Expert: Kaza - 7/8/2008

Question
I have a male Bichon, he is neutered and is a little over weight, he about 10 lbs and is 1 year and 7 months old. We walk him daily and play with him, but after a few fetches chooses not to play anymore. We put him on lean kibble, and the thing is, how much do i feed him? we give him 1 cup a day, and if he eats all that by supper , he gets another 1/2 cup. Is this too much? He is a happy playful puppy..just always being called fat, and im tired of it.

Answer
Ok I have this discussion at least twice per week there is no such thing as lean kibble, all kibble is high in the fats its sprayed with. A such you defeat the point when you get kibble.
The best diet to maintain all bichons for optimum health and weight and excellent eyes is a raw food diet, many vets shun this simply because they do not understand how it works, partly due to them not being taught this at vet schools. Raw diets are excellent for eyes, teeth, coat, digestion and temperament. This is how to start it .
Please take the dog off the present diet and try this one:

Breakfast: Days 1, 3, 5

1 cup round oats
mix with
1 Tin Sardines in oil OR Tuna, OR Poached Salmon
1 grated raw carrot
2 frozen blocks spinach


throughout the day
sliced cucumber (10)
1 piece pear OR blueberries (10)

NO OTHER FOOD AT ALL

Breakfast  Days 2,4,6

1 Raw chicken wing (can be frozen for hot weather)
Mixed cooked beans such as borlotti, haricot 1/4 cup
10 slices cucumber
1 raw grated carrot
1/4 sliced peeled apple OR 2 slices Pear

4pm
1/4 cup ground oatmeal
mixed with
1 tin mackeral in oil
40 g frozen peas


NO OTHER FOOD AT ALL DUEING THESE DAYS

DAy 7 is fasting day and only water is allowed... if you get concerned then give frozen or freshspinach and cucmber only

Do this for 12 weeks , this will give excellent weight loss and should keep the dog fit and healthy.

NO TREATS DURING THIS DIET ARE ALLOWED


Good luck , ths will improve the general health of the dog also.