Won't eat dog food and overweight

This is very serious. She is more than double the weight she should be. You have to be more disciplined; you are killing her with food. As long as you give her treats she likes, she won’t eat her food. So stop giving her people food and treats immediately (throw them out or give them away). I don’t know where you live, so I don’t know what pet stores you have available, but you need to get her a high quality dry dog food brand such as Wellness, Natural Balance, or another brand that has no corn, no wheat, no soy, and no by-products. Just about all brands offer a reduced fat option, so get that, or one for seniors which also should contain less fat (don’t worry about the age thing). Also pickup a few small cans of high quality wet food, again no corn, no wheat, no soy, no by-products. Make sure you buy the smallest cans because you won’t be giving her much, also the smallest bag of dry food. You will not find these foods at your grocery or super store, you have to go to a good pet store.

Next, get a set of measuring spoons if you don’t already have them. Feed her 2 level tablespoons of dry food (or even a few pieces under, but never more than 2 level tablespoons) with 1 teaspoon of the wet mixed in just to coat the dry food. Give her this twice a day (breakfast and dinner). She will eat it. If she doesn’t eat it right away, just keep trying. Don’t beg her to eat it, don’t give her treats or people food. Just put the bowl on the floor for her. If she doesn’t eat breakfast within half an hour, take it away and give her a fresh bowl for dinner. She needs to learn to eat when it is given to her. Trust me, she will eat it eventually. It will not hurt her one bit to go a day or so without eating. My guess is, with a high quality food, she will eat it pretty quickly.

After she eats her food, for a reward she can have a small piece of raw carrot, or a small piece of apple (no peel or seeds), or a small piece of broccoli. That’s it. She’s a tiny dog (or should be) and she only needs a tiny amount of food. You can also start giving her a good quality dog vitamin. Check the label for the amount to give her. Tell her it’s a treat.

Do not give in to her. She will adjust within a few days. Also, don’t worry about the new food costing more money. You’ll be spending less overall since she is eating less and you will not be buying all those treats she shouldn’t be eating. Later, after she loses all that weight, she can have a few extra pieces of the dry food as a treat between meals, or an extra piece of carrot. She will not be hungry, she might think she is, but she is not. Take her on more walks, play with her more, have play dates with other dogs so they can run around.

Good luck…you’re doing the right thing…be strong!!

Pup-Eez Pet Sitting

Pembroke Pines, FL