Got the vet to weigh Belle at her annual check-up yesterday, and she's 22.5 kg. She was 18.5 kg at last year's check, so it's a definite improvement but still puts her on the "small" side.
I just wondered what the others on the forum weigh (especially Belle's littermates). According to the vet, she's perfectly healthy and probably won't get any heavier.
Pearly is around 28kg, but she's very muscular so that's where the weight comes from. On the other side of the daintiness scale, a friend of mine has a female grey (Jet) who only weighs 20kg. Both Pearly and Jet are perfectly healthy, they're just different sizes.
Belle sounds lovely, and if the vet says she's healthy and a good weight then I wouldn't worry too much (easy to say!!)
Is Belle an ex-racer? If so, if you can find out her racing weight apparently her "ideal" weight is approximately 3kgs over this (at least, I think so - correct me if I'm wrong).
Just remember greyhounds are meant to be skinny dogs, and that you are meant to be able to see their last 2 or 3 ribs.
Think Tilly and I should win a "dog most like their owner" competition - both tall, lanky and skinny!
When Cas went for her booster they checked her weight and she was 33kgs, I can,t say I noticed the weight going on her so I got a bit of a shock. The vet adviced that she lost at least 4kgs to get down to her ideal weight of 29kgs, Cas is not a large grey about average so she is now on a strict diet and will soon be down to her proper weight, and she is hating every minute of it. When I see the ribs showing through then I will know she has hit her target. At the moment she looks like a very comfy couch. LOL Nora
__________________
"YOU OWE IT TO YOUR DOG TO BE WORTHY OF IT,S DEVOTION".
Millie is just over 30kgs, she is not fat just big built and very muscly. Her hind legs are huge. I think it just depends on the dogs body frame aswell.
__________________
"Adopting just one Greyhound won't change the world, but the world will surely change
for that one Greyhound."
Jennifer wrote: Millie is just over 30kgs, she is not fat just big built and very muscly. Her hind legs are huge. I think it just depends on the dogs body frame aswell.
Spot on about the frame size, Jennifer. Harry is much bigger and heavier than Pearly (about 7kg) but his back leggies are actually less bulky. When I see them walking from behind, he kind of teeters along on his supermodel long legs and with his dainty thighs, and she's like a swaggering, butch cowboy cos of all her muscle!
Murphy is Belles bro - he is just 27.3kg - if im right in remembering , their entire litter are all on the petite size....I struggle to keep weight on Murphy - & have never managed to get him above 27.3kg
Maisie is just a little bundle at 22kg & she'll never get any bigger (she was around 16kg when 1st rescued a year ago) but she has settled on 22kg now for over 5mths so the vet reckons shes at peak weight...
__________________
They say owners look like their dogs...Im still waiting to morph into a super fit, lean machine with legs up to my armpits...
when last weighed, dave was about 32kg and daisy was around the 28kg mark. both put on about 3kg from their kennel weight up to their pet weight and they don't seem to have budged much from those weights so i treat them as their "normal" size now.
i can only just see dave's ribs but i can't see daisy's tho she seems to be the one who eats less
i thought dave was a big lad but morse, at 42kg, is humungous !!!!!!! bless him i bet he's a huge hit with the ladies !!
I have only had Neo for 4 weeks and when he arrived he was really skinny and weighed 33kg.
He is looking better but i would be interested to know if that's right that his ideal weight should be 3kg over his racing weight? Think i've got a bit to go yet cos he is really tall as well, won't be hard to do though cos he loves his food and the sardines and tinned tomatoes are going down a treat too!!...gail:
I think Ziggy is around 26 or 27 kgs can't remember exactly. I said I thought he was too skinny to the vet but she said he was just not as muscular as he used to be (old men are a bit on the skinny side I suppose) and as he had a good protection around his kidney area she was happy the way he is. I suppose its better than a fat greyhound!
It is far healthier to have your greyhound or lurcher a little underweight than overweight. They can be just like people though, some you can really struggle to put weight on and others seem to pile it on easily.
There was a brilliant article in a previous newsletter detailing all the health problems a dog can suffer from by being overweight (Glenda will probably know exactly which issue it was in).
If I think any of mine are getting a little too much coverage over their ribcage I just cut back on their daily amount of dried food and watch what extras/treats they are getting. Hogan and Mouse have to be watched carefully, they seem prone to putting on weight easily.
I absolutely love to see a well muscled, fit and healthy greyhound/lurcher it's a breathtaking sight.
Rosie (Belle's sister) is approx 25 kgs and has maintained this weight for the last year or so. I used to worry about her picky appetite, but now I know that if she leaves part of one meal she will usually clear her bowl at the next one. Apart from very bald thighs, she looks to be in perfect condition (thanks to Arden Grange). It would be lovely to see Belle, Red, Murphy, Sadie, Chilli, Treacle, Purdie and Rosie altogether - maybe at the Christmas Show. (Hope I have remembered the names correctly!)
I have two very different dogs. One is always underweight and he eats everything in sight but turns his nose up at anything that isn't greyhound food. (I think he's a health freak!) Chad
...and one who lets be honest, especially since his walks have lessened is a bit well - cuddly and he picks at his dinner but if any human food is on offer it is gone! Luke only has to say bics and he's there. Tiger
And I can assure you Tiger will be having a few extras just now Em X
Piper's racing weight was 27 kg; Kyra took her to the kennels with her today and weighed her - she has lost 3kg since Easter. Should I feel guilty for starving her, or is it okay? She probably gets more exercise than before, and she looks good to me; you can feel all her ribs but they're not sticking out. I'll obviously up her rations so she doesn't lose more; but basic question - shouldn't she be heavier than her racing weight, according to above post?
Regarding this thread, please have a read at the Glendy's 'Is your dog too fat? Feeding Greyhound & Lurcher' Post which has been sticky at the start of this section.
I have also added te above mentioned post to the 'Diet & Nutition' Section for reference.
Anyanka, she sounds fine. You don't want her to lose any more so a little bit extra food would be ok. Seeing the last 2/3 ribs is ideal - and you should be able to feel them all. Remember that racing weight includes lots of muscle which is heavy so they may not all be heavier as pets. Personally, I wouldn't worry to much about the number but more about the appearance, wellbeing and physical condition of the dog.