Stress/Anxiety??

[claire_88]

Titon was overweight this year weighing in at 60kg, he has lost 10kg over the last six months but i can't help but notice his excessive panting.

It started off with a skin irritation in which he was prescribed melesab shampoo and piriton for summer allergies. After his skin problems which have since cleared up, he pants virtually all the time apart from sleeping, even then his breathing is very heavy. (One heavy breather and one snorer!)

On walks and after running i expect it, but even two-three hours after a walk he is still at it, and it's bloody freezing outside so he can't be hot??

He comes in at night and sleeps in the kitchen on the tiles which seems to be the coolest spot in the house, his drinking hasn't changed, some after his dinner and then after walks. I'd estimate no more than a litre of water a day......i thought he should drink more as when i compare his water to Skye's well she has two bowls of water, one reason being she has a tendency to knock one over, but she always get's through one full bowl of water....

What do we think??

[Stuart]

I dont think it is anything to worry about,.. the reason I say this is that my old Bearded Collie who is now 17 years old,... has always panted, with what most people might have called `excessively`,.. I remember asking the vet about it once, and he told me that some dogs do,.. it is not nessersary a cause for concern

[claire_88]

Thanks Stuart! Sometimes i read articles throughout my course, online etc.... and then watch out for what my dogs are doing.... a worry wart

[LindaM]

Hi Claire, is Titon still a bit overweight or do big sheps weigh up to 50 kg. My Lukey is average size I think and weighs a lot less than that. Just thinking a few extra pounds might be making him pant.

Apart from the kitchen we have carpets downstairs and Lukey likes to be in the kitchen as well because it's cooler and often outside when the heating is on.

[claire_88]

Originally Posted by LindaM

Hi Claire, is Titon still a bit overweight or do big sheps weigh up to 50 kg. My Lukey is average size I think and weighs a lot less than that. Just thinking a few extra pounds might be making him pant.

Apart from the kitchen we have carpets downstairs and Lukey likes to be in the kitchen as well because it's cooler and often outside when the heating is on.

We were initially told to get him to 45kg, but he has always been a big lad and at the same time is not a pure shep, one man told me he though he had a bit of newfoundland in him......(not convinced though as they are big) He is however definitely a mix as his mum was a GSD but his dad was.......hmm.....GSD size, but with a shetland sheepdog's coat as best as i can describe him.

Titon towered his dad at 18month's old.
Under his tuck i can see the weight he has lost, i don't know whether because i see him everyday i don't notice it as much or are people just saying ''ooo he's lost weight'' just for conversation purposes......

I will try and get a photo of him today for you all to see what you think of his weight. xx

[claire_88]

I didn't finish the first line:
We were initially told to get titon's weight to 45kg but after the vet nurse saw him she said that 50kg would be our target weight

[Jon]

Originally Posted by LindaM

Hi Claire, is Titon still a bit overweight or do big sheps weigh up to 50 kg. My Lukey is average size I think and weighs a lot less than that. Just thinking a few extra pounds might be making him pant.

I'm not trying to "make light" of the situation here, but larger boned people "pant" as well... could be the weight??

I read the book by Bruce Fogle, very interesting and correct me if I'm wrong but he said that the skinnier dogs live up to 18 months longer.

[claire_88]

This is the most recent one i can find until we go out again later, where his black markings end under his tuck that is the excess flab. I'l get a more recent one in a bit.

[LOVEGSD]

I think if you can feel his ribs but not see them then he is the perfect weight....

I would be a bit concerned with excessive panting tbh, Oscar showed signs of this which was completely out of the ordinary for him and when I got him checked out he was diagnosed with a heart condition and apparently the panting was an early sign. He has since seen a specialist and is on medication. I don't want to scare you and I could be way off the mark but personally if it's out of the ordinary for him, get him checked.
xx

[claire_88]

Originally Posted by LOVEGSD

I think if you can feel his ribs but not see them then he is the perfect weight....

I would be a bit concerned with excessive panting tbh, Oscar showed signs of this which was completely out of the ordinary for him and when I got him checked out he was diagnosed with a heart condition and apparently the panting was an early sign. He has since seen a specialist and is on medication. I don't want to scare you and I could be way off the mark but personally if it's out of the ordinary for him, get him checked.
xx

Right gosh, vet appointment it is then!

I have had a feel of his waist and i can feel his ribs but only just, i'v got some pictures now so i'l upload one, bearing in mind in the first picture his coat was only just starting to grow back after i had shaved him for the summer and in these ones he's got his full bear'ness' look.

He is obviously still overweight if i can't feel his ribs though so better get the weighing scales out, i measured his food for the first few times on the raw and then became accustomed to how much i gave him...... but to make sure the amount is right i had better start weighing it again.

One more question, is it ok to skip a meal for titon?
I would never do this with Skye as she is still growing but seeing as he is overweight would this be a problem?
I'm talking about skipping one meal over every couple of days, not starving the poor lad.