Jasper's weight

[JudyN]

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I've always kept Jasper at around 35kg, adjusting his diet if he got above 36kg or under 34kg. I weighed him today for the first time in going on 2 years, and he's 33.8 kg, so he's dropped a bit and I'm wondering if I should feed him up. However, I know he's lost a lot of muscle mass in his hindquarters, and I don't want to just replace that with fat. I'm also well aware that being a little under- rather than overweight will be better for his joints, and he really is lacking strength in that back end.

Here's some photos, though I know they're not a good substitute for seeing the dog in the flesh.

 

[Tinytom]

He looks so much like my tilly ...she is 12 in november ..she too has lost muscle in her back legs even though she still has her normal walks ...she too has lost a bit of weight but when she had her vet check she said she was still a good weight ...its just age related ....and as you mention best to be a bit leaner than overweight ...
Jasper looks great for his age in the photo

 

[JudyN]

Thank you Tinytom Though there's nothing Jasper would like more than for me to up his intake!

 

[excuseme]

I think he looks really good for an older dog.
It looks like Jasper has a very sensible mum

 

[Hemlock]

I've exactly the same issue with my 12 year old. I have opted for keeping her a little underweight as her back legs have lost so much muscle. Once the back end fails, there is nowhere else to go. So yes: Jasper has a Very Good Mum.

 

[RGC]

He looks fine (in my amateur opinion) - a handsome lean look. I’ve reduced Mabel’s main meal (raw) from 300g to 250g. Have been somewhat concerned re the fat content of the dry disgusting things from the food shop - chicken and duck necks.

 

[RGC]

He looks fine (in my amateur opinion) - a handsome lean look. I’ve reduced Mabel’s main meal (raw) from 300g to 250g. Have been somewhat concerned re the fat content of the dry disgusting things from the food shop - chicken and duck necks.

Addendum - she weighed in at just over 16kg last week. That was an increase. She’s been through the wars recently- pulled dew claw which was taken off by the vet yesterday.

 

[JudyN]

I hope she mends well, RGC - Jasper had his dew claw (he only had one, for some reason) removed when he was neutered, and it took much longer to heal than his boy bits did.

He still manages to put away 667g of mince plus a chicken carcass every day (I don't weigh it that accurately, obviously - he has a 500g pack for breakfast, and a third of a pack with the carcass for tea), plus a couple of 100% chicken chews and a fair number of rewards (kibble, dog sausage, old pizza crusts, etc.) for random acts of 'not being naughty' He's never been an easy keeper!

Yesterday I saw a lurcher I've met a few times before. His owners are adamant that he's crossed with a more stocky breed, but I have my doubts. You could lay out a whole tea service on his back without anything falling off

 

[Hemlock]

Poor dog. It's amazing what people can't see.