Healthy Weight???

Bravo916 · 05-30-2008, 07:28 PM

My vet and I seem to be disagreeing on what we think is a healthy weight for my dog.

I have a 4yr old neutered male who stands 27.5" at the withers, is larger boned, very athletic and has a considerable amount of muscle. Prior to neutering, if left to his own devices would stay around 72lbs which looked very thin on his frame. Over the course of 2 yrs I was able to get his weight up to 85 where I keep him within 2 lbs. IMO 85lbs on his frame looks perfect. Now that he is neutered I am extra diligent to keep him from exceeding the 85-86lb range.

At the vets office a couple of days ago he weighed in at 86lbs to which I was told he was "obese." While I don't agree with the obese label I don't think losing 2-3lbs would hurt him. My vet is insisting he needs to be in the 75-78lb range.

What are your thoughts on this?? Am I in denial that my dog is chunky??

What is a healthy weight?

Any thoughts/insight/opinions are appreciated!

These were taken very recently of him at 86lbs:

**ellenm** · 05-30-2008, 07:32 PM

He looks kind of chunky in that top photo...cannot see any tuck underneath from his ribcage toward groin area. They should have a waist you can see if viewing from the top of them also (can't tell from picture). He may have a fat pad over his hips? Hard to tell from the leaping picture.

Maybe take one of him just standing on pavement or something and post. I'd say he is chunky from the top picture. You want to see the hint of a rib moving when they trot.

Murreydobe · 05-30-2008, 07:35 PM

Well...it's hard to tell from those pics, but it doesn't look like he has any tuckup at all in the first pic. Looks like he could definitely do with some weight loss, and probably more than just a pound or two.

**voodoolizard** · 05-30-2008, 07:37 PM

im sorry.. but he looks chunky to me.. zeus is 31 inches tall and is only 33 kg thats 72lb !!!

dont know if you can see where he goes up from ribcage to groin where your dobe is straight ??

zeus and me · 05-30-2008, 07:45 PM

I would say a tad thick

but really he is a pet. I know I prefer my pets a bit on the thicker side. I dont think he is hugely over weight. he looks happy

but it would probably be healthier to go a bit lighter

**dobermansrule** · 05-30-2008, 07:47 PM

Quincy is 27", intact, and stays around 71-72lbs no matter how much he eats. He is pretty active. We are trying to get him to 76lb, or so. I think 86lb is a bit much on your dog -it seems 78-80lb would fit him.

Julie W · 05-30-2008, 07:54 PM

He looks quite chunky to me...just being honest.

Bravo916 · 05-30-2008, 08:03 PM

lol I guess I cant use the excuse "the camera adds 10lbs" j/k

Looks like we are on a diet!

His hip/leg muscles are pretty well developed from daily running at an incline so thats one area I know is not fat (there is a video of him running on the treadmill on the myspace page in my signature that better shows the muscles on his legs). The tummy area needs some work

Thank you everyone for being honest!! We have work to do!!!

As requested:

**ReDobie4xtina2** · 05-30-2008, 08:23 PM

Personally, I like the way T looks!

Nor would I ever call him obese..

thea2003 · 05-30-2008, 09:17 PM

I would say he is a little bit of a chunky monkey.
My little girl is getting chunky too i was actually going to ask this question yesterday...she is about 70lbs at her ideal weight, but i would say right now she is about 72lbs she is just looking a little thick in the waist to me.