Arghhh, I am going crazy trying to figure out what dry dog food works best for weight loss without a vet prescription. We have to get at least 20lbs off Sheamus and I have been researching dog food all night!! I know adding green beans to his food will help fill him up, but should I just cut back on his regular food or get an "official" weight reduction food? He is currently on Blue Buffalo fish and sweet potato, but I would maybe like to get him on something with less calories/fat...help my fellow Golden owners!

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SHEAMUS-This standing still is boring, hurry up all ready!

We have had Max on a diet since mid-September. As of a couple weeks ago he has lost 12 pounds-close to a pound a week. We are feeding Acana Wild Prairie, which is about 434 kcalories per cup. Not a "diet" or weight loss food. I figured how many calories he needed per day to maintain his ideal weight, and have been feeding a little less than that amount. It has been working, but is a slow, gradual process.

He gets two meals per day, plus one Blue Buffalo Salmon biscuit and occasionally a few training treats. No veggies because he does not eat them. We are feeding him WP because we thought it was best to feed a quality food rather than one just low in calories. By the way, WP is grain free.

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Dave

Keep him on his regular food but substitute 1/2 of it at each feeding with low sodium green beans, would be my suggestion. Have you had his thyroid checked?

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I would just feed him a little less and have him move a little more. Works great for people, too

I tried a weight loss type of dog food with 2 of the yorkies- Cozy and Lucy- only because I refused to and since do buy Purina since they make the Jerky Treats that ended up killing my Zoey- So I was changing brands anyway. They did not actually lose a pound on it- I was feeding them each less than 1/8 cup daily and Lucy actually gained weight. I did not have the time with taking Zoey and Buddy to doctors appt. and Buddy to training and full time work to give Cozy and Lucy anymore excercise than they were normally getting plus being out of shape they could not physically walk the 5 miles per day Roxy and Buddy did! Unfortunatly, once Zoey passed away I had more time to give them more excercise individually. All the dogs eat- Turf N'Surf by FROMM right now. Cozy and Lucy get 1/4 cup with very minimal treats. Roxy get 1/4 cup and all the treats she wants- She is running around from 7am to 11pm- Yorkie with super ADHD. Cozy is in an ideal weight range now along with Roxy and Buddy who have always been svelte. Only Lucy is still a Porky Yorkie- She should be 6.5 pounds- Max of 7 pound but is actually 8.5 pounds and holding steady. She is a fan of walks til the 1 mile walk and is then done! She will start to cry and lays down to throw a fit. She would rather travel in a stroller- Her Grandpa and Uncle Spoil her horribly!

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I do what I like and like what I do. Yorkies- Cozy (4/1/06), Roxy & Zoey (2/11/08), Lucy (4/6/09); Golden- Buddy (4/13/09- Rescued 12/11) Maine Coon cats- Mika (1998) and Tallulah (2000)

I would also say, cutting back on his regular food is better than going with a light dog food. They don't work well and are just fillers, not much nutritional value in them.
I feed my boys several small meals a day, instead of one or two big meals. Feeding smaller, more frequent meals is said to boost their metabolism. I have never tried the green beans, so I have not feed back on them.
Also increased exercise is good.
With the meals, the surgeon that did my Golden's surgeries suggested for every meal, cut the amount given by 1/3 and do that with every meal. It worked for my dogs.

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My boys from left to right:
Thunder Dachsi Toby




http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...is-issues.html

My Toby, my heart dog 3/12/2003 - 3/30/2013, I miss you Toby!


Christa

[QUOTE=MikaTallulah;1992577]I would just feed him a little less and have him move a little more. Works great for people, too

I agree.

We switched Daphne to Evo in 2007 after her breast cancer diagnosis and surgery. The food was great for her at the time, she made a full recovery and went into remission (we also took her to acupuncture and used some supplements). Since the food was so high in protein, though, she gained 20 lbs. We ended up cutting back her portions and going on more walks and the weight came off. Good luck!

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I give Sydney Wellness Core Reduced fat and she lost 10lbs in a few months. She also had some extra exercise.

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- Kat (Sydney's Mom)

I'm with the majority here. The best weight loss food, in my book, is just less of the food your dog is already thriving on.

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To OP: How many cups do you currently feed? Did the pooch suddenly gain 20 lbs?

Feed the dog its' regular food, just less of it.

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"You own what you condone." ~ Mike Lardy