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Jerrybo66's avatar
Jerrybo66
Explorer
Sep 14, 2015

Where's the fat

Our rescued Rottweiler, (Rotten Rotties.com) weighed 118# when we got her. She had breathing and mobility problems because of her weight. She's now down to 105 at last weigh-in hopefully less and she cools easier, thus less panting, and starting to run. My question. She's looking more "trim" but when she lays down on her side, gravity takes over and her skin lays out on the floor beside her. At that point her body seems firm and only muscle. I think not possible. My question. Is the fat on the meat of the body or on the skin? Can I expect the skin to conform to the body in time?
In my understanding, this girl was due to be murdered the next day when Rotten Rottie.com rescued her. Her foster Mom for a year kept her because no one wanted a fat dog. Her eyes told us everything we needed to know about her. If anyone would see the way she leans her head on my leg and looks at me would run to the nearest rescue group and save a life of your future best friend. :)

7 Replies

  • xteacher's avatar
    xteacher
    Explorer
    Sep 17, 2015
    My MIL's obese cockapoo I fostered after MIL went into assisted living, lost 1/2 her body weight living with me for the 7 months I had her (I found her a WONDERFUL forever home soon after). Yes, she had loose skin afterwards, but it was a small price to pay for regaining her health.
  • dturm's avatar
    dturm
    Moderator
    Sep 16, 2015
    Body condition score (BCS) is an evaluation most vets use. It is either a 5 point scale or a 9 point scale.

    You can pretty much tell yourself by looking at the pictures and matching your dog to the pictures. I like the 9 point scale as it allows a little more flexibility in assigning a number. There are charts you can download an print to keep a copy available.
  • Jerrybo66's avatar
    Jerrybo66
    Explorer
    Sep 16, 2015
    dturm wrote:
    Jerrybo66 wrote:
    My question. Is the fat on the meat of the body or on the skin? Can I expect the skin to conform to the body in time?


    Both, and also internal between and around organs within body cavities. The skin will "shrink" to a certain degree, but with extreme obesity it never gets back to a trim form.

    Doug, DVM

    Thank you so much.. Is a 118# American Rotti considered obese? Of course she's a rescue with no papers but appears to be a pedigree.
    Your comment of internal fat makes more sense than my perception of external fat causing breathing problems. I will have a conversation with my Vet. The X-rays didn't show internal fat that I could see. I am still treating her breathing problems for cooling and pain. Though it's possible, considering her actions, I can't see pain .
    Internal fat, definitely. I've had her on an extreme 600 calorie diet for about a month with vitamin supplements but have backed off a bit. I figure, if she was wandering the streets for a month without food, her health could be brought back. Her fat condition was definitely not healthy. Again, thank you for the internal fat suggestion. She will be going back for a weigh-in this week and I will possibly request additional x-rays.. I must get her breathing rate down..
    Thanks again...
  • dturm's avatar
    dturm
    Moderator
    Sep 14, 2015
    Jerrybo66 wrote:
    My question. Is the fat on the meat of the body or on the skin? Can I expect the skin to conform to the body in time?


    Both, and also internal between and around organs within body cavities. The skin will "shrink" to a certain degree, but with extreme obesity it never gets back to a trim form.

    Doug, DVM
  • toedtoes's avatar
    toedtoes
    Explorer III
    Sep 14, 2015
    Sometimes if the skin is stretched out too much too long, it loses the elasticity to tighten up with weight loss. While 13lbs doesn't seem that much, could she have been even heavier before you got her?

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