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Weight Gain/Loss on the Cavity Healing Diet

It just goes to show that we all react differently to the same diet.

My dog, Molly, and I eat pretty much the same thing: a lacto-paleo, nutrient rich diet that I hope will heal our minor cavities. I've lost one to two pounds, but Molly has gained weight: she's 73 pounds and I had to loosen her collar. Of course, it may be that her owner is simply feeding her too much; even on a low-carb diet, some people and dogs gain weight with too much food. It could also be a thyroid problem, which the vet is checking.

Looking around the web, it seems a 60-pound dog (which I'd like Molly to be) should eat around 1100 to 1200 calories per day. Molly may be eating a little more than that, but she probably needs fewer calories on the diet we follow. Another site recommended about 1.25 pounds of meat per day for a 60-pound dog. (The vet recommended diet dog food to get the calories just right. I didn't ask him if he weighed out his own food and counted calories to avoid going over.) In any event, I will give Molly somewhat less food than I have been and not assume she wants a snack if she bugs me. But if she really does seem to be hungry, I'll give her a small snack. And if she doesn't lose weight, I won't put her on a starvation diet.
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Jan said…
I feed my dog homemade food that consists mostly of beef, chicken and organ meats with a few vegetables and occasionally small amounts of white rice or gluten free oats. He gets the occasional treat of cheese. He is fed well, and often - and still acts as if he's dying of starvation. LOL
April 26, 2011
Lori Miller said…
I'm happy to say that Molly doesn't seem hungry on 1000 calories a day. We'll see if it makes her slimmer and trimmer.

Although if she had the chance, Molly would eat until she threw up, if I ask her if she's hungry, she won't jump up and bark if she isn't.
April 26, 2011
Anonymous said…
My experience (with cats) is that if they have been starved somtimes (longer periods) during their life or have experienced severe competition for food, most of them will eat until the bowl is empty and they don't get any more food (even if begging) - or until they trow up.

But if the animal always has experienced "a full bowl" it will regulate itself. Again - my experience is with cats, and not with "indoor only" cats.

My cats always have food in their bowls. Both are maine coon mix. One is stockish - he is 7kg at winter, 6kg at summer and the oher one (female and smallish) is 4kg and uninterested in food.
July 01, 2011
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