Mr. Blue was in for his exam and vaccinations today, and got

[Mary Plummer]

a fairly good report! I didn't do quite so well, as I got the weight talk again, which is the basis for my question. What do all of you think about the "Light" foods for dogs and cats? We've been doing regular food, with pumpkin replacing some of it for his dinner portion. I know what the real problem is, or at least I think I do. I give him too many treats! So the vet and I came up with a plan that I hope helps. I'm going to break up the biscuits into smaller-sized pieces, and then I can still give him some after I clean his paws. Also, she said to give him more carrots instead of the biscuits. Speaking of paws, I asked about the irritation where his nails connect with his toes on his back paws. The vet said she thought it was irritation from the salt, and to keep rinsing his paws after our walks in the cold on salty sidewalks. She was the same vet who saw him after the awful dog bite he got, and she said how happy she was to see him for routine stuff, and to bring him in anytime just for a visit. They drew blood for his heartworm test, and I always tell him how brilliant he is; he failed his first heartworm test but has passed with flying colors ever since He was quite a star there today; he went around and greeted everyone, and some other vets and all the people at the desk came out to say hello to him.

[Traci]

You've answered your own question, Mary, lay low on the treats

As for the 'light' diets...it depends on the dog and the diet. If your vet feels Mr Blue needs to lose a significant amount of weight, then a veterinary prescription diet would be more appropriate for safe and gradual weight reduction. But if he is only slightly over his optimal weight, you can certainly discuss with your vet the option of a 'light' or 'less active' or 'senior' formulated diet.

At this point, since there is a concern about the weight....just a tip: when feeding a certain brand, use the same brand in canned form to offer as a treat (or vice versa if you're feeding canned only). This way, he maintains the weight, yet doesn't know the difference as far as 'treats' are concerned. I also agree with your vet....more carrots, less biscuits.

[Marty]

Mary, I have also heard good reports from people who have slightly reduced the amount of food, but added unsalted green beans to the kibble. Makes the dog feel fuller without the calories.

[k9Karen]

I personally like the light foods, but I've found the senior formulas work better for me. Angel is a senior dog, and I've had her on senior formula for a couple of years. She was gaining too much weight on the regular. Although Allie at 5 isn't yet a senior dog, I also give it to her. In order to keep her weight down, I got to where I felt like I wasn't giving her enough. She was constantly hungry. Also, I use Nutro Natural, and their light food is lamb based. My dogs all get terrible gas with lamb. The senior food is chicken based, and I was giving them the Chicken and Rice formula before I switched to the senior formula. I do give them food other than just the kibble. They get lean meats and vegetables in the evening (sometimes mixed with kibble, depending on what I'm giving them or if I have enough), and the kibble in the morning.

[Mary Plummer]

Thanks everyone! She feels like he needs to lose about 7-10 pounds, and that we can do it by cutting back on the treats. She wants him under 60 lbs, and he weighed in today at 66 and some. She didn't feel a special prescription diet is warranted. For some reason, the weight talk has made a difference this time; I AM going to stick to this! It feels better knowing that I can still treat him, using smaller ones, and that he's A-OK except for that. The vet said we've been doing everything absolutely right for him, except for his weight. She saw him briefly when we first brought him in, back in 1998, as a scrawny scared dog with heartworm. Maybe it's knowing that he is indeed getting older; our vet called him a "middle-aged" dog now, and that the weight could be a problem for arthritis later on if I don't reduce it a bit now. He loves carrots, so as long as I keep a good stock of them, I can always treat him with those.

[momPaws]

So glad Mr. Blue is well and happy! He is a very social guy, isn't he. See, that's how he got you - he walked up to you in the woods. His trusting nature has bode well for him in life.