[madisondobie]

I have a three year old doberman she weighs 37.5kg and my vet says she's obese and should look like a greyhound!!
She is 28inchs to her shoulder and is well muscled she is exercised every day with free running chasing tennis balls - she eats two packets of natures menu a day and has a pigs ear twice a week, the vet wants to put her on a diet but she is not a greedy dog some days she eats all her food the next she wants nothing!
I would agree she may be slightly overweight but not Obese and should dobermans look like greyhounds?
Thanks for any help

[labman]

Dogs vary so much that a weight and the height at the shoulder are hard to go on. It doesn't allow for the well muscled dog you say she is. Better to follow this illustrated guide, http://www.puppychow.com/products/po...condition.aspx

Over weight shortens dogs' lives and brings early health problems. The dog guide school I volunteer for can't afford to spend the price of a nice new car replacing a dog that was allowed to be over weight. They teach checking the ribs, and published the link above in their newsletter. There is a lot of disinformation on websites, but that is one you can trust.

So a little more exercise, less food, or both, and she may be better off. I don't think Dobes should be the big solid dogs many Rotts and Labs are. Of course, it is pathetic how many Labs are overweight.

[ashleysb]

www.dogbreedinfo.com says the average weight of a female doberman between 24 and 26 inches long should be about 66-88 lbs or 30-40 kg.

[GermanSoccerGrl1]

I have a three year old doberman she weighs 37.5kg and my vet says shes obese and should look like a greyhound!!!
She is 28inchs to her shoulder and is well muscled she is exercised every day with free running chasing tennis balls - she eats two packets of natures menu a day and has a pigs ear twice a week, the vet wants to put her on a diet but she is not a greedy dog some days she eats all her food the next she wants nothing!?
I would agree she may be slightly overweight but not Obese and should dobermans look like greyhounds??
Thanks for any help

Even if your dog is a little over weight you still need to put her on a diet so this doesn't lead to obesity then to death!!

[doggie_poopie]

Has the vet done any bloodwork? Thyroid issues come to mind, as they can cause increases weight gain.

[madisondobie]

Thanks for the advice, her ribs are not visible but can be felt. She has no problems exercising chasing tennis balls non stop, I will put her on the light version of her food as obviously I want her to live as long as possible, she is not as big as a rottie but is as tall as a male dobie and looks like a male so was just wondering if my vet was wrongly trying to get her to the female weight even though she is bigger as in taller and deeper chested then most females, she is 70lbs.
My vet just annoyed me with the "she should look like a greyhound" bit as I'm sure they are meant to be bigger then that otherwise how would they fend off a burglar.

[labman]

Too many people are obsessed with charts and averages. I hope your vet isn't one of them. Make sure her belly tucks up behind the ribs. I was caught a few weeks ago by the professional from the service dog school my 3 1/2 old lab Holly belongs to. Her ribs were fine, and she nipped in at side, but she still had too much belly. She was pleased to see Holly doing better when she visited today.