too late to save my dog?

[Karen]

Nine is not too old for a Lab - they can live to be much, much older than that.By all means, walks, and when she's up to it, games of fetch, etc. Are you also cutting down on food and snacks?

[weirdo27]

Uhh we have a family member that thinks she doesn't get enough food so always is feeding her and i dont think i can change it. She thinks we will starve her if she doesn't get a full bowl. Unfortunately i have no money to bring the dog to the vet. When your in college, you have no money. She gets no extra snacks or treats ever. Well i tried bringing her for a run and her mouth started foaming up so that was the last time i given her a walk in about 5 days.

[Catty1]

Just stick with walks for now...she'll have to build up to running! That will take a while.

The walks are great - I hope she looks forward to them!

Would the person who feeds the dog be willing to try lite food or low calorie?

Good luck!

[Daisy and Delilah]

This whole thing sounds rather odd to me. I feel very sorry for your dog. She needs help, obviously, and it's your responsibility to make her quality of life better. I would suggest you do everything you can to help her lose weight, take her for proper walks, and generally, do all you can do, and more, to make her be more healthy and fit. Find a way to stop the overfeeding family member and find a way to get her in for some immediate vet care. You have to take care of her. She can't do it herself

At the risk of saying something I shouldn't, I'll leave it at that

[iamgobsmacked]

Well your neighbor sure sounds like a real ray of sunshine. Please try find out the name of the condition your dog has. I would be more than happy to advise some natural supplements that can help to overcome it. As far as I am concerned where there is "Breath" there is hope.

[luvofallhorses]

I agree with Daisy and Delilah. your neighbor doesn't sound very educated about dogs. I wouldn't listen to him. the healthier you keep your dog, the longer they live. I would take her for short walks and if you have to put her on a diet to lose weight. good luck!

[buttercup132]

Most labs (unless field labs) are bigger anyways. They have a stockier build then most dogs. Your naighbour sounds like he/she knows nothing. If I remember right feeding them raw balances out their weight, they wont get too fat or too skinny if you feed them the right amout.
What are you feeding him now?
That might be the problem too.
And I agree swimming lessons makes them loose weight as a PTer's dog on here dose that and has lost weight.

[buttercup132]

Uhh we have a family member that thinks she doesn't get enough food so always is feeding her and i dont think i can change it. She thinks we will starve her if she doesn't get a full bowl. Unfortunately i have no money to bring the dog to the vet. When your in college, you have no money. She gets no extra snacks or treats ever. Well i tried bringing her for a run and her mouth started foaming up so that was the last time i given her a walk in about 5 days.

5 days without a walk!!!! Thats a long time for a dog to be cooped up. I wouldnt worry about foaming out the mouth my dogs do it too when they go for long walks or have been runing alot.