Expert: Have4Paws - 6/4/2010

Question
QUESTION: I HAVE TWO BEAGLES, ONE FEMALE AND ONE MALE.  I RECENTLY CHANGED THEIR DOG FOOD TO A VERY HIGH GRADE BECAUSE OF THEIR WEIGHT. MY MALE HAS LOST WEIGHT, BUT MY FEMALE HAS NOT.  I HAVE DECREASED HER FOOD BUT SHE STILL HAS NOT LOST WEIGHT.  WOULD IT BE BETTER TO FEED HER TWICE A DAY IN SMALL AMOUNTS OR ONCE A DAY AND KEEP REDUCING HER FEED?  DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS.

ANSWER: Hi thanks for writing to me! You didnt mention the ages of the dogs or if they have been neutered or spayed. I am a frim believer in twice a day feeding.... think about it, how would ou feel if you got fed one day and that feeling of a full stomach had to last until 24 hours or more later? Depending on their weight m if they are fixed and their height I can better tell you how much to feed them. Please send me more detailed information as well as if they eat any human food and how much exercise they get.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: THEY ARE BOTH 7 YEARS OLD.  THE MALE IS NEUTERED AND THE FEMALE SPAYED.  THE FEMALE IS SMALL FOR THE BREED (14) AND THE MALE IS ON THE LARGER END OF THE BREED (16.5). I TRY NOT TO GIVE THEM ANY HUMAN FOOD, BUT OCCASIONALLY IF THERE IS SOME LEFTOVER MEAT, OR A SMALL AMOUNT OF GRAVY I MAY CUT IT UP AND DIVIDE IT IN THEIR FOOD.  I DO HOWEVER GIVE THEM A NATURAL DOG TREAT AND THEY LOVE YOGURT.  THEY SOMETIMES GET A TEASPOON FULL WITH THEIR NIGHT TIME SNACK.  THEY HAVE A FULL FENCED IN YARD AND THE MALE IS QUITE ACTIVE.  THE FEMALE IS LEFT ACTIVE, UNLESS YOU PLAY BALL WITH HER. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THEM FOR WALKS FOR QUITE SOME TIME DUE SOME SURGURY, BUT I INTEND TO START AGAIN.

Answer
Hi, am going to assume they are under 30# therefore not super obese. I would feed them twice a day as I said and they should only get about 1/2 cup of food at each feeding, then if you add in the natural treats , they are getting plenty of protein and fat in their diets. The food should be about 20-22% protein max and preferably 8-10% FAT max. I prefer the Dick Van Patten Limited Ingredient Natural Balance Foods which are grain free, beagles tend to have alot of allergies.I wouldnt ever give them leftover meat or gravy, that will add pounds easily. Beagles have a propensity to get fat and it takes a lot of effort to keep them healthy and slim, even five pounds overweight will cut down on their length of life,it is about ratios. 5 extra pounds on a 35 pound dog is like 30 or more on use. Plus eating human food can also cause belly upsets and diarrhea, their systems are not able to break down that kind of food readily. Not so sure about the ypgrt, dont know that I would give it to mine to be honest. If you are buying a high quality food they will get everything they need from that. Dogs arent like people, they dont need variety and are perfectly happy tp eat the same thing all the time. Hope this is helpful