign for the mailman or passers by not to give anything to her because it could make her more then tubby it could make her very ill as well.

I hope this helps if you need help with anything esle feel free to ask.