Winning the Weight Game: Q & A With Vicki Combs

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Vicki: Hi Kyle, sounds like you’re right on track. A 40 pound Corgi on a larger frame can be in great shape. When we cited 25 pounds in the previous post, that’s a general number for most, but not all, Corgis. As I mentioned, Joey at 80 pounds was very obese, whereas Sissy at 65 pounds was much more so, due to body frame. If you can lightly run your hands down his sides and feel his ribs and he has a nice waist definition and no big “pot belly”, you’re on the right track for managing his weight.

Cardigans are of a larger body structure also, again generally. I have seen smaller Cardis, but they are not the norm. That’s okay. Nothing wrong with being “big boned”. When we wrote this article, we didn’t mean EVERY Corgi had to weigh 25 pounds. That’s our generalization for most Corgis. Some Corgis are fine at 30 pounds; they are a bit larger, but not as big as your boy sounds. Talk with your veterinarian on your next visit, have them evaluate. They should have a chart in their office depicting a heavy dog, a dog in good shape and one underweight. They can show you that and let you get an idea. Thank you for taking the time to ask and be concerned. Sounds like you’re doing great!

Dawn W.: I’m curious how much water you add. We’re already feeding the same amounts and I am adding water, but I don’t know if it’s enough or too much. 

Vicki:  Dawn, for my own dogs and my rescues, I add between 1/8 and 1/4 cup  of water. It will depend on the dog and how they accept it. A few of mine don’t like “soup”, they want a little crunch, so they get a bit less. There isn’t really a “specific” amount, it’s a decision between you and your Corgi.

Stephanie G.: I need help figuring out just how much to feed a dog that is 10 pounds overweight.

Vicki: How much are you feeding and what are you feeding? If you are feeding a kibble diet, is it calorie reduced or a weight management? General rule would be to cut back about 10% to start, see how that does. If it’s not a calorie restricted diet, you may want to look into changing to one. Always remember, when changing any food, you should do it gradually. Over a 10 – 14 day period is good. A general rule would be 3/4 of the “old” food and 1/4 of the “new” food for 2 – 3 days, then 1/2 of the “old” and 1/2 of the “new” for 2-3 days, then 3/4 of the “new” and 1/4 of the “old” for 2 -3 days, then all new. This helps to decrease chances of diarrhea and stomach upset.

Rhonda A.: Thank you for your post. We’ve always fed our Myke a half cup of food twice a day, so I got that right. We’ve gone to low-cal treats, but green beans do not agree with his tummy. I’ll try the pumpkin. He has the hourglass figure, but seems uncomfortable at 43 pounds. He also doesn’t like his fur to get too long, he gets grouchy. Anyone else have that problem?

Vicki: Happy to hear you enjoyed the article, thank you :).  Some dogs cannot tolerate more fiber in their diet. I have one of those little ones. She has horrible allergies and with all the allergy diets containing fish oil and the extra flax seed oil, she was getting chubby. So I started adding pumpkin. Then she started getting sick. The higher fiber in the pumpkin caused her constipation. So I quit with the fiber, started giving her 1/2 of her allergy food and 1/2 weight reduction food, and added more exercise in the way of lots of obedience work and agility training. She’s doing fine now and feels so much better! You can also just cut back the amount of kibble a bit and add water to the food. I have heard of some people adding plain Cheerios as a filler. Try it and see. Weight reduction is a trial of different things until you find what works best for your own dog. But thank you for trying. Portion control and an informed owner are the best things that could happen to our Corgis!

Jocelyn C.: My almost two year-old Brynn has to lose 17 pounds! We’ve cut her food down to 3/4 cup of mixed food a day now. I had no idea that rawhide chews were fattening! My 10 year-old male eats exactly the same and he only weighs 26 lbs. He is naturally more athletic and she is a sitter. Wish her luck!

Vicki: GOOD LUCK! You and she CAN DO IT! We are all pulling for you! You’ll have to keep us posted on how she’s doing. Not wanting to promote any one brand, as I’ve mentioned, every food has pros and cons, but for support and encouragement, I suggest you visit Project Pet Slim Down. Sponsored by Purina Veterinary Diets, there are tips, hints, and areas where you can chart her progress, a multitude of information for pets with weight problems and “weight coaches” to help.

Just cutting back the amount you feed 10 % can make a difference. You stated she is a “sitter”; it’s time she isn’t, and she can help you maintain a healthier lifestyle too! Even if it’s too hot or too cold to walk, or you are in an area where walking isn’t safe, convenient, etc., put a leash on her and walk her around your house 1-2 times at first, then increase. Play some in-home games with her. Chase the ball down the hall, or hide and seek. You hide and call her, make her get up and come find you. Any increase in activity combined with a little less food will help. Sissy Baby the 65 pound Corgi featured in the article couldn’t stand up and walk at all when she came to us. We reduced the amount of food (portion control) and used a towel to support her back end to get her up and around. She would walk four tiles, then eight tiles as she progressed. Now that she’s down to 46.5 pounds and feeling so much more energetic, she walks four sidewalk squares up and back. As she progresses and loses she will increase that amount. It’s not something that will happen overnight, but it will happen. 

Your dog has you to coach and support her with this, and you have the Corgi Nation behind you for support! Good luck and keep us updated!

Mindy K.: You mentioned feeding pumpkin. How much? I feed mine a cup in the morning. Should I split it up into two feeds?

Vicki: Is she overweight or maintaining a normal weight? If maintaining, you are doing just fine. If she is overweight, you can reduce the kibble just a tad and keep the pumpkin as is. We add 2-3 tablespoons of pumpkin, and for a treat, we fill a Kong toy, freeze it, and then give it to them during the day to lick on. It keeps them entertained and is a true no-fat treat 🙂