No WONDER he's getting fat!

[Krislady]

Since we started Jar on the Prozac a while ago, he's gained about 10 pounds which, for him, is kind of a big deal - it's about 10% of his normal weight. The vet said it may be sort of a side effect of the medication - he's calmer and not burning as many calories trying to kill everything.

However, I realized that, with all the classes we've had him in (almost constantly for, what, the past 3 or 4 months?) plus the additional work during the week, he gets an AWFUL lot of treats.

I figured out that I needed to quit being so stingy with the treats, too - he's not going to work too hard for . . . a piece of kibble.

I finally started cutting his regular meals by 1/4 cup - down to 1 3/4 cup from cups, twice a day - to help make up for all those yummy treats he's getting, and I cut it down even more (to 1 1/2 cups) on days he's having a kong or on class days.

I found this "slice and serve" dog food that he LOVES - I cut it into little cubes and use that for treats - it's called "Natural Balance" and he's partial to the lamb flavor

And whenever we roast a chicken, I pull the liver out and stick it in a container in the freezer - this morning I made him a liver meatloaf with oat flour, rice, a bunch of chicken livers and a couple of eggs.

He LOVES it. I cubed it up and put it in little baggies in the freezer - he'll be enjoying that for a while. And I expect to see some mighty spectacular heeling now, too.

[K9 Owned]

You know I wondered about the weight - Prozac connection.
Dawson was initially too thin and after months I got him to the weight I wanted. I'm now finding it hard to keep him from gaining more. Prozac & mega training treats must be the reason. I have cut his food back by about 20% hoping to compensate for the treats but may have to cut back some more.

You are right - there is no point being chintzy with the treats because they just won't put the effort in.

That liver meatloaf sounds amazing!

[Krislady]

K9 Owned wrote:


That liver meatloaf sounds amazing!

Yeah, amazing in a disgusting, livery way.

After I cut it up and put it away, it seems that in the middle it's sort of on the, well, medium side. I guess that's okay - the loaf still holds together, and it's even stinkier, which apparently is something to be desired, at least if you have a dog's nose.

So. . . I keep this sour cream container in the freezer, and every time I roast a chicken I dump the liver in there. Next time I have a container full, I'll try to pay more attention to what I'm doing - maybe even write a recipe down.

[Saralaya]

Ummmm sorry you guys, I should have thought of this sooner....when humans take Prozac at first they often lose some weight but then gain and it's REALLY hard to lose...... I know..... it happened to me! I wasn't making the connection, I forgot that both guys were on Prozac, I should have asked if your vets had mentioned that as a potential problem. A decrease in calories and more exercise should help!

[Krislady]

Sara, yes, the vet mentioned the weight gain last spring - at that time, we basically decided that for now the 10# was kind of an acceptable price if the prozac helped with his behavior.

Kind of like how I gained 40# when I quit smoking.

But yeah, between that AND stepped-up treats, he's going to blimp right out! He really can't take an awful lot more exercise (though I'd love to get him back into swimming - the swim guy is STILL on restricted duty - I don't know if he's ever going to be back. )

Also, it probably doesn't help that he's not as young as he used to me. (And neither am I. SIGH)

For now, that awareness and reducing his mealtime kibble seems to be helping - he's starting to show a little more definition again in the mid-section.

Lean and mean, that's our Jar.

[K9 Owned]

I'm guessing that my vet didn't bother to mention it to me because weight gain was a desirable thing at that time. The dog was way too lean. He isn't fat now but at the top end of where I want his weight to be for his age. I'm fairly certain I can keep it in check by additional exercise and food reduction.

No way am I giving up on the Prozac yet. It has been a huge factor in getting him from a highly anxious, neurotic dog with OCD issues to a happy, non-spinning dog who is neurotic in a goofy rather charming way.

[Saralaya]

K9 Owned wrote:
I'm guessing that my vet didn't bother to mention it to me because weight gain was a desirable thing at that time. The dog was way too lean. He isn't fat now but at the top end of where I want his weight to be for his age. I'm fairly certain I can keep it in check by additional exercise and food reduction.

No way am I giving up on the Prozac yet. It has been a huge factor in getting him from a highly anxious, neurotic dog with OCD issues to a happy, non-spinning dog who is neurotic in a goofy rather charming way.

I wasn't suggesting that either of you give up the Prozac...it can be a life saver.....but I wasn't sure if you guys were aware of the link to weight gain. Both of your guys seems to have benefited tremendously from it. I know I sure did... but no one warned me about the weight gain issues. Forewarned is forearmed and all that.....

[K9 Owned]

Also, now that you have mentioned it... I was on antidepressants a number of years ago and I gained about 20 lbs. I had forgotten.

[Krislady]

Our vet didn't mention either until AFTER he'd put on the weight.

Though I suspect that either if I'd bothered to read the sheets that come with the prescription, or if I'd accepted "pharmacist counselling" I'd have found out. Regardless, though, like you said,Sara, it truly has benefited Jar, and his weight gain is manageable at this point.

Unlike mine.