Weighty Issues...

[Freckles]

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(Bear with me, this is my first post :sweating: ).

I have a rescued lurcher, estimated to be about 11 years old, who came directly from the stray compound in Lancaster. When we first got her, (7 years ago now), she was very skinny and it didn't look good on her either. Last year, the vet estimated she was almost twice her ideal weight (what!?) and recommended she be given approximately half the food intake for a dog of her size.

Well, we didn't agree with the extent of weight loss needed but we did reduce her food intake. She is a lot more svelte now, but there is no way she'd ever lose half her bodyweight, even if we agreed with the vet. She gets plenty of exercise and has had no major health problems to date. She's back at the vets for vaccinations in the next week or two so I'd be grateful for some advice.

With so many different builds and crosses, how do you know your lurcher is the ideal weight?

Sophie, Summer 2006

 

[OEH]

Welcome to K9.

It's hard to tell how your dog's weight is from a lying down shot (she's very sweet by the way :wub: )

They do vary according to type but you can get a good idea by looking at her that she's mainly sight hound with mybe a bit of collie so she should be leanish, though as they get older I suppose you can be a bit more forgiving. I try to make sure that I can always just see their pin bones, three vertebrae and a couple of ribs, and feel the rest of the ribs under the muscle. I try to make sure they carry as little fat as possible. THough as our girls race, they tend to be a bit leaner than that. Hope this helps.

Just for refernce my lurchers' weights and heights are- Nana, 22", 18kg, Josie 22"16kg and Tess 20" 12kg.

Nana

Josie

Tess

 

[OEH]

Double post sorry

 

[Freckles]

(Yes, sorry about the photo but it's one of the few where she's actually staying still :lol: )

Your dogs are beautiful, OEH.

Sophie's history is almost completely unknown. A friend of mine who was involved in Saluki rescue said he thought she was part Saluki. (In honesty, she could be Heinz 57 for all I know). The closest 'cross' I've seen to her build was a red and white collie x greyhound.

Thanks for the info. (I'll just have to turn up and see what the vet says this time).

 

[hellybobs]

To be honest alot of vets don't actually know alot about lurchers and sight hounds and tend to be either picky about them or very vague.

You say she's 11, is relatively fit and healthy...I'd say say if you happy with her...then she's ok.

I always go by how they look to "me"...if mine look to be carrying a bit of extra weight I cut their food down a bit give them a bit more if I think they've lost.

Mine get 2 good walks a day and its a mixture of lead walking and free running.

I've got a whippetxbeddie who is 19" and is about 13kg and is almost 4 and I've got a whippetxgreyhound who is 24" and about 19kg and is 14 months.

 

[paddysmum]

i dont know my lurchers breeding but i think maybe whippet x collie saluki? really not sure but he is 23" , 18.5 kg and definetly needs to lose a little weight! hes very muscular but is carrying extra weight around his middle. i agree that its hard to choose an appropriate weight for a lurcher when you dont know their breeding. im hoping that the addition of our new girl , a whippet, might run the excess off :thumbsup:

your dog is lovely she looks a real sweetie. would love to see some more piccys :wub:

this is my boy

sorry paddy mate i chose photos to show off your spare tyre :b :lol: